Like all good improvisers, the folks at Paper Street Theatre arenB次元官网网址檛 afraid of switching things up.
Take this yearB次元官网网址檚 fourth edition of the Victoria companyB次元官网网址檚 annual Improv Festival, happening April 9-13 at the Intrepid Theatre Club.
B次元官网网址淓very year itB次元官网网址檚 been completely different B次元官网网址� not only the shows, because theyB次元官网网址檙e all improv B次元官网网址� but the makeup of the festival,B次元官网网址� says Dave Morris, Paper Street artistic director.
Committed to keeping things fresh while maintaining the all-important learning and performance aspects of the festival, Morris says, B次元官网网址渋tB次元官网网址檚 a lot more about creating this time and innovating and pushing the art form forward, as opposed to strictly showing different examples of improv to people.B次元官网网址�
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To accomplish that, the festival is taking a new approach: bringing together artistic directors from four improv companies, including Owen Chan from Calgary, Red DeerB次元官网网址檚 Jenna Goldade, Domeka Parker from Portland and Morris. One per day will work with a hand-picked ensemble of 12 improvisers, who will perform the material they learn that day in each of the four evening shows (April 10-13, 8 p.m.).
Meanwhile, the four A.D.s B次元官网网址� known for the festival as The Four Corners Collective B次元官网网址� will work together daily creating material to be performed in the second half of the evening shows.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really almost like two ensembles,B次元官网网址� Morris says.
The festival kicks off April 9 with Local Night, showcasing UVicB次元官网网址檚 Vikes Improv, First Time Last and Esquimalt HighB次元官网网址檚 improv team. Morris and Missie Peters, another key member of Paper Street, will also perform as the improv poetry duo SpeakEasy, which theyB次元官网网址檝e toured at festivals around Europe.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 almost like a little science experiment,B次元官网网址� Morris says of the opening night. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a way to say B次元官网网址榟ey, welcome to Victoria B次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 also part of growing the art form and growing the audience for it. Part of the craft is about seeing how audiences react, so we have to perform.B次元官网网址�
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The weekend also offers opportunities for improvisers at any level to learn from the experts, during three three-hour workshops. Chan offers his take on Playing Resistance, the Push and Pull (April 13, 2-5 p.m.), Parker discusses the challenges of Intimacy in Improvisation (April 14, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.) and Goldade discusses using The Building Blocks of Character (April 14, 2-5 p.m.). Cost is $50 and registration is by email to contact@paperstreettheatre.ca.
Morris hopes some newcomers will check out the festival to see whatB次元官网网址檚 happening on a local level.
B次元官网网址淥ur mandate is to create improv that feels like theatre,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e aiming for a more theatrical experience as opposed to comedy all the time. One thing that is beautiful about improv, itB次元官网网址檚 constantly rediscovering itself and in fact, the whole art form is about discovery.B次元官网网址�
Tickets are on sale now but are limited for the shows, as capacity at Intrepid Theatre is about 50 people. You can purchase tickets online and find more information at .
editor@mondaymag.com
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