Big names in improv set to appear at Vancouver festival

Top performers from Europe and North America will be joining local talent at this year’s Vancouver Improv Festival (VIF) on Oct. 1-6.

Now in its 26th year, VIF is offering 17 shows at The Cultch and Tightrope Theatre.

“The local improv community in Vancouver is a very strong scene, but there are countless incredible improv communities across the globe. Festivals are the way that we connect across cities, exchange ideas, and in turn, make our local communities stronger,” said festival organizer, Amy Shostak, in a statement.

The deep festival lineup will feature Norway’s popular Det Andre Teatret (The Other Theatre). In its show, Flashback improvisers Mats Eldøen and Kristine Grændsen tinker with time travel.

According to a statement, the pair “start by telling a fairly straightforward story but at any moment can be sent back in time.” The U.K.’s Derek’s Mojo will offer an evening of “exploded truths, twisted tropes, taboos and other unmentionables” in Questionable Behaviour.

The wildly popular true crime genre is well represented at this year’s festival. Bellingham’s Upfront Theatre is presenting the murder mystery show Hellingham; Portland’s Nancy Boys become 1920s crime-fighting darlings in a parody of The Hardy Boys; and Vancouver’s Tightrope Theatre gives a nod to classic TV with its mystery program Murder She Improvised. Also on the slate are improvisers from the largest improv theatre in Scandinavia.

The festival also includes a number of in-person workshops taught by veteran improvisers who are performing at the festival. Classes are geared toward improvisers of all levels of experience.

For festival tickets, show schedules and more workshop information check out vancouverimprovfest.com.

Other shows on the festival program include:

In Bingewatch, Diana Brown and Dan Wilson from San Francisco mash up two of your favourite TV shows to whip up something familiar yet entirely new.

Showtimes: Oct. 4, 8 p.m. at The Culture Lab and Oct. 5, 9:45 p.m. at Historic Theatre

Improv Fest All Stars unites the best and the brightest from across the festival into one giant improv jam show. Many of these improvisers will be working together for the first time.

Showtime: Oct. 4, 10 p.m. at Tightrope Theatre

Little Miss Normal brings Toronto’s fastest rising improv troupe to the Vancouver stage. Members consist of longtime professional comedians known for their quick wit and fast-paced improvisational style.

Showtimes: Oct. 4, 9:45 p.m. and Oct. 5, 7:30 p.m. at the Historic Theatre at The Cultch

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