ABOUT
TERRITORIAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The organizers and board of the Vancouver Improv Festival respectfully acknowledge that the land on which the festival takes place is the traditional and unceded territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. The members of our team are settlers on this land and come from places colonially called Vancouver, Edmonton, and Toronto. Through the lens of our work, we are committed to dismantling settler colonialism, a mindset that fails to respect Indigenous society, governance and jurisdiction. We believe that the spirit of improvisation is one of collaboration and joy, and we do this work with the hope that it will strengthen our collective communities through laughter and connection.
HISTORY
The Vancouver Improv Festival (formerly the Vancouver International Improv Festival) is one of North America’s longest running improv festivals. The festival aims to celebrate spontaneity and collaboration through the art form of improvisation. Since 1999, it has showcased over 1300 international and local performers for thousands of Vancouver theatre and comedy fans. The festival started in the late nineties as an impulse-based arts festival, focusing on the spontaneous excitement of music, physical theatre and comedy. As the years passed, and the festival grew, improv comedy became the main focus. Audiences grew as the festival soon became a destination for both local and international improv companies. The festival has hosted artists from all over the world; from Berlin, Helsinki, Los Angeles, Montreal, New York, Toronto and Reunion Island. A unique feature of the festival are ensemble-based shows, where individual improvisers collaborate with a director to create never-before-seen performances.
MISSION
The mission of the Vancouver Improv Festival is to produce high-quality improvisational performances that raise the profile of the talented improvisers of British Columbia, while hosting international improvisers to the benefit of the local community, and to entertain a growing audience. We welcome your feedback or questions. info @ vancouverimprovfest.com
FESTIVAL ORGANIZING TEAM
ESE ATAWO
Ese Atawo is a Nigerian-born, Toronto-raised, Vancouver-resident improviser. She started her comedy career at Second City learning improv and she’s still doing it… to her surprise. Ese Atawo is also a teacher at Blind Tiger Comedy and enjoys seeing the next wave of improvisers do their thing.
CURT DA SILVA
Curt Da Silva is a Vancouver-based improviser and math-fan. He is the creator and director of the all-Asian stage-combat improv comedy group Fistful of Kicks. He has performed all around North America, but most notably in Portland, Oregon and Austin, Texas. He has a degree in Math + Computer Science, if you’re into that sort of thing. Catch him performing on stages all around Vancouver.
JORDY MATHESON
Jordy Matheson is a theatre artist and improviser working primarily in Vancouver on Unceded Coast Salish territories. He is a graduate of the Douglas College acting program, and has a BA in Theatre Studies from UBC. As an actor he primarily works in improv and live comedy, performing with Tightrope Theatre, QueerProv, Little Mountain Improv and others. He has had plays developed through Pull Festival and Arts Club’s LEAP program. He is co-deviser of We Deserve to Work with the Community Living Society and Canadian Institute for Inclusion and Citizenship.
BRIGITTE MAY
Brigitte is an improviser and writer from Vancouver, British Columbia. She serves as a cast member of Fistful of Kicks and has toured with them internationally, performing at Stumptown Festival in Portland and The International Improvised Play Festival in Austin. She received her BAH in English from Queen’s University and is a staff writer for the satire news website the Beaverton.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
GRETA LIN
Greta is a fundraising and development professional, and has worked with various nonprofit and grassroots organizations such as the BCCLA and Megaphone magazine. In her spare time, she is a standup and improv comedian. She is an immigrant from the city of Guangzhou in Mainland China, and has been calling the Coast Salish Territories home since 2013. Greta is passionate about social justice, good Chinese food, and takes great pleasure in spending time with her cat, Luna Beyonce Lin.
LARA BRANSON
TRACY DEFOE
PARTNERS
Our Board leads the Vancouver Improv Festival Society, meeting five times a year, and supports the Organizing Team as needed. We are interested in connecting with folks passionate about improv and non profit governance, as well as community partners. If you’re interested in getting involved, please contact Board President, Kristina Matisic – kristina @ vancouverimprovfest.com.
Vancouver Improv Festival is committed to creating and maintaining a safe environment, where creativity can flourish.
Read our Anti-Harassment Policy, here.