History of AIF

The Auckland Improv Festival is produced by the Covert Theatre, which is powered by The Yes And Trust, a registered charity (CC53421).

It was created by Matias Avaca and Wade Jackson and was set to debut in 2020, but that little global pandemic caused a stir…

TIMELINE

2020: It got off to a rocky start with Covid cancelling the inaugural festival.

2021: With NZ in lock down it went ahead only at a national level.

2022: With Auckland in lock down it was only a local festival.

2023: We were able to do the full festival over 5 days and had international tutors Andel Sudik, Dan O’Connor, Jonathan Pitts and Patti Stiles.

2024: It’s growing! We are now doing a week long festival. Exciting times!

**Matias Avaca** in one of the festivals 2022 workshop promotions.
We thank Matias for all his hard work and passion for AIF over the first 4 years!
Ngā mihi nui.

2023

Thanks to our 2023 Guest Instructors

DAN
O’Connor

Dan is co-founder and Producing Artistic Director of Impro Theatre as well as a co-founder of Los Angeles Theatresports and BATS Improv in San Francisco. He is an actor, writer, director, producer and improviser.

PATTI
Stiles

Patti Stiles is an actor, improviser, director, instructor and playwright whose been working professionally in theatre since 1983. She served her theatre apprenticeship at the world-renowned Loose Moose Theatre and was trained by Keith Johnstone. Her understanding of Johnstone’s work and philosophy, combined with her own discoveries and her wealth of experience on the world impro stage, has made her a “must-have” teacher for performers and companies wishing to create spontaneous theatre with fine skill, strong narrative, heart and elegant style.

ANDEL
Sudik

Anděl Sudik is a director, improviser, actor and writer based in Los Angeles and Chicago known for her explosive energy onstage and in the classroom as well as her experiential teaching style. She was born in Chicago, raised in California and moved back to Chicago at the tender age of 17 to study comedy and improvisation.

JONATHAN
Pitts

Jonathan Pitts is an award-winning international improv theatre artist. He has performed and/or taught in 26 countries and 98 cities. He's the former Executive Director of Chicago Improv Productions; Founder/Producer of Chicago Improv Festival, College Improv Tournament and Teen Comedy Fest.