A celebration of kinship and camaraderie

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This article was published 23/10/2019 (2190 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Improv Festival began in the year 2000 when improviser Stephen Sim, a member of local troupe Crumbs, had the idea while on tour.

“I was lucky enough to be a part of an international improv festival where I met some very talented and inspiring performers, directors and teachers,” says Sim, founder and artistic director of the Winnipeg Improv Festival. “I returned to Winnipeg inspired to start a festival and bring some of these big improv ideas to life here.”

In commemoration of the festival’s 20th anniversary, the theme is obvious: celebration. And there’s no better way to celebrate than being surrounded by friends. Local improvisers, out-of-towners and even non-improviser artists will all be partying onstage together during the festival.

Vinny Francois is a Montreal-based performer who is returning to the festival for a second time.

“I was last there in 2016 and I had an amazing time,” says Francois, a founding director of the Montreal Improv Theatre. “I can’t wait to work with everyone at this fest and be inspired again.”

Francois got his start in improv while studying physics at McGill University and has been performing ever since.

“I love that feeling of discovery and surprise that improv can generate,” he says. “I also love the friendships that I’ve gained through improv.

“There’s a kinship and a feeling of community that improv provides to a lot of people who are looking for a place to belong and a feeling of acceptance for who and what you are. People are thirsty for that.”

In a nod to community’s importance to improv, this year the festival is reaching out to other local creative communities to collaborate. One of these collaborations features writer Matthew Komus, who will be telling true Manitoba-based horror stories at the Ghost Stories show — a returning concept — on Saturday at 10:30 p.m.

“Since the festival is so close to Halloween, the scary improv show is popular,” Sim says. “We love ghost stories!”

When asked what other shows are not to be missed, Sim can’t quite decide — after all, it’s tough to know which suggestions and collaborations will spark lightning in a bottle.

“You will not want to miss any of the festival,” he says. “The shows will literally only be performed one time and then never again. I’ll just list them all and you can pick the ones that jump out.”

Pressure’s on. But if you can’t attend the entire festival, here are some suggested picks.

One Great Winnipeg is back after a successful run at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival this summer. It hits the stage Friday at 8 p.m.

“This show is about the love-hate relationship we have with this city,” Sim says. “Again, we’ve invited prominent Winnipeggers to share true stories to fuel the improv show. It was such a wonderful run of shows we had this summer and we are excited to do this show again with a new cast.”

A collaboration with PechaKucha Night is happening on Friday at 10:30 p.m. Picture This involves improvisers deconstructing PechaKucha, a timed storytelling format that includes slide shows and projections.

The 20th Anniversary Improv Gala takes place Saturday at 8 p.m., and is sure to be jam-packed with old faces, new faces and every face in between.

“The first half of the show will feature some showcase sets from Winnipeg improv groups,” Sim says. “The second half will feature an improv jam show with many guests, all thrown into a wild (mix) that will have to be seen to be believed.”

“Improv has two of my favourite things: danger and magic,” Francois says. “And yes, sometimes it blows up in our face… But when it does work, it really feels like magic.”

frances.koncan@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @franceskoncan