FRINGE '04: Battle Of Wits

The 2003 Fringe Festival Comedy Award winners are back! The Wellington Improvisation Troupe (WIT)’s latest improvised comedy show ‘Battle of WITs’ opens on 18 February 2004 as part of the New Zealand Fringe Festival 2004.

“The Battle of WITs is will unleash comedy carnage on a scale never before seen in this capital ” says Creative Director Ryan Hartigan ”Five night of shocking entertainment. We anticipate a high body count.”

Stories, songs and scenes will be made up on the spot, based entirely on suggestions from the audience. “The audience won’t know what’s going to happen. And neither will we” explains Hartigan. “Sometimes we will work actively to achieve funniness on stage, but more often that funniness will be thrust upon us. Improvisation is about enjoying looking very, very foolish really.”

Songs, stories and scenes are made up on the spot by leading improvisers and gutsy newcomers alike, armed only with their wits alone. You decide the winner!

Never have so many died laughing at so little…

What is Improvisation?

Popularised by Nobel Prize Winner Dario Fo, Keith Johnstone’s Theatre Sports and television shows like ‘Who’s Line Is It Anyway?’, improvisational theatre continues to evolve with many different streams. Improvisation brings ordinary people into the theatre to enjoy stories about themselves. For the players, improvisation provides a platform to explore story-telling and develop life skills like spontaneity, creativity and teamwork. Most of all, it’s fun for everyone involved.

What is WIT?

WIT is a group of thirty theatre improvisers that has been performing together in different forms for three years. Together we have a proven record of training and performing innovative, entertaining and commercially viable theatre in Wellington. The New Zealand Fringe Festival 2003 awarded our Micetro Show Best Comedy, the first time an improvisation show has won an award in anything other than a comedy festival in New Zealand. WIT players founded the group at a new level and as an incorporated society in August 2003.

Battle of WITs is the WIT flagship improvised comedy show for the whole family. Songs, scenes and sagas are made up on the spot by seasoned professionals and conscripted amateurs alike, armed with their wits alone. The audience votes for their favourite scenes in each round until a winner emerges. WIT also produces a range of experimental shows including the world famous late night show Gorilla Theatre, New Zealand's first all-female improvisation act The Improv Divas, and shows by Joe Improv, WIT's militant youth wing (for players under 18 years). WIT is a licensed International Theatresports Institute group, New Zealand's only community-based improvisation group, and a good laugh.

Who is WIT?

Our Creative Directors are theatre professionals and seasoned improvisers Ryan Hartigan and Julian Wilson. Reflecting our creative philosophy, our players are from all walks of life - from professional improvisers to amateur enthusiasts. Unlike other improvisation groups, and due to its inclusive nature, we have an even number of men and women. Our large size reflects our ability to support new players.

What is Battle of WITs?

Battle of WITs is the new comedy improvisation show developed by WIT.

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