Canadian Improv Games
 | This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages)
|
The Canadian Improv Games (CIG) is a national charity dedicated to providing Canadian youth with improvisational theatre education and programming. It is one of the largest and most geographically dispersed theatre festivals in Canada with 14 regional programs and over 100,000 alumni participants. The winning team from each region proceeds to the National Festival and Tournament held in Ottawa at the National Arts Centre. The CIG also offers workshops, training, and week-long summer camps throughout the year.
History
[edit]The Canadian Improv Games got its start in Ottawa in 1977. It was created by Jamie "Willie" Wyllie[1] and Howard Jerome, based on a concept originally conceived by David Shepherd and Howard Jerome. With the efforts of Willie and Johnson Moretti, by the 1990s the games had become so popular they were given hour long live coverage on YTV.
Events
[edit]Teams perform 5 events in the Canadian Improv Games, including: Life, Character, Style, Story and Theme.
Life
[edit]A sincere scene that honestly represents the reality of a situation.
Story
[edit]A scene that tells an original story with the use of narration. The story must have a beginning, middle and ending but it does not need to be in chronological order.
Character
[edit]A scene featuring an original character. Teams create an original character(s) through physicality and voice.
Theme
[edit]An exploration of a theme given by the referee.
Style
[edit]A scene that recreates a style. This is done by drawing on the distinctive features and common elements of a recognized style or genre of performance.
Regions
[edit]- Vancouver (Lower Mainland)
- Vancouver Island
- Alberta
- Regina
- Winnipeg
- Sudbury
- Greater Toronto
- Kingston
- TriCity Area
- Ottawa
- Montreal
- Moncton
- Halifax
- St John's
- Online Tournament
The Oath
[edit]At the beginning of every night of play, the referee leads everyone in the Oath which reminds players and audience members about the core values of the Canadian Improv Games.
- We have come together
- In the spirit of loving competition,
- To celebrate the Canadian Improv Games.
- We promise to uphold the ideals of improvisation,
- To co-operate with one another,
- To learn from each other,
- To commit ourselves to the moment,
- And above all,
- To Have A Good Time! [2]
Notable alumni
[edit]Notable alumni of the Canadian Improv Games include Sandra Oh, Seth Rogen, Nathan Fielder, Alanis Morissette, Tatiana Maslany, Mark Little, Picnicface and Andrew Phung. [3] [4]
References
[edit]- ^ "Improv Games co-founder Willie Wyllie a champion for teens". The Globe and Mail. 30 October 2014. Retrieved 2016-02-27.
- ^ "The Canterbury Collection: BOFA Improv Gallery". epe.lac-bac.gc.ca. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
- ^ Rashotte, Vivian (Mar 14, 2025). "Sandra Oh says she was a 'merciless' theatre kid". Retrieved April 30, 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Klein, Chanel (April 5, 2019). "Improv makes an impact at the National Arts Centre". CBC.ca. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)