Frequently Asked Questions
What is Improvised Shakespeare?
Our company specializes in improvising full plays in the style of Shakespeare. Each show, inspired by audience suggestions. we create a brand new play drawing from the tropes and the language of Shakespeare. This is an original performance that has never been seen before and will never be seen again. We perform (mostly) in iambic petameter, and have the overall artistic goal of creating a work that feels like an authentic lost Shakespearean play. That said, as we are making it up on the spot things do tend to get silly. We aim for art, and settle for comedy!
How is Improvised Shakespeare?
Like, quality wise? We think pretty good! We’ve sold out shows all over Canada, so we hope that means we’re doing something right. How do we do it? With lots and lots of practice and techniques that we teach in our workshops. It’s hard, but it’s a lot of fun!
Why is Improvised Shakespeare?
Our company was originally founded when Zach Wolfman and Chelsey Stuyt combined their forces and love of Shakespeare to create Shakespeare After Dark as a part of Instant Theatre in 2016. As lovers of the Bard and improvisation, they wanted to test their limits as improvisers and assembled a company of players who were likewise ready to take up the challenge. That same love of Shakespeare’s language and desire to push improvisation to its limits drives the company today. After reforming post COVID in 2020 under the artistic direction of Brent Hirose, we are working towards bringing the company to as many new audiences as possible.
How long are your shows?
It depends! We have the ability to do a show as long as required/our performance spaces will let us. Our home shows at Little Mountain Gallery are an hour and a half, including intermission. When we perform at Fringe Festivals, our shows are typically 60 minutes. At improv festivals we’ve gone as short as 20 minutes. If you want to hire us, YOU GET TO DECIDE.
Will I be called up on stage?
With one small exception, no! We’re not that kind of show!
We currently have one warm-up game where we ask an audience member to come up on stage, have a seat and talk to us for a moment before we shower them with compliments, but otherwise we do not demand audience participation over and above shouting a few things out when prompted from the comfort of your seat and potentially having a brief conversation. If you want to come see a show and just relax in the audience, we are very happy for you to do just that!
What will happen in the show? Are there content warnings?
As a fully improvised show, we have no idea what is going to happen, but as a Shakespearian show we’ve got some ideas of what you might expect to see. Language is more likely to be flowery than crude. There is a high potential for violence, and in a tragedy, there will definitely be some death. This is often played for laughs, but we’ve been known to have sincere and sad death scenes. Viewer beware.
How can I learn do improvised Shakespeare?
Members of our company have taught workshops in some of the tools that we’ve used to create our performances. We’ve done so in collaboration with local companies like Tightrope Impro Theatre and Bard on the Beach. If you’re interested in taking a workshop or hiring us to teach one, reach out!
How can I become a member of the company?
As a large standing company, we do not regularly hold auditions: When we reformed after COVID we held auditions in early 2022, and held another round of auditions to replace company members lost to attrition (moving away, new life priorities, etc.) in late 2024. If that pattern of two data points holds, we might be looking to audition again in 2027? That said, if you’re very interested in joining, follow us on our social media as we do go out of our way to spread word of auditions as far out as possible.