Robbie Ellis has been a musician for improv for literally more than half his life. He’s worked with ConArtists, WIT, The Improvisors, Improsaurus and the Court Jesters in New Zealand; he’s a past Music Co-ordinator for NZIF; and he’s also hit major Australian impro [sic] festivals.
Read MoreKevin McHugh is an improv pianist and teacher from Seattle. Since 2009 Kevin has lived in Tokyo, working as a full-time jazz pianist and accompanist for both Broadway and improv theatre shows.
Read MoreJamie Burgess is a pianist, composer, improvisor and generally excellent human. As a tutor, he’s provided advice to many aspiring musical theatre improv hopefuls. He looks forward to making up songs and ‘opening numbers’ with you.
Read MoreChristine Brooks has been improvising for over 20 years. She has directed, taught and performed at improv festivals around the world including in Germany, Sweden, Ireland, France, UK, Australia and of course New Zealand. She is a founding member of the New Zealand Improvisation Trust and a former Artistic Director of the New Zealand Improv Festival.
Read MoreJennifer O'Sullivan is a performer and producer in Wellington, NZ, with a long history of making things up as she goes along. As an improv teacher she has travelled nationally and internationally, helping improvisors become fearless and work naturally on stage. She is currently completing an MFA in Creative Practice at Victoria University, and has served as the festival director for New Zealand Improv Festival since 2014.
Read MoreClare Kerrison is an experienced improv teacher, performer and arts administrator. Since returning to Wellington in 2016, she has become the improv teacher for Basejump Improv, performed with Wellington Soap Factory (Lyall Baywatch, Deep Space Naenae) developed her solo show (Clare Kerrison's Infernal Recall) and created a plus-one act (Meet Cute).
Read MoreMatt Powell is a performer, director, writer, and teacher with 20 years' experience in improvised and scripted theatre. A member of Christchurch's Court Jesters for 12 years, he is now based in Wellington and performs regularly with PlayShop, Late Night Knife Fight, and Wellington Soap Factory. He has been invited to teach around New Zealand and Australia, and in 2015 at Réunion Island's FÉRIIR festival.
Read MoreBrendon Bennetts (Christchurch) has been teaching and directing improv for the Court Jesters since 2002. He hosts comedy quiz podcast THE NERD DEGREE, teaches high school English, and in his spare time writes plays. Brendon is proud to have performed at NZIF every year since it started.
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