ensemble
12 artists from 10 countries mix with the Gorillas to form new ensembles every night.
vita
In 1983 Randy Dixon was a founding member of »Unexpected Productions«, Seattle’s longest running improvisational theater company. During his tenure »Unexpected Productions« has established a reputation of presenting high quality shows, classes and workshops. In 2006, Randy founded »Orcas Island Project« a multinational group of twelve performers from ten countries. »OIP« develops, explores, and investigates interactive theatrical forms.
how has corona changed your live?
Corona has changed my life by making me be more introspective. To look at my life and work and see what’s there all around me all the time. Things I had not seen as clearly because I was looking somewhere else. I have reflected on the connection that is vital between all of us. The reason I improvise. I have felt a loss through the separation that was forced on us. I hope to never take that for granted again.
vita
Maja Dekleva Lapajne (Ljubljana, Slovenien) a performer and a director, has worked in various different projects and mediums, from clown theatre and contemporary dance to radio, television and film – but her main focus, passion and frustration has always been improvisation.
how has corona changed your live?
Lots of planning and replanning, lots of working with what there is, many conversations about health, politics, performing arts, people, relationships, time and the world, getting to know headaches and the constant feeling of cold, joyful days in the woods, homeschooling again and again, balancing work, housekeeping, family time and friendships, anger and dissapointment, playfullness and love, lots of seaside, video conferences, continuous testing routines, the joy of writing, missing people and international work, despair and then more ways of activation, artistic blockade and the hunger for work and creation, more or less delicious meals by home delivery, working on a computer in a car in a parking lot, walking dates, huge time lapses in my memory, board games, the joy of being alive and together. The feeling that it is still too early to tell, time will make things clearer. Good that we have time.
vita
Matthieu Loos (Lyon, France) is an author and actor. Originally born in Strasbourg, he has studied physics, which infuses his whole work. Time is his favorite research topic, absurd and poetry his language.
how has corona changed your live?
Corona has brought back uncertainty as a rigorous thought principle. Nobody could anymore say « I know »… and this is a huge relief to me ! I feel in my element. Uncertainty is back in the game, but not anymore as a brake, and rather as a driving force.
vita
Gilly Alfeo (Cologne, Germany) is Half-Sicilian and used to be a Musician, Player and Art Director and thus played a shaping role at »Springmaus Improvisationstheater« for 22 Years. Would he be Swiss, he would be an Army-Knife - Includes everything, but improvised.
wie hat corona dein leben verändert?
Corona hat in meinem Leben alles verändert. Als Künstler, der hauptsächlich von seinen Auftritten gelebt hat, wurde ich meiner wirtschaftlichen Existenz beraubt. Es hat mir aber auch ermöglicht, ausgetretene Pfade zu verlassen, viel zu lernen und mit mehr Menschen in echten Kontakt zu kommen als je zuvor. Nie haben sich mir die zwei Seiten einer Medaille so deutlich offenbart, wie in dieser Zeit.
vita
Charlotte Gittins is an actress and documentary filmmaker, as well as a BAFTA Rocliffe award-winning writer. She was a graduate of the Central School of Speech & Drama and has performed at numerous international theatre festivals.
how has corona changed your life?
Before the pandemic hit, we knew my Mum only had a few months to live, so, when the UK went into lockdown, I went to help my parents outside London. The family were unbelievably calm and graceful, despite the fear and heartbreak; they knew people were experiencing their own life-altering events everywhere, and we all felt lucky we were able to be together. I was away from London for a long time, looking after my Dad through various lockdowns, so everyday life changed beyond all recognition – but, again, that was by no means unique to us.
As confusing as life felt, I guess there’s nothing like worldwide existential crisis and uncertainty to make you feel crystal-clear about the people and things you love! Some days, even the smallest gestures or ridiculous conversations with friends felt life-affirmingly huge. Finally getting back on stage with my castmates was terrifying, exhilarating and miraculous; I’ve always felt slightly stunned that I get to perform with people I adore for a living, but never more so than now. Between documentary-making and theatre, I usually travel a lot for work, but Berlin will be my first trip out of the UK since late 2019 and I can’t tell you how thrilling the thought of travel and the festival feels.
I definitely don’t feel any smarter, wiser or clearer about how the hell things are going to work out in life, but I’m even more grateful than ever before for the grand, tiny, enlightening, hilariously weird and profound moments I get to share with people.
www.austentatiousimpro.com
vita
Tim Orr (San Francisco, California) is part of »3 For All«, »Improv Playhouse of San Francisco«, »BATS Improv«, and »Click« (with Inbal Lori). Tim is lucky to perform and teach improv all over the world.
how has corona changed your live?
Wow, big question! The past two years has made me appreciate all the wonderful friends and colleagues I have here in San Francisco, and around the world. It’s made me think about what I value and love.
It’s made me realize that we’re in the golden age of online improv shows featuring cats.
vita
Inbal Lori (Berlin, Germany) is an actress, writer, teacher/ instructor and director, born and raised in Jerusalem, spent 15 years in Tel Aviv and now based in Berlin.She loves dogs but is not allowed to have one! She’ll join you to a karaoke session anytime.
how has corona changed your live?
It made me use the dishwasher once a day which is something I never thought was possible before that.
Unglaublich und unfassbar!!
vita
Lee White is a Canadian actor, improviser, teacher and stand-up now living in Berlin. Known for his unique view on stories and characters he is a part of many projects and shows. Most notably as half of the LoriLees (with Inbal Lori).
how has corona changed your live?
Corona has changed how I teach and perform, both live and online. It was a welcome change and challenge to get used to. The most positive development for me was slowing down and getting back to caring for myself and reflecting on what matters most in life.
vita
Nele Kießling fell in love with improv theater at the age of 16. She is an ensemble member of »Kießling&Kaffka« (impro & music), »Die Stereotypen« (impro & comedy), »Mary Shelley's Mothers« (impro & performance) and »Die Dritte Mahnung« (music, cabaret & impro) and works as a freelance host and trainer.
wie hat corona dein leben verändert?
Ich sehe meine Freund*innen per VideoCall. Ich reise weniger. Ich arbeite online. Ich arbeite hybrid. Ich arbeite mit einer Maske, auf Distanz, mit Plexiglas dazwischen. Ich habe meinen Impfpass wieder gefunden. Ich wohne kleiner. Ich trage häufiger bequemere Kleidung. Ich spare. Ich bin politischer. Ich habe ein Zoom- und ein Süddeutschen Zeitung-Abonnement. Ich wiege mehr. Ich mache Yoga. Ich habe eine engere Beziehung zu meinem Smartphone. Ich habe eine engere Beziehung zu 5 meiner Freund*innen. Ich habe weniger Körperkontakt. Ich mache mir mehr Sorgen. Ich bin mutiger. Ich bin stärker. Ich bin präziser. Ich bin dankbarer.
vita
Billy Kissa (Brussels, Belgium) is a Greek actress/improviser. She is an instructor at »Improbubble«. Travelling, teaching, performing, cats, dogs, food, gin&tonic, camping. Now you know her.
how has corona changed your live?
I'm still not sure. It made me make some hard, but good choices, this i know! Plus I found out I'm addicted to travelling. Of course my everyday life changed completely, but I'm already doing this myself from time to time! My dog had a great time, that's for sure!
vita
Felipe Ortiz (Bogota, Kolumbien) performer, director and teacher interested in playing and sharing experiences with different artists around the world. Passionate about the body in movement and its expressive possibilities.
how has corona changed your live?
It has changed my life because it made me connect with myself, live life intensively. Understand that the most important things in life are simple and easy to connect to, understand that fear is the worst enemy of humans, sometimes it protects us but if we let it take over can make us lose focus.
vita
Performer, director and teacher interested in playing and sharing experiences with different artists around the world. Passionate about the body in movement and its expressive possibilities.
how has corona changed your live?
Corona has made me think on how we can recreate our connection to our form of art.
