Wellington and New Zealand's only exclusively long-form improv comedy school, founded in 2016 by James Smith and Clare Kerrison. The company performs and teaches improv modelled on American long-form institutions including UCB, iO Chicago, the Pack Theatre, and the Annoyance Theatre.
History
James Smith discovered improv in 2013 and trained with the Improv Conspiracy in Melbourne. Upon returning to New Zealand he met Clare Kerrison, a local improviser and teacher, and together they co-founded Basejump in Wellington in 2016. The school offers a structured curriculum beginning with a Level One foundation course, with regular public performances at Wellington venues and participation in the NZ Fringe Festival.
Artistic Identity
Basejump teaches and performs exclusively long-form improvisation, drawing explicitly on the UCB, iO, Pack Theatre, and Annoyance Theatre traditions. The school's curriculum is modelled on American long-form training institutions, occupying a distinct niche from short-form and Theatresports companies in New Zealand.
How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). BaseJump Improv. Retrieved March 17, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/companies/basejump-improv
The Improv Archive. "BaseJump Improv." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/companies/basejump-improv.
The Improv Archive. "BaseJump Improv." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/companies/basejump-improv. Accessed March 17, 2026.
The Improv Archive is a systemically maintained repository. The archive itself acts as the corporate author.