Improv Theatre Sydney

Founding (2014)

Carlo Ritchie and Steen Raskopoulos founded Improv Theatre Sydney in 2014. The two are also known as comedy duo The Bear Pack, one of Australia's most recognised improv and sketch pairings. From 16 students in their first class, enrolments grew to over 200, establishing ITS as Sydney's primary improv training institution.

Early Years: Giant Dwarf (2014-2021)

From its 2014 founding through to around 2019, ITS hosted shows at Giant Dwarf on Cleveland Street in Redfern. Classes ran at various inner-west Sydney locations during this period. Giant Dwarf closed in 2021.

Dedicated Venue in Redfern (2019)

ITS opened its first purpose-built dedicated venue at 44-54 Botany Road, Redfern in 2019. The venue includes two classrooms, a bar, and a 50-seat theatre. Sydney's Broadsheet described it as the city's first dedicated improv theatre at the time of opening.

Programs and Community

Alongside classes and shows, ITS runs corporate workshops (with clients including Google and Sydney Thunder), a schools program, a scholarship program, and outreach to the Cisarua Refugee Learning Centre. The school published a Bill of Rights as an inclusion charter for its community.

Improv Theatre Sydney is Sydney's dedicated improv theatre, built from 16 first students to 200+ enrolments by founders Carlo Ritchie and Steen Raskopoulos since 2014, with its own Redfern venue since 2019.