Improv Companies

St. Louis franchise of the ComedySportz competitive improv comedy format, offering shows and improv training.

A theatre school and production company in Porto Alegre offering courses in interpretation, improvisation, and actor performance, and producing original theatrical shows. Founded in partnership with Casa de Espetaculos in Moinhos de Vento, Porto Alegre.

Founded in 2010 by Yungaro Santalla, the first company in Bolivia to present theatrical improvisation performances. Their production Atemporal has toured Bolivia. Facebook-primary presence.

St. Louis nonprofit improv company dedicated to fostering community through improvisational theater performance and education.

The St. Louis outpost of the original Compass Players, operating at the Crystal Palace nightclub in 1957–1958. Directed by Theodore J. Flicker, with Mike Nichols, Elaine May, and Del Close as company members. Del Close began developing his comedy philosophy here, and the friction between Flicker's character-sketch approach and David Shepherd's politically engaged vision contributed to the company's collapse — the same tension that had driven the original Chicago run. A historically distinct entity from the Chicago Compass Players.

One of Mexico's most influential improv companies and schools, specializing in long-form and dramatic improv.

A 501(c)3 nonprofit theater founded in 2005 that produces scripted and improvised work, including Improv 101 classes and the annual Ocean State Improv Festival.

An annual theatrical improvisation tournament held at Teatro Tajamar in Mendoza, featuring approximately ten teams and forty improvisers competing in unscripted scenes drawn from audience prompts. Self-described as "el torneo mas picante de la Argentina."

Founded in 2001, Covert Theatre is Auckland's dedicated improvisation company, producing shows and training in New Zealand's largest city.

Crossroads Comedy Theater Indianapolis is a dedicated comedy and improv theater and school at 525 S Meridian Street offering classes in improv, sketch writing, and stand-up for all levels.

Active improv ensemble in Tucuman performing audience-suggestion improvised shows. 2800+ Instagram followers; covered by La Gaceta and El Tucumano.

Curious Comedy Theater is a Portland nonprofit comedy theater and training center founded by Stacey Hallal in 2008.

Founded in 2004 by Zach Ward in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. DSI (formerly the Duke Street Improv) produces improv comedy and hosts training programs. Ward is a performer and teacher who has been influential in building the improv scene in the Research Triangle area.

Mobile's resident improv comedy troupe — four experienced improvisers creating unscripted one-act comedic plays from audience suggestions, performing at venues including Chickasaw Civic Theater.

Founded in 1995, Dad's Garage is Atlanta's premier improvisational and experimental theatre company. The theatre produces long-form improvisation, sketch comedy, and original theatrical productions. It relocated to the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood in 2012 and has become a cornerstone of the Atlanta comedy scene.

Dallas Comedy Club is a multi-use improv, sketch, stand-up, and storytelling venue and training center in Deep Ellum, Dallas, offering regular shows and youth programming.

Norway's leading improv theater and school, hosting national and international performances.

Founded in 2022 by performers trained at The Second City Chicago and the International College of Musical Theatre London, Dice Theater is a Gothenburg improv and musical theatre company offering shows several times a week and structured classes.

Founded in 1997, Die Gorillas is one of Berlin's longest-running and most prominent improvisation ensembles. The group performs long-form improvised plays in German and has been influential in developing the German-language improv scene.

Hamburg professional improv network offering shows at die Motte and Goldbekhaus, an Improschule with structured courses, and corporate training. Active for over 25 years.

A live improvised soap opera running weekly in Edmonton since 1991. Patti Stiles was a founding member. The show features a serialized narrative performed entirely through improvisation, with performers maintaining characters across episodes. Notable alumni include Mark Meer and Nathan Fillion.

Founded in 2021 by Irish performer Melissa Dalton, Dig Deep Improv is Luxembourg City's English-language improv theatre company offering shows, courses, corporate workshops, and jam nights.

Ankara-based short-form improv company (theatresports) founded February 2015, formed from alumni of Tümden Uydurmalar. Performs regularly at Route Ankara Sahnesi (Selanik Street); confirmed ticketed show June 2025.

Opened in May 2015 as DC's first brick-and-mortar space dedicated to improv and sketch comedy, originally at 3503 Georgia Ave NW. Dojo Comedy offers a five-level improv curriculum alongside sketch comedy classes and regular weekend performances.

Shenzhen-based English-language long-form improv group founded in 2018, creating one-act-play-style shows from a single audience suggestion. The group incorporates live musical performances from local songwriters into its format.

Dongxi Improv is a bilingual English-Chinese improvisational theatre company based in Shanghai, China, offering performances and training workshops for adults in both languages.

Istanbul improv company founded 2005 with over 1,000 stage and screen shows. Performs original long-form formats and provides corporate improv training to 100+ companies.

Dubai's foundational multi-genre comedy school and performance company, founded 2008 by Mina Liccione and Ali Al Sayed. Offers ongoing improv courses (including Improv Jam) and weekly public comedy shows at Social Distrikt.

Dynamic El Dorado is Atlanta's comedy incubator for improv, clown, stand-up, and sketch comedy, offering classes every weekday and performances every weekend.

Mexico City improv school described as the first institution in Mexico dedicated to teaching and researching theatrical improvisation technique.

Eskişehir short-form improv comedy company founded 2018, performing approximately twice monthly at ArtCorner Sahne. Confirmed ticketed show March 2025.

An improv theatre school in Buenos Aires with locations in Palermo (Niceto Vega 4802) and Villa Crespo (Malabia 852), offering classes at all levels as well as corporate workshops and public jams.

English-language improv workshop and performance organisation founded by Dutch drama teacher Albert Schimmel, operating in Düsseldorf and Cologne. Runs weekly classes, weekend workshops, open improv stages, and corporate workshops throughout Germany.

FIG (Formosa Improv Group, 福爾摩沙即興組合) is Taiwan's first fully bilingual improv team, founded in 2018 in Taipei. They perform monthly shows and run weekly bilingual improv workshops.

Ecuador's first and longest-running theatrical improvisation company, founded in 2003 by Hugo Avilés and Ruth Coello after seeing an improvisation match by LPI (Liga Profesional de Improvisacion) in Buenos Aires. Fantoche organised the first-ever improvisation match in Ecuador in August 2003, and in 2010 opened Casa Fantoche, a dedicated 25-seat micro-theatre space at Rocafuerte 264 y Loja in central Guayaquil offering regular improv shows and training workshops.

A Birmingham improv comedy arts space founded by the Gladys long-form improv group, offering improv shows and a leveled class curriculum from Intro to Advanced.

San Diego's dedicated longform improv training center and performance venue, founded September 2012 by Amy Lisewski. Opened first physical theater at the Lafayette Hotel (North Park) in Fall 2013; relocated to Hillcrest in December 2018. Offers weekly performances and a multi-level class program.

A non-profit English-language improv association founded in 2015 in Tampere, offering classes and workshops for all levels, live performances, and the annual Tampere Improv Festival.

A dedicated improv theater and school in Wichita offering weekly shows and drop-in classes at multiple levels.

Four Day Weekend is a Fort Worth-based improvisational comedy company presenting weekly audience-driven shows since 1997, performing at Stage West Theatre and expanding to Dallas.

A nonprofit improv theatre founded in 1991 in Chicago, known for unscripted parody. The Free Associates had a successful run at the Ivanhoe Theater's second stage beginning in 1994 until the theatre was sold in January 2001.

Chiang Mai-based community improv group founded in February 2016, with around 20 performers. Free Birds holds weekly workshops open to all ages and backgrounds, with no language barrier required.

Founded in 2014, Funnylicious Theater is Slovakia's first English-language improv comedy troupe and training centre, offering monthly mainstage shows and beginner through advanced classes, with students invited to perform in mainstage productions.

Seoul's dedicated comedy theatre, billing itself as Korea's only stage for stand-up, improv, and sketch comedy. Founded in 2015 in Yongsan-gu, Funtastic Theater is the home venue for Seoul City Improv and hosts regular Theatresports events.

Garden City Improv is a Victoria, BC improv company offering weekly shows and classes from beginner to advanced, led by Second City Toronto veteran Kevin Matviw. Classes are held at Theatre SKAM and include longform improv and sketch comedy.

Active since 2005, Gbgimpro (Göteborgs Improvisationsteater) is one of Sweden's most established improv companies, performing continuously at Redbergsteatern and satellite venues, offering the broadest range of improv formats in Sweden and hosting the annual Improfest Gothenburg.

Regina improvisational theatre troupe known for producing and touring improv comedy. Notable alumni include Tatiana Maslany and Amy Matysio. Nominated for Best Improv Troupe at the Canadian Comedy Awards in 2010. Performed regularly at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum.

Glasgow's dedicated improv theatre and school, offering structured classes, house teams, workshops, and regular shows including performances during the Glasgow Comedy Festival. Operates from The Old Hairdressers venue on Renfield Street.

Founded in 2008 in Ferndale, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. Go Comedy! is metro Detroit's dedicated improv theatre, producing nightly shows and operating a training center. The theatre has helped build an improv community in the Detroit area.

Established in 1987 as The Groundlings East, a sister company of the Los Angeles-based Groundlings. The theatre became independent and renamed itself Gotham City Improv in 1988. The board suspended performances around 2015.

Budapest's first and largest improv theater and training center.

A Taipei-based improv theatre company that performs and teaches improvisation in Taiwan. Guts has helped establish an improv community in Taipei alongside venues like Two Three Comedy, Taiwan's first full-time bilingual comedy club.

Theatrical improvisation association founded in 2008 offering workshops in schools, prisons, and community settings across the French Caribbean, with regular public shows across Guadeloupe.

İzmit-based improv group, participants in the 2016–2017 BKM Mutfak Doğaçlama Tiyatro Ligi (a respected national improv league). Current activity status uncertain.

HUGE Theater was a Minneapolis long-form improv theater and training center that grew from a collective founded in 2005 into a major Twin Cities improv institution before closing in October 2024.

Founded in 2009 by five professional actors, HaHaHa Impro Theater is Bulgaria's first professional improv group, performing regular short-form and long-form shows at Vlaykova Cinema in Sofia and running Impro Klas, a training programme with over 100 professional graduates.

Regina's independent improv theatre group, offering weekly workshops and regular public performances.

Eskişehir improv group founded 2013. Performed joint shows with Tiyatro Alegori and ran regular Friday evening shows. Last documented activity 2017; current status uncertain.

Regina improv company founded in 2013 by Andrew Parry, Cameron Chomyn, Danny Murphy, and Samantha Gross. Ran regular shows and workshops in Regina before closing.

Hong Kong Improv (HKI) was founded in 2015 to grow the art of improvised comedy in Hong Kong. They present regular shows, host classes for all levels, and organize workshops with local and international teachers.

Hong Kong's English-language improv community, with troupes including Pajama Party!, 852 Crew, and 3 Dudes Improv performing long-form, short-form, and free-form improvisation. The community has organized the HK International Improv Festival.

Founded in 2006 by Steve Roe, Hoopla is London's largest improvisation training company and theatre. Hoopla runs courses, drop-in workshops, and produces shows across multiple London venues. It has been instrumental in growing the UK improv scene and making improvisation accessible to a wide audience.

Winner of the NYC Tournament of Improvisers, an improv comedy company offering professional shows, classes, and corporate workshops in New Jersey for over 15 years.

Ljubljana's dedicated improvisational theatre company offering regular performances and the IGLU Impro School, providing multi-semester training programmes including a classical improv theatre track and personal development workshops.

Dubai's premier improv comedy troupe and training company, active since at least 2016. Offers regular performances and improv classes for adults.

Indonesia's first improvisational comedy group, a five-person ensemble of national stand-up comedians based in South Jakarta. IMPROVINDO performs live shows and collaborates with Hahaha Corp for larger productions.

Seoul-based bilingual improv troupe founded in 2014 by Hellena Jang, a Chicago-trained improv performer (iO, Second City, Annoyance, ComedySportz). Imfrog is likely the first Korean-language improv company on the peninsula and co-produces shows with Seoul City Improv.

Founded in 2019, ImpAct Improv offers weekly in-person classes for all levels and community shows in Dublin, with a curriculum originally developed in Munich and expanded internationally.

Impact Comedy HK offers improv comedy school programs and edutainment shows in Hong Kong, using improvisation to foster teamwork, communication, and critical thinking.

A long-form improv training and performance company founded by Kevin Patrick Robbins in Toronto. The Impatient Theatre Co. was largely responsible for the proliferation of long-form improvisation in Toronto. The company closed in 2013 when Robbins transitioned to full-time photography.

A Montevideo acting institute offering workshops in theatrical improvisation and performance for all ages, with a focus on helping students discover and develop their creative voice.

Imposters Theater is Cleveland's dedicated improv and comedy theater offering a full program of long-form improv, sketch, stand-up, and storytelling classes taught by industry professionals.

Founded in 2010, Imprevisti Su Misura is a Milan-based improv troupe specialising in fully unscripted short-form shows built from audience suggestions, as well as improv courses and event performances.

Impro ACT is Canberra's longest-running improvised theatre company, founded in 2005, offering classes at all levels and performing comedic, dramatic, musical, and experimental unscripted theatre including the annual Canberra International Festival of Improvisation (Improvention).

A school and performing troupe in Paris offering English and French improv classes and shows.

Founded in 1985, Impro Australia is one of the earliest Theatresports licensees outside of Canada. Based in Sydney, the company has been performing Theatresports and other improvised formats for nearly four decades and was instrumental in establishing an improv scene in Australia.

An English-language improvisation theatre company in Brussels offering classes at all levels, regular public shows, and the annual Brussels Shuffle international improv festival.

Tokyo improvisational theater specialist group, founded 2010. Develops 'concept impro' — a style crossing the boundary between improvisation and scripted performance. Produces shows, workshops, and student Theatresports competitions. Grand Prix winner at Theatre Theater Festival 2019. Japanese-language company.

Beirut-based improv training school and performance company offering workshops and shows in Lebanon.

Founded in 2018, Impro Helsinki is Helsinki's leading long-form improv school and performance company, offering a structured curriculum from beginner to advanced and regular public shows.

Founded in 2001, Impro Japan (formerly Tokyo Improv Group) is one of Japan's earliest English-language improvisation companies. The group performs Theatresports-style shows and offers training, helping to establish an improv scene in Tokyo.