Improv Companies

Improvolution is a character-driven improv school founded in 2002 by Holly Mandel, the first female-founded and operated improv school in New York City.

Impulse Theatre is Christchurch's home of long-form improvisation, producing comedic and dramatic shows ranging from musicals to sci-fi and soap operas, and offering weekly adult classes and international masterclasses at Piano in the central city.

Instant Theatre Company is a Vancouver-based longform improv company producing professional comedy shows and training programs since 1994. The company offers improv classes from beginner to advanced and corporate training programs.

The biggest English-language improv community in Vienna, organizing improvisation theater sessions, classes, events, workshops, and shows. Vienna also hosts EUROPROV, Europe's English-language improv comedy festival.

Founded in 2014 by Josh Lenn and Katarina Wahlberg, International Theater Stockholm is an English-language improv company offering weekly shows (Garage Improv Comedy Club) and a 100-student training programme spanning beginner to advanced levels.

A Budapest-based improv company and training centre offering structured Improv Academy courses in English and Hungarian for adults, with a modular curriculum focusing on performance, communication, and self-awareness skills.

J-Town Playhouse is a Jerusalem-based performing arts company founded in 2011, offering comedy and improv shows, acting classes, workshops, and educational theater programs.

A comedy venue in Midtown Tulsa's SoBA District focused on improvisational and sketch comedy, founded in 2013 as Comedy Parlor, offering live shows, classes, and annual festivals.

Jakarta-based community improv group hosting regular open mic nights and workshops at The Gunslinger's Hop and other venues. Founded by Lizzie Chan, the club also offers the 'IMPROVing Life' workshop series.

Weekly improv practice group based in the Itaewon/Gyeongridan area of Seoul, founded in 2022. Jam Improv Seoul runs Tuesday evening sessions and has raised funds for local charities including orphanages and flood relief.

Jet City Improv is Seattle's premier improvisational theater and training organization founded in 1992, presenting live audience-interactive shows every weekend and offering improv classes for all levels.

One of Cape Town's most prominent improv troupes, Jittery Citizens perform short-form and long-form improv comedy. They have been active in developing the South African improv scene and perform regularly at Cape Town comedy venues.

Just The Funny is Miami's leading improv, sketch, and stand-up comedy school and theater with a 90-seat mainstage, a cabaret lounge, and a black box theater at 3119 Coral Way.

Kansas City's premier improv comedy company based in Westport, offering regular shows and improv training classes for all levels.

New Delhi-based theatre company and applied improv organisation founded in 2012 by artistic director Varoon P. Anand. Kaivalya Plays includes the CueLess improv team, one of Delhi's first, and produces work spanning short-form performance, mental health improv, and Goethe-Institut-funded productions.

Community improv group serving the Kansai region (Osaka and Kyoto), founded by Joshua Butts (Second City Chicago alumnus). The group holds monthly meetups in parks and community centres and focuses on interactive theatre games and improv open to participants aged 18 and over.

Ankara improv group founded 2018, performing short-form audience-driven improvisation (no scripts, no costumes). Performs regularly at Route Ankara Sahnesi.

A dedicated live comedy theater and school founded in 2021 at Hope Artiste Village, offering improv shows every weekend and a full class curriculum from 101 through 401 levels.

Warsaw's premier comedy club and improv theater, hosting a wide range of improv, stand-up, and literary cabaret.

The first professional Arab improvisation league, founded in Tunis by Nebil Daghsen, Faten Chroudi, and Jamel Chikhaoui. Performs improvisation matches in Arabic featuring two teams, a referee, and audience scoring. Established as part of the 2017 Carthage Theatre Days.

Laugh Index Theatre (LIT), founded in 2014 out of a longform improv team that began in 2010, offers improv, stand-up, and sketch comedy classes in DC along with weekly shows in Adams Morgan including the IMPROV WARS showcase format.

An improv school and training centre in the Chacarita neighbourhood of Buenos Aires offering regular classes at beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels, as well as public improv jams.

Professional theatrical improvisation ensemble (LaMI) based in Rabat, comprising performers from across Morocco. Participated in the World Improvisation Championship in France (2015) and has toured Europe and Morocco with multiple show formats.

Casablanca-based theatrical improvisation company, listed on ImprovWiki as one of Morocco's active improv groups.

Larks Improv Theatre is a community-driven improv company in Singapore offering classes at multiple levels and regular public performances. They are eligible under Singapore's Culture Pass program.

Bozeman's dedicated comedy venue offering improv and stand-up classes for all levels and hosting regular comedy shows Tuesday through Saturday with a full bar.

Sydney and Melbourne's first non-profit improv school and theater, focusing on ensemble-based comedy.

Leela Improv Theatre is a San Francisco long-form improv company and training center celebrating over 20 years of inclusive performance and education.

Leela Improv Theatre Raleigh is a dedicated improv school in Raleigh offering structured classes from intro through advanced levels, bringing Leela's 20+ years of San Francisco teaching experience to North Carolina.

Coeur d'Alene's dedicated improv comedy theater offering regular performances, 4-week improv class sessions, free workshops, and corporate team-building programs.

Mendoza's foundational theatrical improvisation league, founded in 2011 by Esteban Agnello and collaborators from the University of Cuyo arts community. Operating on a competitive match format with audience-prompted unscripted scenes, the Liga has run 15 seasons, been declared of Cultural Interest by the Mendoza Legislature, and organised the FIDI international improv festival (2017, 2019) and the South American Improvisation Tournament.

The professional improv league in Argentina, focusing on the Match style of improv.

Liga Tica de Improvisación is a theatrical improvisation company based at Teatro Giratablas in San José, founded in 2003 by Argentine improvisers Bárbara Traverso and Javier Bacchetta. The group performs competitive and long-form improvisation and has organized ENIMPRO, an annual national improvisation festival.

Little Improv Theatre is the home of ComedySportz San Antonio, presenting improv comedy shows for all ages and offering structured improv classes and corporate training.

Pretoria-based bilingual improv comedy group featuring Monique Nortje, Hannes Brummer, Melt Sieberhagen, and Al Prodgers, performing audience-interactive shows at venues including Casa Toscana.

Logan Square Improv is a 501(c)(3) non-profit improv comedy theater in Chicago offering nightly shows and a multi-level class program at affordable prices.

London improv company and school founded by Jake Lyons, offering weekly drop-in sessions, scene-work classes, and multi-day intensives for beginners through advanced performers.

Co-founded by Keith Johnstone and Mel Tonken in Calgary, Loose Moose is the birthplace of Theatresports, Maestro, Gorilla Theatre, and Life Game. Johnstone developed these formats at Loose Moose after arriving at the University of Calgary from the Royal Court Theatre in London. Dennis Cahill became Artistic Director in 1998. Notable alumni include Bruce McCulloch and Mark McKinney of The Kids in the Hall.

Created in 2000, Lospleimovil are the pioneers of stage improvisation in Chile. The company runs the largest improv school in Santiago, hosts the Impro Chile World Cup, and has a Conservatory in Improv and Comedy. They are one of the earliest and most influential improv institutions in South America.

Luke Yu Comedy is a Singapore-based improv company offering shows, classes, and corporate workshops. Their long-form performance team New Kitten Party performs at venues across Singapore.

Founded in January 2014, MAD Improv is Madrid's home of English-language improv, offering regular shows in multiple formats alongside structured beginner and intermediate courses and weekly improv gyms.

Founded in 2018, MOB Theatre Dublin is an alternative comedy collective offering weekly live improv comedy nights at Wigwam Dublin and courses in improv comedy and screenwriting.

Cairo improv theatre group offering beginning courses in improvisation and performances in the Maadi and greater Cairo areas, with lessons at Cairo American College.

Founded in March 2005 by Armando Diaz, Ed Herbstman, and Shannon O'Neill. Diaz created the Armando format at iO Chicago in 1995, one of the most widely performed long-form structures in improv. The Magnet Theater became one of New York's premier improv training centers and performance venues.

Turkey's founding improv institution, active since 2001 and among the first to introduce theatresports to Turkey (January 2008). Performs regularly at Trump Sahne (Mecidiyeköy) and offers ongoing workshops.

A longform improv school in downtown Portland offering multi-level classes (Intro and Advanced) culminating in graduation shows at the Portland Media Center.

A Cape Town-based improvisation company that produces shows and runs an annual improv festival. Mama City Improv has been instrumental in building an improv community in the Western Cape.

Mission IMPROVable is a spy-themed short-form improv company that began at UMass Amherst in the 1990s and later became closely associated with Westside Comedy in Santa Monica.

Mockingbird Improv is San Diego's only nonprofit improv theater, founded in 2021 at ARTS DISTRICT Liberty Station, offering weekly shows, improv classes, and youth programs.

Moment Improv Theatre is a narrative improv theater and training center in downtown San Francisco offering multi-level classes, live shows, and corporate workshops.

Founded in 2003 and credited with founding the improvisational theatre genre in Hungary, Momentán Társulat is Budapest's longest-running improv company with over 3,000 performances, offering shows in Hungarian and English and regular workshops at its own IMPRÓ theater.

Founded in 2015 by Dina Mild, Moscow Improv Club is Moscow's first international improv and stand-up community, offering English and Russian-language classes, shows, open mics, and masterclasses.

Alaska's most diverse improv troupe, founded in September 2017, performing unscripted comedy shows at various Anchorage venues.

Urban stand-up and improv comedy club in Nairobi performing primarily in English.

One of East Africa's first dedicated improv comedy groups, performing and teaching improvisation in Nairobi. The group has helped establish an improv community in Kenya.

Nashville Improv is Nashville's dedicated improv comedy headquarters, presenting regular live shows and offering multi-level improv classes and corporate training.

National Comedy Theatre is San Diego's longest-running improv comedy theater, presenting fully audience-suggested shows since 1999 with over 7,000 performances.

Gurugram (NCR)-based improv performing group and workshop provider with over 600 community members. The founder Ankur has trained over 2,000 students and performed more than 100 shows across the Delhi–NCR region.

Kathmandu-based improv company that trains and performs with local improv troupes in Nepal.

Bangalore-based improv performance group that ran shows at local venues including Medai - The Stage.

A foundational Rio de Janeiro theatre school founded in 1951 by Maria Clara Machado, whose free improvisation course has trained generations of Brazilian actors. Located in Lagoa at Av. Lineu de Paula Machado 795, O Tablado bills itself as a school of theatrical improvisation, offering in-person and online courses.

Oklahoma's premiere improv performance showcase and teaching institution located in the historic Plaza District, founded in 2009, offering ongoing shows and classes.

OTRimprov is a Cincinnati-based improv company in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood offering interactive shows, affordable classes, and corporate creativity workshops.

Southern Utah's longest-running improv theater, founded in 2004, presenting fully-improvised weekly comedy shows and an extensive class curriculum from Improv 101 through advanced.

On the Fly Impro is South Australia's premier improvisational theatre training organisation, offering term-based classes for all skill levels and live performances on Kaurna Land in Adelaide.

Only the Human is a Perth-based social enterprise and cooperative that operates as both a performing venue and improv school, offering classes and shows to build a thriving improvisation community in Western Australia.

Cape Town improv theatre company offering corporate team building workshops, weekly improv jams, and live entertainment.

Founded in 2008, Os Improváveis is Lisbon's pioneering improv troupe, performing improvised theatre in Portuguese. The group has been central to establishing an improv scene in Portugal.

A Bogota-based improv company founded in 2011 by former members of La Gata Impro and La Gata Cirko, specialising in transdisciplinary improvised theatre projects and corporate workshops. The company produces the Monkey FEST, an international improv festival in Bogota.

Paper Street Theatre Co. is a Victoria, BC improvisation ensemble directed by Dave Morris that creates unscripted performances in the style of established theatrical forms. The company offers multi-level improv classes and has appeared at international festivals in Vancouver, London, Romania, and Amsterdam.

Shanghai-based improv comedy group founded around 2013, performing short- and long-form improv at venues including Kung Fu Komedy Club. The group also offered corporate training and toured to Chengdu and other Chinese cities.

Philly Improv Theater (PHIT) has been the heart of Philadelphia's nationally recognized comedy scene since 2005, training over 1,000 students annually in improv, sketch, stand-up, and acting.

Planet Ant Theatre is a Hamtramck, Michigan improv and comedy theater founded in 2000, home to the longest-running improv show in Detroit and a training center for improv, sketch, and acting.

Delhi-based improv comedy studio and performing group, described as Delhi's first dedicated comedy studio. Founded by Baneet Chhabra, Priya Sharma, and Shivam Srivastava, operating from the Saket neighbourhood of New Delhi.

An experimental theatre on the University of Chicago campus co-founded by Paul Sills, David Shepherd, and Eugene Troobnick. The Playwrights Theatre Club staged scripted work and served as the direct precursor to the Compass Players. The fire department shut it down in 1955 for code violations.

Portland Comedy Theater is the home of ComedySportz Portland, presenting live improv comedy shows for all ages and offering improv training classes and corporate workshops.

Tasmanian improv group producing live shows from Theatresports-style formats to full dramatic long-form plays. Facebook-primary presence.

A 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to improv comedy, founded in 2012 at the AS220 arts complex, hosting live shows every Friday and Saturday night and offering multi-level classes and workshops.

Nairobi artistic collective offering world-class stand-up and improv comedy, with weekly workshops, open mics, and shows at venues including Two Grapes Kilimani.

Manchester's own improv troupe founded in 2017, performing short-form and long-form improv at the Palace Theatre and offering free open sessions for all experience levels.

One of Utah's oldest and most influential improv troupes performing every Friday since 1994 at Midvale Performing Arts Center; nearly every Utah improv troupe traces roots to Quick Wits.

RISE Comedy (formerly Voodoo Comedy Playhouse) is a dedicated Denver improv comedy club and theater founded in 2011, presenting improv shows and offering training classes.

Founded in 2021, Rails Comedy operates at the DC Arts Center in Adams Morgan and presents improv and sketch comedy shows alongside multi-level comedy classes and workshops.

Edmonton's longest-running improv theatre, originating when Stephen Heatley brought Theatresports to the city in 1981 through Theatre Network. The company was formally incorporated in 1988 under Artistic Director Jack Smith. Rapid Fire has performed at the Varscona Theatre and The Citadel Theatre.

An award-winning improv comedy company in the Boise metro offering shows, classes in improv and storytelling, corporate training, and free monthly community improv jams.

Budapest English-language improv theatre, founded in 2015. Produces short-form and long-form shows. Facebook-primary presence.

Founded in 2013, Renegade Saints is the longest-running English-language improv comedy company in Geneva, offering regular shows, drop-in workshops, and classes for all levels.

A 501(c)(3) nonprofit theater in Reno teaching and performing improv, public speaking, and sketch comedy for adults of all skill levels, offering multi-level courses and weekend workshops.

Richmond Improv Theatre Society (RITS) is a community arts organization based at 7700 Minoru Gate in Richmond, BC, offering improv classes, drop-in sessions, and performance opportunities for all ages and skill levels. The society runs programs in partnership with the City of Richmond and Richmond Cultural Centre.

New Jersey's only performing arts school fully dedicated to teaching and performing comedic improvisation, founded in 2018, offering classes for kids (grades 3-12) and adults, plus shows and corporate events.

Short-form improv comedy troupe based in Rockford, Illinois, performing unscripted comedy in the style of Whose Line Is It Anyway. Website (rockfordimprov.com) was last archived in December 2014 and is currently dead (404), indicating the group went dark circa 2014–2015.

Founded in 2013 (originally as Improkraatia), Ruutu10 is Tallinn's established improv comedy centre offering regular shows in Tallinn and Tartu alongside improv classes and workshops.

SAK Comedy Lab is a 250-seat dedicated improv comedy theater in downtown Orlando founded in 1991, presenting nightly shows and operating one of the largest improv training centers in the US.

Rotterdam's dedicated English-language improv school and community offering beginner through performance-level courses, regular shows, and monthly taster sessions across multiple Rotterdam venues.

Billed as Asia's premier improvisational theater group, SPIT has been the longest-running performing improv group in the Philippines for over 16 years. The troupe has grown a significant following through live shows and social media, and is connected to the broader Manila Improv Festival ecosystem.

A Montevideo theatre club offering workshops and courses in improvisation, clown, theatre and personal development, including intensive courses and summer workshops.

Nonprofit improv comedy theater and school founded 2010 by Jeff Kinsler, operating inside Shoppingtown Mall in DeWitt (suburban Syracuse). Produced shows, workshops, and classes in improv, sketch, and stand-up. Closed permanently in 2020 when Shoppingtown Mall shuttered during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company later resurfaced in Oneida, NY.

A 501(c)(3) nonprofit improv school and performance company founded in 2009, offering 8-week adult classes, weekly drop-in sessions, and Saturday evening shows.

Alaska's longest-running improv troupe, founded around 2006 and celebrating 20 years of comedy, offering improv shows and a class and workshop program in Anchorage.

Berlin-based improvisational theatre ensemble and school at 18 Boxhagener Straße, with over 25 years of experience. Offers ensemble shows and the Scratch Impro School, providing beginner courses and advanced workshops.