Auckland Improv Festival
The Auckland Improv Festival is a week-long celebration of improvisational theatre held at the Covert Theatre in Ponsonby, Auckland, New Zealand. Co-founded by Wade Jackson and Matías Avaca, it is produced by Covert Theatre and powered by The Yes And Trust, a registered New Zealand charity. The festival brings together international instructors and performers for workshops and shows, with mixer shows giving workshop participants an opportunity to perform.
History
Originally planned to launch in 2020, the festival was cancelled due to Covid and first ran under lockdown constraints in 2021 and 2022. It expanded to a full five-day international event in 2023 and has grown into a week-long festival since 2024.
Significance
The festival is staged at the Covert Theatre in Ponsonby, described as the spiritual home of improvisation in New Zealand, and draws international instructors and performers from countries including the United States, Japan, Germany, Canada, and Australia.
Need current dates or submissions? This is a historical archive. Visit improvfestivals.org for live festival listings.
How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). Auckland Improv Festival. Retrieved September 21, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/festivals/auckland-improv-festival
The Improv Archive. "Auckland Improv Festival." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/festivals/auckland-improv-festival.
The Improv Archive. "Auckland Improv Festival." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/festivals/auckland-improv-festival. Accessed September 21, 2026.
The Improv Archive is a systemically maintained repository. The archive itself acts as the corporate author.