Improvisation in Vancouver
Companies
Festivals
Historical Moments
Vancouver TheatreSports League Founded
Keith Johnstone's 1980 Vancouver workshop catalyzed the formation of the Vancouver TheatreSports League, formally incorporated as a BC Society in 1981 and home to Colin Mochrie among its inaugural performers.
Instant Theatre Company Founded in Vancouver
Instant Theatre Company was founded in Vancouver in 1993 or 1994, beginning in Gastown and establishing long-form improv as a complement to the city's existing Theatresports tradition.
Vancouver International Improv Festival Launches
Instant Theatre Company launched the Vancouver International Improv Festival in 1999, establishing one of North America's longest-running dedicated improv festivals.
Vancouver TheatreSports Opens Dedicated Granville Island Theatre
Vancouver TheatreSports League opened its purpose-built 186-seat theatre at 1502 Duranleau Street on Granville Island in 2011, naming it The Improv Centre and expanding to 12 shows per week.
The Improv Centre Opens on Granville Island
Vancouver TheatreSports League opened its purpose-built 186-seat theatre at 1502 Duranleau Street on Granville Island in 2011, naming it The Improv Centre and expanding to 12 shows per week.
Sour Dog Theatre Founded in Calgary
Ali Froggatt, Sarah Ferguson, and Quinn Contini founded Sour Dog Theatre in Calgary, Alberta in 2014, the company that would later become Tightrope Theatre in Vancouver.
Sour Dog Theatre Rebrands as Tightrope Theatre
In 2020 the company rebranded from Sour Dog Theatre to Tightrope Theatre, completing its transition to its Vancouver Mount Pleasant identity.
Vancouver TheatreSports League Rebrands as The Improv Centre
In 2021 the organization officially changed its name from Vancouver TheatreSports League to The Improv Centre, reflecting its evolution into a multi-format improv training and performance organization.
Vancouver TheatreSports League Renamed The Improv Centre
In 2021 the organization formally adopted The Improv Centre as its official registered name, completing the transition from its founding identity as Vancouver TheatreSports League.
How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). Vancouver. Retrieved March 17, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/locales/north-america/canada/british-columbia/vancouver
The Improv Archive. "Vancouver." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/locales/north-america/canada/british-columbia/vancouver.
The Improv Archive. "Vancouver." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/locales/north-america/canada/british-columbia/vancouver. Accessed March 17, 2026.
The Improv Archive is a systemically maintained repository. The archive itself acts as the corporate author.