Performance
The structures and styles that define what happens on stage. Games, formats, branded shows, and the media they inspired.
712 structures in the archive
Games
Short-form activities, scenic handles, and audience-facing play.
Formats
Complex structural frameworks. The Harold, Armando, and beyond.
Branded Shows
ComedySportz, Cage Match, Theatresports, and named productions.
Media
TV, podcasts, and films tied to improvisational performance.
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FormatTheatresports
TheatreSports is a competitive long-form format in which two or more improv teams perform scenes judged by an audience or panel, with scoring, fouls, and challenges drawn from the conventions of athletic competition. Created by **Keith Johnstone** in Calgary in the 1970s, TheatreSports is one of the most widely performed improv formats in the world and the foundation of a global network of licensed companies operating under the International Theatresports Institute.
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Short-Form Improv
Games, audience suggestions, competition, and fast resets. The tradition of Spolin, Theatresports, and Whose Line.
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Long-Form Improv
Scene work, recurring patterns, ensemble memory, and format architecture. From the Harold to the unknown.
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