Eighteen Improv troupes will be hoest at the festival’s new venue partner Midlands Arts Centre where the Festival Director Jon Trevor has been running improv courses for the last year and putting on end-of-term performances for friends and family of participants. This will mark the Festival’s first season at MAC.

The five-day festival features the USA based Baby Wants Candy one of the world’s most popular and celebrated musical improvisational ensembles; London’s famous The Comedy Store Players whose alumni include Paul Merton, Mike Myers and beloved local Josie Lawrence; Do The Right Scene a fast-paced improv troupe comprised of Black improvisers who are shaking up the world of improv; Comediasians the UK’s first pan-Asian improv troupe dedicated to celebrating Asian comedy and performers; QI: Queer Improv London’s first all queer improv group bringing audiences big gay laughs and Canada’s FANDCO who perform in a projected virtual world with actors live on stage, combining motion capture and virtual reality.

Jon Trevor, Festival Director and respected improv artist, said: “I am very excited to announce that the festival is back! We have gathered together a very impressive five days of the best improv on the planet. This year we have a fantastic diverse line up featuring improvisers who are stepping into technology for the first time; hilarious crime scene improv; a tech-infused improv and science comedy show; an incredible animated show co-created by improvisers and a live audience and an evening of hip-hop musical numbers based on audience stories and suggestions. And, for opera fans, we have the acclaimed Impropera a troupe of fpir trained opera singers who make up operas on the spot!

“We are particularly delighted that our venue partner Midlands Arts Centre has climbed on board the improv train for 2022 enabling us to reach a far wider audience.”

Deborah Kermode, Chief Executive and Artistic Director, Midlands Arts Centre added: “This is the first Improv Festival we have hosted at MAC, and we’re excited for audiences to join us for a brilliant line-up of world-class improv with lots of belly laughs. There’s tons to see, so come along and experience something completely new!”

As well as live performances Birmingham Improv Festval will be running two exclusive improv workshops led by performers. This is a unique opportunity to work with industry professionals Baby Wants Candy, who will host a musical improv workshop, and Follow the Fun (or how to avoid the tyranny of structure…) with Dylan Emery of Grand Theft Impro. Full details of the workshops and how to book can be found on the festival website.