Australian Improv Community Unites To Help Charity

Got something that might make a nice gift? Something new or a quality used item? Why not bring it to a show? Make it feel special. See your gift star in an improvised comedy with some of the country's top improvisers! You laugh. Then your gift goes to the St Vincent De Paul Society and everyone feels special!

The Australian Impro Collective (AIC) is calling on the goodwill of theatre audiences this Christmas. We need you and your stage presents for the AIC's premiere, national production, Impro Unwrapped and St Vincent De Paul's 2009 Christmas Appeal.

In an Australian first, improvisers from Sydney (Impro Australia), Melbourne (Impro Melbourne), Brisbane (Impro Mafia), Perth (Spontaneous Insanity) and the nation's capital, Canberra (Impro ACT), have united to form the Australian Impro Collective. The Collective's first show, Impro Unwrapped, the brainchild of renowned improvisers Glenn Hall and Cale Bain, will be performed by each of the state improvisation groups respectively, throughout December.

So how does it work? You bring a wrapped Christmas gift to the show. We will randomly select and unwrap gifts during the show. The unwrapped gifts will be the inspiration for our Christmas stories and songs all made up on the spot, without a script, without a rehearsal, live before your very eyes! At the end of the night, gifts will be re-wrapped and donated to the fine folk at St Vincent De Paul to pass on to those less fortunate.

In Melbourne, Impro Unwrapped will be produced by ‘Impro Melbourne' the company that brings you a wide range of quality and diverse improvisation shows such as Theatresports^TM, The Impro Cave, Late Nite Impro, and Celebrity Theatresports^TM. Impro Unwrapped will feature the Christmas cheer of Lliam Amor, Rik Brown, Mike Bryant, Simon Dowling, Sean Fabri, Mark Gambino, Jason Geary, Victoria Healy, Jenny Lovell, Karl McConnell, Michelle Nussy, Tim Redmond, Anna Renzenbrink, Jamie Robertson, Patti Stiles, and Kevin Yank.

We are relying on your stage presents to make this a night to remember!

The joy of giving always surpasses the thrill of receiving -and every present has a story. See yours come to life at Impro Unwrapped and support St Vincent De Paul's 2009 Christmas Appeal.

Performance and booking details for all of the Australian Impro Collective's respective productions of Impro Unwrapped around the country follow.

The Australian Impro Collective presents Impro Unwrapped - Performance Details:

Impro Melbourne - Melbourne, Victoria
Date: 7.30pm, Sunday 6th December
Venue: The Penny Black 420 Sydney Road Brunswick
Tickets: $20 or $10 if you bring a quality, wrapped item as a gift for St Vincent De Paul's Christmas Appeal
Bookings: On line at http://impromelbourne.com.au/shows/xmas2009
Directed by: Patti Stiles
Cast: Lliam Amor, Rik Brown, Mike Bryant, Simon Dowling, Sean Fabri, Mark Gambino, Jason Geary, Victoria Healy, Karl McConnell, Michelle Nussey, Tim Redmond, Anna Renzenbrink, Jamie Robertson, Patti Stiles, Kevin Yank

Spontaneous Insanity - Perth, Western Australia
Date: 7.30pm, Saturday 12th December
Venue: Hollywood Subiaco Bowling Club, Corner Smyth Road & Verdun Street, Nedlands
Tickets: $20 or $10 if you bring a quality, wrapped item as a gift for St Vincent De Paul's Christmas Appeal
Directed by: Glenn Hall
Cast: Nadia Collins, Jimmy James Eaton, Glenn Hall, Arielle Gray, Ben Russell, Liam Ryan, Andrea Gibbs and Craig Williams

Impro Australia - Sydney, New South Wales
Dates: 8th - 19th December (except Sunday and Monday)
Venue: The Sidetrack Theatre, 142 Addison Road, Marrickville
Tickets: $20 and $18 (concession)
Bookings: (02) 9550 3666 or www.sidetrack.com.au
Directed by: Cale Bain
Cast: Jon Williams, Cale Bain, Rebecca De Unamuno, Brent Hill, Steen Raskopoulos with special guest Virginia Gay, Daniel Cordeaux and more.

Impro Mafia - Brisbane, Queensland
Date: 7.30pm, Sunday 13th December
Venue: Brisbane Arts Theatre, 210 Petrie Terrace, Brisbane
Tickets: $10 plus a quality, wrapped item as a gift for St Vincent De Paul's Christmas Appeal
Directed by: Tom Dunstan
Cast: TBA

Impro ACT - Canberra, Australian Capital Territory

Dates: Saturday 12 December - 11:00am Family Show, 7:30pm Adult Show
Sunday 13 December - 3:00pm Family Show, 7:30pm Adult Show
Venue: The Street Theatre, Childers Street, Canberra
Tickets: Night shows $20/$10, Matinees all tickets $10 plus a quality, wrapped item as a gift for St Vincent De Paul's Christmas Appeal
Bookings: (02) 6247 1223
Directed by: Heidi Silberman and Cathy Hagarty
Cast: The Impro ACT ensemble and friends

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