Connect & Collaborate
These days, the world often feels like it's split in two. The lines seem drawn, and the divides are getting deeper. On one side, you’ve got the "crazy climate terrorists," and on the other, the "backward right-wingers." Some are selfish meat-eaters, others self-righteous vegans. Oh, and let’s not even get started on political correctness ... While society is busy tearing itself apart or retreating into its own bubble, undemocratic forces are thriving off the polarization.
We’re done with division. That’s why this year’s festival is all about collaboration and the things that connect us. Improvised theater is all about contact – diverse ideas, trust, courage, curiosity, and connection. That’s our big overarching story. And we tell it again and again in every show.
Programme
International Opening Gala: MaestroTM
Spectacular competition to kick off the festival
Thursday, 23th October 2025
Beginn: 8.30 PM // Admission: 8.00 PM
Venue: Mainfranken Theater, Kleines Haus
In English and German
An ensemble of international performers and directors discover amazing stories together.
All kinds of scenes can develop – sometimes funny and wild, sometimes quiet and emotional – but always full of surprises.
The competitors improvise with everything they've got, trying to win the hearts of the audience. Because in the end, it's you who decides which player shines brightest under the spotlight. Only one actor will win the title of Maestro – and take home the famous prize of ... five euros!
We launch the Würzburger Improtheaterfestival with this well-loved classic, bringing the crème de la crème of our international guests to the stage.
Let the games begin!
Direction: Andrew Hefler
Music: Steffen Brinkmann & Simon Brumm
Price:
In advance: 20,00 Euro (15,00 Euro reduced)
Box office: 25,00 Euro (20,00 Euro reduced)
Foto: Hendrick Ziegler
Note on accessibility: The Kleine Haus is accessible via an elevator. There are a limited number of wheelchair spaces.
Collab:Lab – The Show
What happens when five artists from five countries spend three days creating from scratch? Come see the answer, live on stage
Friday, 24th October 2025
Start: 8:30 PM // Admission: 8 PM
Venue: Theaterhalle am Dom
In English
This year’s festival is dedicated to the belief that talking to each other is worth it. That being in true contact and bridging gaps is essential to keeping our world together and sane. That when we collaborate, we invigorate. So we present the Collab:lab. This experiment goes as follows:
Take 5 improvisers from 5 different countries. 5 different lives, cultures and perspectives on the world. Stick them in a room for 3 days and nights to discuss, agree, disagree, improvise, discover what unites or divides them … and let a show emerge. The result may be controversial. It may be shocking or touching. But it will definitely be a team effort.
Anja Bargum (Finland), Nisha Chao (Taiwan), Ramsi Lehner (Egypt), Roses Urquhart (UK) and Veronika Olah (Germany/USA) under the guidance of Lisa Rowland (USA) combine topics close to their hearts and humor. They'll come from far apart to generate a show that brings us all closer together.
Music: Michael Bibo
Price:
In advance: 18,00 Euro (13,00 Euro reduced)
Box office: 23,00 Euro (18,00 Euro reduced)
Note on accessibility: Wheelchair accessible, limited number of wheelchair spaces.
Double Feature: Ich wollt’ ich wär ein Huhn & Enjoy-ška
Geschichten um die Frage, was das Leben schön macht
Friday, 24th October 2025
Start: 8.30 PM // Admission: 8.00 PM
Venue: Theater Augenblick
In German & English
Das Leben eines ländlichen Huhnes ist so einfach. Schlafen, Essen, Sex. Ausflüge ins Grüne, Sandbäder in der Sonne. Ein Gefieder, das sich an die Jahreszeit anpasst. Jeden Abend pünktlich ins Bett gehen und mit der Sonne aufstehen. Selbst das schlechte Gedächtnis ist von Vorteil, da man unbekümmert durchs Leben gehen kann.
Nadine Antler (Hausen am Hohen Meißner) ist der Meinung, dass Hühner das bessere Leben führen und - wird zum Huhn. Aus dieser Perspektive schaut sie auf das komplizierte und vielfältige Leben der Menschen und nimmt das Publikum mit auf eine Reise durch die Geschichten, die das Leben schreibt. Vielleicht sagst du am Ende auch: Ich wollt’ ich wär ein Huhn!
Ads sell us youth, sex, comfort and ventilation. But we (for free) offer you pleasure. Improške from Slovenia have their pleasure hats on. Exploring. Illuminating.
When was the last time your inner light turned on? When the sun came out, when you took a breath of fresh air, or woke up from a good night’s sleep? Do you enjoy dancing, singing, silence or just lying around? Pleasure can also be perfection, emptiness, or offering help. Don’t get lost in the dark. Let’s switch on pleasure. Enjoy-ška!
Music: Jan Höcker
Price:
In advance: 18,00 Euro (13,00 Euro reduced)
Box office: 23,00 Euro (18,00 Euro reduced)
Note on accessibility: The Theatre Augenblick is accessible via an elevator.
Foto: Nadine Antler (links) und Patty Varasano (rechts)
Brainf*ck
Folgt den Lebensgeschichten mehr oder weniger bekannter Wissenschaftler*innen, die unsere Welt für immer verändert haben
Friday, 24th October 2025
Start: 8.30 PM // Admission: 8.00 PM
Venue: Jugendkulturhaus Cairo, Theatersaal
In German
Wusstest du, dass Organtransplantationen nur möglich sind, weil Surendra Sehgal den Wirkstoff Rapamycin in einem alten Glacé-Becher über die amerikanische Grenze schmuggelte? Oder hast du schon gehört, dass der Dalai Lama 40 Mönche an die Stanford University entsandte und ihre Gehirne im MRT-Scanner vermessen ließ, um zu verstehen, wie Emotionen funktionieren?
Bei BRAINF*CK werden Facts aus der Welt der Wissenschaft eingebettet in improvisiertes Theater. Unter der Leitung der Expertin und Neurobiologin Gwen Schönfeld macht sich anundpfirsich aus Zürich auf den Weg, zusammen mit dem Publikum auf kreative und witzige Weise spannende Themen aus der Wissenschaft zu entdecken. Es wird frei improvisiert, Wahres extrahiert, aus der Luft gegriffene Experimente werden durchgeführt, Träume zerstört und bahnbrechende Erkenntnisse gewonnen.
Music: Steffen Brinkmann
Price:
In advance: 18,00 Euro (13,00 Euro reduced)
Box office: 23,00 Euro (18,00 Euro reduced)
Note on accessibility: The Cairo is not barrier-free.
Late Night-Special: Lightsaber On Stunn!
The best out of two worlds united in one show
Friday, 24th October 2025
Start: 11.00 PM // Admission: 10.30 PM
Venue: Jugendkulturhaus Cairo, Theatersaal
In English
The Canadian improviser Lee White (Berlin) and Thomas Jäkel (Hannover) bring together the two things that never should be mixed! As fans of the original Star Trek series and Star Wars movies, they are going to mash both together on stage – with hyper-old-school-visual-effects. Starting with one scenario, they improvise a story in each genre. How would the crew of the Enterprise react to that challenge? What will the Star Wars heroes do, facing this threat? Cutting fast between these two worlds, embodying good and bad, fighting with phaser or lightsaber, exploring new worlds in a galaxy far, far away. Brace yourself for the call: Lightsaber On Stunn!
Music: Steffen Brinkmann
Price:
In advance: 16,00 Euro (11,00 Euro reduced)
Box office: 21,00 Euro (16,00 Euro reduced)
Note on accessibility: The Cairo is not barrier-free.
Breaking up. Live.
A tragicomic improvised play about modern love, endings, and everything in between
Saturday, 25th October 2025
Start: 8.30 PM // Admission: 8.00 PM
Venue: Mainfranken Theater, Probebühne
In English
Two people. In love. Then out of it. And still trying to maintain a relationship.
How do they keep up talking to each other when they sometimes want to rip off each other’s head? And how do they not rip off each other’s clothes when they still feel some attraction? And how do they tell their Moms what they've already posted online?
Break-ups are complicated and messy. But also comical and touching. Witness Andrew Hefler (Hungary) and Lisa Rowland (USA) embark on a theatrical journey of going through the ups and downs of a break up – and be ready to laugh and weep as two people are making Breaking-Up work.
This is love as catastrophe. A comedy of collapses. An experience for anyone who’s ever loved someone, lost them, or sent that one last text…
Music: Michael Bibo
Price:
In advance: 18,00 Euro (13,00 Euro reduced)
Box office: 23,00 Euro (18,00 Euro reduced)
Note on accessibility: The Probebühne is accessible via an elevator. There are a limited number of wheelchair spaces.
Das Dilemma
Im Dilemma gibt es kein Richtig und Falsch. Dennoch musst Du dich entscheiden
Saturday, 25th October 2025
Start: 8.30 PM // Admission: 8.00 PM
Venue: Theaterhalle am Dom
In German
Als Dilemma bezeichnet man Situationen, in denen es kein eindeutig richtiges oder falsches Handeln gibt. Jede Entscheidung hat gute und schlechte Folgen. Die Betrachtung eines Dilemmas ermöglicht, sich selbst zu befragen: wie würde ich in einer vergleichbaren Situation handeln?
Gemeinsam mit dem Publikum spürt die Gesellschaftsbühne einem improvisierten Dilemma hinterher. Die Zuschauer*innen positionieren sich zu Beginn und nennen ihre Gründe, warum sie pro oder kontra stehen. Aus diesen Argumenten entsteht das Stück. Alle – Publikum wie Ensemble – können jederzeit eingreifen und Redebedarf anmelden, beim Versuch, den individuellen Fall ernsthaft zu durchdringen. Die Gesellschaftsbühne zeigt auf der Bühne, was in allen Richtungen auf dem Spiel steht, entwickelt den Fall völlig offen und ermuntert die Zuschauer*innen, ihre eigenen moralischen Rückschlüsse zu ziehen. Am Ende gibt es genug Zeit und Raum, um sich gemütlich über ethische Fragen auszutauschen und auch, um wild zu diskutieren!
Bitte beachte. Bei Das Dilemma handelt es sich um keine klassische Improtheatershow. Beim Dialogtheater bringt das Publikum seine Meinung aktiv ein.
Price:
In advance: 18,00 Euro (13,00 Euro reduced)
Box office: 23,00 Euro (18,00 Euro reduced)
Note on accessibility: The Theaterhalle is accessible via an elevator. There are a limited number of wheelchair spaces.
Foto: Kaltstart Halle
Jenseits – Der Tod improvisiert.
Ein humorvolles und berührendes Kammerspiel mit Pop-Songs über ein Leben
Saturday, 25th October 2025
Start: 8.30 PM // Admission: 8.00 PM
Venue: Theater am Neunerplatz
In German
Eine Bühne. Eine Frau. Ein Klavier.
Wer ist sie? Was wollte sie? Sicher ist nur: Sie ist tot.
Wie war ihr Leben? Und was ist mit danach?
Vielleicht hat der Tod Antworten. Der kommt auch vorbei.
Er spielt mit dem Leben – und auf dem Klavier.
Ein humorvolles und berührendes Kammerspiel mit Pop-Songs über ein Leben – von Kießling & Kaffka.
Price:
In advance: 18,00 Euro (13,00 Euro reduced)
Box office: 23,00 Euro (18,00 Euro reduced)
Foto: Kießling & Kaffka.
Note on accessibility: The Theaterroom can be reached via a mobile ramp.
Double Feature: ANGST & Sternadelvoll
Ein Genre-Abend zwischen intrigantem Adelskrimi und wahrhaft gruseligen Geschichten
Saturday, 25th October 2025
Start: 8.30 PM // Admission: 8.00 PM
Venue: Jugendkulturhaus Cairo, Theatersaal
In German
Warst du auch schon einmal an einem Ort, der total harmlos aussah, aber über den die Leute sagen, dass dort unheimliche Dinge passieren? Vor langer Zeit geschah da etwas Grauenhaftes. Nun ist alles ganz friedlich. Abgesehen, vielleicht, von ein paar eigenartigen Geräuschen hier und da. Besucher*innen, die aus dem Nichts erscheinen. Dinge, die verschwinden. Und WARUM IST DIESE TÜR PLÖTZLICH VERSCHLOSSEN?!?!
Da vorne links (Zürich) bringt mit ANGST improvisiertes Grauen auf die Bühne. Denn was geht mehr unter die Haut als eine grauenvolle Ahnung … ohne zu wissen, was genau passieren wird? Eine Show, die dir Schauer den Rücken hinunterfahren lässt. Komm und bring eine*n Freund*in mit – du wirst jemanden zum Festhalten brauchen!
Der Hochadel der 20er-Jahre lädt zu einem stilvollen Treffen voller Intrigen, Leidenschaft und krimineller Energien. Ist der fancy Drink in deiner Hand vergiftet? Ist die eigene Ehefrau doch nicht die, die zu kennen glaubst? Kanonenfutter aus Stuttgart lässt Dich in Sternadelvoll: Unser Blut war vor uns blau! eintauchen in die vermeintlich schillernde Welt der Reichen und Schönen. Wer führt hier was im Schilde? Und vergiss nicht: Der regelmäßige Besuch der hauseigenen Bar ist unumgänglich.
Music: Naemi Haab
Price:
In advance: 18,00 Euro (13,00 Euro reduced)
Box office: 23,00 Euro (18,00 Euro reduced)
Note on accessibility: The Cairo is not barrier-free.
Tickets are available in advance for all festival shows until 4 p.m. on the day of the respective event online or at the Jugendkulturhaus Cairo. The regular ticket is for you if you have no problems paying your living costs. The reduced ticket is for you if you need to take a closer look at your bank balance - regardless of your official purchasing situation. We do not require any proof.
Workshops
The Collab:Lab
3 Days of playful Collaboration, 2 Shows, 1 unique experience
This year, our festival is centered around the topic of Connection & Collaboration. That's why, even before the regular workshops, we have the Collab:Lab! Five performers from five different countries will come together over three days, under the guidance of Lisa Rowland (San Francisco, USA), to create a show and perform it at the festival. How does collaboration work? How do you get to know each other and build trust quickly? What do you want to tell? What is your show?
The Collab:Lab is aimed at professional improvisers.
12 hours of intensive work - our regular workshops!
You can choose one of three twelve-hour workshops from our wonderful workshop teachers. The workshops will start Friday, 24th October at 2 PM and end Sunday, October 26th at 2 PM. Please note our conditions of participation and the level system.
Tickets are sold via Yesticket. Sale starts May, 1st.
If you need accommodation for the festival we recommend the Youth Hostel which is right next to the Jugendkulturhaus Cairo where the workshops will take place. If you prefer a quieter place to stay, there are various hotels and Airbnbs – almost everything in Würzburg is within walking distance.
Code of Conduct
We have developed a short code of conduct to ensure that everybody feels safe and happy and can get the most out of their experience at the Würzburger Improtheaterfestival. Reading through this code will give you an idea of our festival philosophy and values.
Cancellation of your workshop place
Until July 31st you can cancel your workshop spot and we will refund your festival fee minus an administrative fee of 30 Euros. If you cancel your spot after July 31st, we can only refund your participation fee minus the administrative fee of 30 Euro if we can fill your place - you are also welcome to suggest a person.
Liability
No liability can be accepted for self-inflicted accidents, wardrobe, damage to property and lost items.
The level system helps us building homogeneous workshop groups to ensure that everybody gets the most out of their workshop experience. Please make an honest and self-critical assessment of which level best suits you. We reserve the right to cancel bookings whose level does not match the stated level of the workshop.
Charm Offensive
Teacher: Lindsay Mullan from Toronto/Canada
Level: Level 1 - Experienced & up
Language: English
Price: 270€ regular // 200€ reduced*
Duration: Friday, 24.10.25, 2pm until Sunday, 26.10.25, 2pm
This extended workshop aims to assist improvisors in becoming more charming & lovable on stage - even when playing the villain! Examine the parts of yourself that you may have deemed "wrong" or "bad" and find the levity hidden underneath. Bring a sense of play to seemingly unpleasant characters and taboo subject matters. Step outside of your own perspective to see the world through your character's eyes. Through a series of scenes/ exercises we will draw out our silly and serious impulses to give humanity and humour to the varied characters we create.
Lindsay Mullan is a Canadian Comedy Award- Nominated and Canadian Podcasting Award- Winning actor, improvisor, instructor, podcaster, and creator. She is an alumnus of the Second City Toronto Mainstage, an alumnus of the internationally-acclaimed improvisation theatre, Loose Moose, and a graduate of the Mount Royal University Theatre Arts Acting Program. Lindsay has worked as a performer for over almost two decades in various mediums (Theatre, Film, Television, Web, and Podcasting). As an artist she strives to create original and truthful work that tickles the funny bone and pulls at the heartstrings. Lindsay is currently based in Toronto.
For more about Lindsay visit www.lindsaymullan.com
Relationship & Game
Teacher: Andrew Hefler from Budapest/Hungary
Level: 2 - Advanced & up
Language: English
Price: 270€ regular // 200€ reduced*
Duration: Friday, 24.10.25, 2pm until Sunday, 26.10.25, 2pm
Maybe you are a bit like me? I want the audience riveted, moved or even unbridled, hurdling through the galaxy when they see a scene. I want them talking about one another after they have left the theatre.
What makes the audience move closer to the edge of their seats? What makes them squeal with anticipation? Roar together with laughter? What makes them sigh in unison? What makes them look for each other’s expressions? Maybe this is ambitious? The good news is, it is often the same exact thing that makes playing the scenes such a joy and feel like every moment is fluid and obvious. It is what makes the work theatre. It is what gives the work a chance to be art. This workshop will look at all the components of a scene and particularly what the characters are involved in, do, suffer and solve: Game and Relationship, the two mechanisms we actors discover that can be separate and autonomous operating the scene alone or they can work in beautiful harmony combined accentuating, aggravating or foiling each other.
This workshop will work on the skills to strengthen work on game and relationship in scenes. Identifying the differences and similarities, and when the two blend seamlessly into one. Through very practical exercises and scene work the course will explore how to let the game become something you and your partner can obviously discover and joyfully heighten. Through scene work and exercises we will explore the ease, focus and confidence necessary to allow relationships to unfold. Being committed and vulnerable together for the audience will give them characters that lure them in and make them care.
Andrew Hefler is a beast performer, director and trainer working in theatre, music, film and television for nearly thirty years. He’s an actor at the National Theatre of Hungary, who has performed in more than one-hundred episodes of television, over 60 commercials, more than 20 films and sold the rights of 3 TV series. He’s also the founder of Grund Theatre and a long-standing member of the improvisational trio Scallabouche. As chief trainer and training designer, Andrew is providing skillbuilding for over 100 companies and thousands of people in communication, improv and acting, including media professionals and politicians in 15 countries, as well as universities, NGOs and charitable organisation.
For more about Andrew visit www.andrewhefler.com
Finding colour in black and white
Teacher: Lisa Rowland from San Francisco/USA
Level: 3 - Professionell
Language: English
Price: 270€ regular // 200€ reduced*
Duration: Friday, 24.10.25, 2pm until Sunday, 26.10.25, 2pm
Comedy or drama? Villain or hero? Educational or entertaining? Dumb or wise? While at first glance, stories, characters, scenes and actions might seem easy to label, we know deep down that there is more to them. A scene or a moment can hold multiple tones. There might be humour in tragedy, poignancy in farce, wisdom from the fool. This workshop will train us to find nuance in scenework. We will play with subtleties, less obvious tones and work on seeing things from different perspectives. Revealing these nuances can help us see things through other's eyes and discover new angles. Because people, problems, theatre and life are hardly ever black and white.
Lisa Rowland's first love is performing. Her background in scripted theater gives her a strong grounding in truthful performance and the allure of discovery and delight that improvisation offers has kept her scriptless since she began improvising professionally in 2006. Straight out of Stanford University, where she performed with the Stanford Improvisors, she joined the mainstage company at BATS Improv, Northern California's most acclaimed and longest running improvisational theatre company. At BATS, she created the renowned format The Bechdel Test, a show which puts complicated, multi-faceted women in the center of stories and has been performed worldwide. She is a founding member of Improv Playhouse of San Francisco and Awkward Dinner Party. In 2012, Lisa was voted Best Actor by the SF Bay Guardian's Reader Poll. She has traveled the world to perform on international stages with international casts and finds particular delight in the global improv community.
For more about Lisa visit www.lisarowland.com
foto credit: Lisa Keating
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Childcare
For the little ones, so the big ones can play
Foto: Hendrick Ziegler
Festival-Guide
If you would like to take part in the festival, you will find various information and all kinds of interesting facts in the festival guide. We will add to the guide during the year. If there is still an open question, just contact us.
Code of Conduct
We have developed a short code of conduct to ensure that everybody feels safe and happy and can get the most out of their experience at the Würzburger Improtheaterfestival. Reading through this code will give you an idea of our festival philosophy and values.
Directions & Parking
Workshop application
You can simply book your desired workshop via Yesticket. Please note the different levels!
Afterwards we will ask for some information through a form (e.g. if you prefer vegan food or if you don't tolerate gluten). The additional information will help us to make the festival run as smoothly as possible for everyone.
Unfortunately, this is not possible this year. If you want to stay overnight at the youth hostel, you can book a place there yourself. Please note the regulations for overnight stays in youth hostels, especially the youth hostel pass, which can be purchased for only half a year. Guests from abroad need a foreign youth hostel pass.
If you did not get a place, you can set yourself on the waiting list of our ticket system Yesticket. You will then automatically get a mail if a spot opens up.
Until July 31st you can cancel your workshop spot and we will refund your festival fee minus an administrative fee of 30 Euros. If you cancel your spot after July 31st, we can only refund your participation fee minus the administrative fee of 30 Euro if we can fill your place - you are also welcome to suggest a person. In case of cancellation, please contact us by mail.
Around the festival
The festival takes place mainly in and around the Jugendkulturhaus Cairo (Fred-Josef-Platz 3, 97082 Würzburg). The workshops will be at the Cairo, the elementary school, the church and the Youth Hostel, which are all nearby and within walking distance - here and there including some stairs and unfortunately barrier-free only to a limited extent. The shows in the evening take place at different venues in Würzburg. These are best reached on foot or by public transport.
Many participants already travel to our traditional opening gala. This always takes place on the Thursday evening before the festival weekend. We are happy if you are there. Of course you can also arrive on Friday for the workshops. Before the workshops you can arrive comfortably at the Cairo. While enjoying some snacks you can get to know the other participants and the festival team and clarify open questions. After a welcome we will start with the workshops. You can find the exact times in the schedule.
The festival package includes the following meals:
- Friday: Dinner at the hostel
- Saturday: Lunch and dinner at the youth hostel
- Sunday: Breakfast provided by the festival team at the Jugendkulturhaus Cairo
In the youth hostel, water and juice will be provided free of charge with the meals. During the social program (e.g. coffee breaks, get together) you can buy drinks for little money.
No. Since several shows are offered in parallel on the evenings, they run separately via Yesticket. As a workshop participant you can buy tickets at a reduced price. We will remind you in time by mail about the beginning of the presale. Please get your tickets for the shows of your choice early, as the shows are often sold out.
Yes! We are very happy for your support! Just send an email and we will get back to you.
Team
Support
We would like to thank all our partners, sponsors and venues for their support and the long time cooperation.
We also want to say thank you to our patron, the Mayor of Würzburg, Martin Heilig!
