About the Festival
Würzburger Improtheaterfestival
Programme & Tickets
The Würzburger Improtheaterfestival is a theater event that is an inherent part for the cultural life in our city. Every year we present between eight and twelve shows in different venues all around Würzburg. On the one hand, the programme consists of international ensembles showing their innovative improv formats to our audiences. On the other hand, we present our own productions, which are performed by guests of the festival.
The show programme will be published one to two month before the festival weekend. The advance sale starts in a little bit later.
Würzburger Improtheaterfestival
Ensembles
During the festival we proudly present different improv ensembles from all around the planet who show their work to the Würzburg audience. Stay tuned for this year's line-up.
Würzburger Improtheaterfestival
Workshops
Each year we offer improvisers from all over the world the opportunity to train with international teachers. Usually our program consists of 12- or 16-hour-workshops which each highlight a different facet of the art form. Through a simple level system we want to ensure that the groups are homogeneous and that both newcomers and professionals find an attractive offer.
Würzburger Improtheaterfestival
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.
It reflects the three main groups of the improv community represented at the festival.
The following elements will help create a safe environment to ensure good work and a valuable experience for everyone.
Being safe
By respecting the personal space of other students (i.e. avoiding rough contact or grabbing unless prepared or instructed), by not putting your own body at risk and treating props, chairs, and furniture with care, everyone feels safe and can focus on the work.
Avoiding gratuitously bringing challenging and offensive content into the class
We believe that a workshop can be a place to test the limits and delve into challenging content. However we also believe that responsibility lies with each participant to ensure that when they do introduce such content, it benefits the work and is mindful of other participants’ sense of comfort and safety, rather than introducing it purely for their own enjoyment. Students who repeatedly introduce unwelcome content after it has been addressed may be excluded from the workshop.
Taking responsibility
If performing or watching a scene is making you uncomfortable, or you feel there may be an issue for other participants, please feel empowered to address these concerns. Overall responsibility for safety and comfort lies with the workshop leader, but if you speak your mind when in doubt you help ensure that everyone is having a good time and can focus on the work.
The following elements ensure that you, yourself, and everybody involved will get the most out of your performance.
Telling us what you need
If you tell us what you need, we can help your show be great. Do you want to try unconventional or risky things that we would need to discuss with the theatre up-front? Do you crave an unusual backdrop for your show? You realise you could do with an extra player? If we know in advance, we can help when possible, or let you know when something can't be done. That way you can focus entirely on your show once it is time to hop on stage.
Considering what you want to put on stage
We see ourselves as a platform that encourages artists to explore what is possible and test the limits. We believe an improvised show can include challenging or even offensive content. We do believe, however, that it lies within the responsibility of the performer to ensure that this kind of content serves a purpose, a greater objective and will not be used to provoke or be edgy for its own sake.
Respecting each other
We strongly believe in an environment of courtesy and consideration. This applies to everyone, from fellow performers to volunteers and theatre staff who help make the shows and the festival itself possible. It especially applies to our audiences. If you decide to directly involve them in your show, please make sure to make them feel physically and emotionally safe, so they can have an experience they can cherish.
The following elements will help create a safe environment to ensure good work. Different workshops may involve interpreting these differently, and, despite these principles being important and solid, you can always talk to us about anything you would want to approach a little differently.
Making a safe physical environment
By ensuring that the personal space of students is respected (i.e. by stepping in if students employ rough contact, grabbing, hang out of windows etc.) and by respecting students' personal space yourself, everyone feels taken care of and can focus on the work.
Making a safe emotional/personal environment
We believe that our participants get the most from the festival when they feel safe emotionally. This means considering their best interests and behaving appropriately towards them in and out of the classroom.
In the workshop it also means stepping in when distressing content is introduced, such as denigration of people based on identity or sexual violence. We understand that such themes can be part of the workshop concept, and so responsibility lies with the workshop leader to decide when such content serves a rewarding purpose that will benefit the participants - and when it crosses the line and makes participants feel unsafe and unwelcome.
Participants who repeatedly cross that line can be asked to sit out of practicing a component of the workshop, or to cool off outside of the classroom for a period. If you are concerned their further involvement could make the workshop an unsafe environment, please escalate the issue to the organisation team.
Recognising concerns
Sometimes participants will notice issues before you do, or raise things that are personally problematic for them. By recognising these concerns and maintaining an open space for participants, the workshop will work as well as it can for everyone.
Our festival is opposed to harassment of any form. If you are unhappy about someone's behaviour - towards you or anyone else - or have any complaints or concerns, please tell us about it. The festival representatives are Carina and Jonathan, and you can also speak to any other member of the festival team or if necessary a volunteer, who will bring the issue to us as soon as possible.
FAQ
Workshop application
From June 16th onwards you can register for this year's festival using the registration form. You can enter up to three workshop priorities. If your Prio 1 is already fully booked, you will automatically be moved to your second choice, etc. We will confirm your workshop by mail. Only then you will be asked to pay for your workshop place. When your festival fee has been transferred, your workshop spot is firmly booked.
The website confirms your registration. Within the next few days after registration you will receive an email from us confirming which of your workshop wishes we were able to fulfill and a request for payment. Please be patient – we'll make sure the info gets to you. If you haven't heard from us within one weeks, please drop us a quick note.
No, you haven’t. The banks don't all work at the same speed and we process the cash receipts in one go. That's why it can take a couple of days before you get the final confirmation. If we discover that we haven't received your festival fee, we will check with you before we give your spot to someone else.
Yes, there is one. As soon as someone gives up their spot, we will give the spot to the next person on the waiting list.
Send an email to info@improtheaterfestival.de and we will contact the Youth Hostel.
Until July 31st you can cancel your workshop spot and we will transfer your festival fee (minus an administrative fee of 30 Euros) back to your bank account right away. If you cancel your spot after July 31st, we will first have to find someone from the waiting list to fill your spot. If we are successful in finding someone, we will transfer the fee back to your bank account minus the administrative fee of 30 Euros.
(At) the festival
Yes, in this case you will get your workshop fee back completely. We also recommend getting travel insurrance, so your train and flight cost will be reimbursed.
You can find the schedule above under "Festival-Guide" or directly here.
Many participants are arriving early to attend our traditional opening gala, where the workshop leaders perform together on stage. This year, the gala will take place on Wednesday, October 21st already. We'd be delighted to see you there. Of course you can also arrive on Thursday or Friday for the workshops.
At the check-in you'll get a warm welcome, snacks and your invoice for the workshop. All hostel guests will also receive the necessary information about accommodation. If there are any outstanding questions or finances, we can clarify them at check-in. The check-in helps us to get an overview of who has already arrived. This is especially important this year. We therefore ask you come by briefly, even if you are already familiar with our Festival.
No problem! We will leave your name and your room number at the reception of the Youth Hostel.
The festival package includes the following:
- Friday: Lunch (Only for the participants of the show case classes)
- Friday: Dinner
- Saturday: Lunch and Dinner
- Sunday: Snacks
Drinks during meals are included.
For those staying at the hostel, breakfast is also included.
The youth hostel provides bed linen, you only need to bring your own towel.
No. Since there are several shows in the evenings, they are run separately via our ticket system. As a workshop participant you can buy tickets at a reduced price. We'll send you a quick note when the advance sale starts. Please buy tickets for the shows of your choice early. Especially this year the number of seats will be limited.
Yes! We are very happy for your support! Just send an email and we will get back to you.
Würzburger Improtheaterfestival
Team
Würzburger Improtheaterfestival
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, Christian Schuchardt!