Fundamentals of Improv - Power in Authenticity

The Heart of It

At Improv Connection, we make our audiences buckle over with laughter (and sometimes tears), but not because we go for the gag. Instead, our comedy is situational – playing on the absurdities of our everyday lives.

To get there, we use raw emotion to drive our scenes, building easy, fun, relatable, grounded, and surprising journeys together; and building a great community while doing it – in Wellington and beyond! With us, you can develop your confidence – on stage and off – and meet amazing people doing the same.

Fundamentals of Improv: Power in Authenticity is our intro course, designed to give you all the tools you need to perform & grow into the best theatrical improviser you can be. Fundamentals of Improv is designed to familiarise you with our emotionally-grounded improv techniques. Everyone from improv newbies to seasoned veterans have found Fundamentals 1 a great start to this approach, as our approach is a bit different, and we teach each student at their own skill level and pace.

The next step after this course is the chance to join our Performance Program, which has shows every Monday night at Pow Wow room!

If you want to join an improv community of people learning to use their full emotional range to produce amazing improvised theatre — where we strive to make a safe container for everyone to do so at their own pace — apply now for the upcoming session.

Basic Package – Course

Teacher: Ben Zolno & Jonno Mandeno, assisted by Jeremy Palmer

Dates:  Tuesdays, 10th April - 31st May 2022, 6 PM – 9 PM

Course Format: 3-hour classes, once a week for 8 weeks. We focus on lessons in the class. For more practice with the whole community, see our Bonus Package below.

Shows: 2 – one mid-term, the other toward the end.

Focused Attention: We split the group up often, with a teacher/advisor each time, so you get double the practice you get with one teacher!

Positive Feedback with Encouragement: We create a supportive atmosphere with our feedback, to make sure you're kind to yourself as you improve.

Social Connection: Membership to Facebook group for connecting with other improv students and to further your learning. In addition to celebrating after each of our shows, we share, cross-promote, and go to other shows together.

Discounted Tickets: As an Improv Connection student, you're eligible for $5 tickets to all Improv Connection shows at The Pow Wow Room including the Funny 'Cause It's True Monday Night shows! 

Documentation: Detailed notes are emailed to you after most classes. Photos of every show, for you to learn from, and share your improv play with family & friends.

Clear Pathway: After taking our Fundamentals of Improv course, you're eligible to apply for our Performance Program, where you'll be on a troupe with fellow improvisers, performing regularly at The Pow Wow Room. You'll also be able to sign up for specialist workshops like our Character Class or attend Improv Retreats! 

Location: Courses are held at 12 King Street, Mt Cook.  Shows are at The Pow Wow Room, Courtenay Place.

Optional: One-on-Ones: Extra focus and rehearsal, opportunity to supercharge your progress, and Jams for extra progress & community connection (see below)

Bonus Package – Course + Term Pass

Our community gets half our progress through repetition – scene after scene after scene at our Sunday Night Jam Sessions, where you'll play with people at all levels in the community!

To save now and be auto-enrolled in all seven Sessions (7:00–8:30 PM on Sundays), you can book a Term Pass in addition to registering for the course at a discount. This option saves you even more money on the Sunday night Jams than the Term Pass alone! We highly recommend this package for students of all experiences levels that want some extra practice, fun, and community connection.

Sign-up Bonus!

Nab a friend!  Get a friend to join us, and you get TWO FREE Jam sessions, a $38 value! Who do you recommend?

Payment & Refund Policy

To maximise participation, we offer work exchange or scholarships to those who can not afford to pay the full amount.  If you need a scholarship, please contact us about a scholarship by using the contact form, and we'll try to work something out.

We reserve the right to choose the students who are a good fit for our program. If we do accept you into the course, your payment will secure your spot, and you're set to go!

If we are unable to accommodate you in the course as an applicant, your fee will be refunded within 24 hours.

If you join us in the course, but leave the course after your first class session, your payment is refundable, minus an administration fee of $100.

During a Covid event that restricts our ability to meet in person, we meet online.

No refunds are offered after the second class session begins.

All course fees are GST inclusive.