The Brisbane Improv Festival is excited to be hosting 22 Improvisation Workshops as part of the 2022 Festival with facilitators from all over Australia and New Zealand.

Universal Language
Facilitated by Matias Avaca

How can we have a meaningful scene or game using several different languages at the same time? This workshop will explore the differences and challenges of using multiple languages in a scene and how we can view them as both an opportunity and an advantage. Through drills and exercises that can be played in 2+ languages, we will explore 3 important allies: body, music and silence, that can be tapped into when verbal communication is restricted.
If you haven’t played/practiced much with mixed languages in scenes/games and want to tap into this valuable skill to enhance self-awareness and stage partner awareness, then this is for you. 

Please note that any Festival shows cast from workshops is at the discretion of the show's director and is not guaranteed. Please go into workshops with a view to learning new improv skills and having fun. Any performance opportunity is a bonus. People asked to perform will hopefully be available for a short meeting/rehearsal between the workshop and the show, as our focus at the workshop will be more on the skills than on the format.

About Matias

Matias Avaca is an Argentinian improviser residing in New Zealand who has performed and coached in more than 15 countries around the world. He is the co-founder and artistic director of "Mabel Impro", the first Spanish speaking Improv group in Australasia; and co-founder and director of the Auckland Improv Festival. Matias’ style is characterised by working with different languages, and the absence of them, recurring to improv as a universal language. He also develops improv theatre formats, and travels the world coaching theatre ensembles in them.

The Brisbane Improv Festival will be following all current COVID-19 safety guidelines and will also require all workshop participants to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 for the wellbeing of all participants and facilitators - please note this is a extra requirement mandated by the Festival.