Improv Centre marks 45 years with new Deadly Dinner Party show

The Improv Centre is celebrating 45 years of live comedy and spontaneous storytelling in Vancouver with a new world-premiere show called Deadly Dinner Party, which launches its anniversary season this September.

The show plays out like this: An eccentric millionaire hosts an elaborate dinner at his mansion. What begins as a fancy meal becomes a murder mystery where the audience determines the outcome of the whodunit. No two performances are ever the same—the actors respond to the crowd's energy and choices in real time.

It's a fitting opener for an institution known for format-bending improv. The Improv Centre, originally founded as Vancouver TheatreSports League, has launched the careers of Colin Mochrie (Whose Line Is It Anyway?), Ryan Stiles (The Drew Carey Show), and Nancy Robertson (Corner Gas). The company has built a global reputation for its ensemble work and Vancouver's distinctive improv style.

Artistic director Alan Pavlakovic said: "Every rehearsal and show you do becomes a way to further hone your skills, so the more you put in, the faster and fresher you get. Vancouver has created its own brand of improv styles and formats over the years that really differs from the formats and structures of other places. Anyone and everyone comes to our shows, which go from family-friendly to real-life stories all the way up to the truly absurd."

The company runs 10 shows across its season, including the perennial weekend TheatreSports, the new Deadly Dinner Party, and Pro-Am Spontaneous Combustion (monthly). A 29-member ensemble cast performs alongside 8 technical improvisers who create spontaneous sound and lighting effects. The company also maintains 11 active alumni and brings in new members from across the city and internationally every year.

Beyond performances, the centre offers five levels of classes from beginner to advanced for students 19 and older—a program running for over four decades. The East Van Project, now in its third year, brings improv training into Vancouver schools. House Teams let up-and-coming improvisers develop skills before graduating to the mainstage.