04/28/2026
The 2026 Paper Street Theatre Improv Festival was an absolute success. Last year’s festival was practically perfect, and this year’s festival surpassed it! I guess that means it was as perfect as an improv festival can be.
It was a full week of some of the most beautiful improvised theatre Victoria has ever seen. Our 12-person international ensemble pushed themselves to create improvisation that was touching, beautiful, meaningful, joyful, and most importantly, theatrical. That’s what Paper Street Theatre is always striving for: improvisation that feels like theatre – and this year we did it.
A special thanks to our ensemble members: Shannon Bass (Seattle), Tony Beeman (Seattle), Claire Biddiscombe (Ottawa), Brooke Cameron (Victoria), Lauren Coulter (Victoria), Douglas Galbraith (Portland), Jenna Goldade (Red Deer), Byron Kjeldsen (Victoria), Sara McMahon (Seattle), Rosemary Morrison (Vancouver), David Ramage (Calgary), and Zach Wolfman (Vancouver), and our guest technical director Jane Hilder (Winnipeg). All of you came with such commitment and focus. You were such an incredible group of improvisers to work with. Each workshop was fulfilling, each performance was outstanding, and as the week went on you all just kept getting better. I hope you carry the spirit of this festival with you for years to come. “When you’re looking for inspiration remember: Move the dirt around”.
A big thanks to our guest directors, my good friends Caity Curtis and Stephen Sim, for directing the ensemble and working with me on a vision of improv that is above and beyond the norm. Together we pushed the bounds of improv, raised the bar on storytelling, and shook the pillars of heaven. Performing alongside you is always a pleasure.
A big thanks to our local night performers: SNAP! Theatre, ANTS, and Speakeasy. Thank you to Missie Peters and Tony Beeman for joining the directors on more than one occasion.
And of course, none of this could’ve been done without the help of our front of house and behind-the-scenes crew – including Theodore R. Sherman who build our sign. Evalyn Braybook who ran the front of house, Jen Girard for running box office, Chaz B***y for hosting every night, and the incomparable Steven Ray Orr for doing everything, everywhere, all at once.
And one last thank you to everyone who performed in this year’s Improvathon – your fundraising is what makes all of this possible. And thank YOU for reading this, because I assume that means you came to the festival and listened to our stories.
Until next year,
…and scene.
- Dave Morris
