COVID-19 Program Update
It is with a heavy heart that the Board of the Canadian Improv Games (“CIG”) announces the cancellation of the CIG National Tournament as well as CIG’s summer programming Improv U, Next Act, Improvcamp. At this stage we believe the pace of infection and increasing impact of COVID-19 in our communities makes cancellation the safest and most responsible course of action.
These programs are the culmination of the hard work and commitment to improvised excellence by students, teachers, volunteers and theatre professionals from across the country, and the decision to cancel was not made lightly. However we are committed to being responsible members of our communities, and we believe this decision is a reflection of that.
The Staff and Board of the Canadian Improv Games wish our students and all of our communities – volunteers, teachers, families, audiences and alumni – the best of health.
Canadian Improv Games National Festival & Tournament
Ottawa, ON
ABOUT THE NATIONAL FESTIVAL & TOURNAMENT
The Canadian Improv Games hosts the National Tournament & Festival each spring In Ottawa. Teams that win their Regional Tournament attend the National Tournament in the “competing stream”, representing their region as they compete for the title of National Finalist. All other teams are invited to attend as Festival Teams and can register to participate in the “non-competitive stream”, The National Festival, which includes 4 days of specialized workshops and other learning opportunities from experienced improvisers and instructors from across Canada and abroad. Competing Teams also attend the festival. The Canadian Improv Games also offers a Teachers Conference that runs in conjunction with the National Festival & Tournament. The Conference is open to all teachers across Canada whether they bring a student team to participate in the National Festival & Tournament or not (learn more about the CIG Teacher’s Conference please click here)
THE NATIONAL TOURNAMENT
Over the course of 4 days, 18 Teams from across Canada (that won their Regional Tournaments) compete against each other on Canada’s stage, the National Arts Centre. Teams are required to perform four of the five CIG events, just as they did in the Regional Tournament. During the first three days, teams compete to become one of the top five teams (otherwise referred to as the Semi-Finals Rounds) in order to advance to the Finals Round on the fourth night. On Finals night, the top five teams compete and the winner is crowned the National Finalist of the year. Watch the 2019 National Tournament HERE
**Regional Finalists advancing to the National Tournament are announced between February and March. Those teams will receive an email with registration details from the CIG Nationals registration team.
THE NATIONAL FESTIVAL
Every spring the Canadian Improv Games hosts an exciting festival during the same week as the National Tournament. Schools must be registered in the organization’s regional programs first in order for their students to gain access to this very special national event. Programming for the National Festival includes daily workshops, demos lead by improvisational theatre professionals and educators, unique field trips and evening showcases (the National Tournament) featuring some of the top student improv performers from across Canada. Workshops last approximately two hours. Student teams (or members of the student team) MUST be accompanied by their approved teacher supervisor in order to attend. Registration is $120 per student and includes admission to the National Tournament each night.
Workshop registration will open March 9th and is accessible only to those who have pre-registered with the Canadian Improv Games National Festival & Tournament registration team. A pre-registration email was sent to all schools teams in January 2020. If you did not receive this email, please contact registration@improv.ca immediately.
For more information on our year-round programs or the National Tournament & Festival curriculum and activities, please contact registration@improv.ca.