Celebrity Theatresports

On the last weekend of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival ever since its inception in 1987, Celebrity Theatersports is an annually anticipated event. Celebrity Theatersports is a rare opportunity to experience the excitement of improvisation taken to new heights through the added element of competition. Four teams, each a mixture of celebrities and Impro Melbourne players, compete in a series of improvisation games to win the coveted cup.

This year Celebrity Theatersports was hosted by Impro Melbourne’s own Simon Dowling (Thank God You’re Here). The celebrity guests included Dan Ilic (Hungry Beast), Matt Werkmeister (Neighbours), Sam Clark (Neighbours), Ashleigh Brewer (Neighbours), Zoe Ventoura (Packed to the Rafters), Michala Banas (Avenue Q, McLeod’s Daughters), Tracy Bartram (774 ABC Melbourne), Rebecca de Unamuno (Comedy Inc.), Toby Truslove (Beaconsfield: The Musical), and Nikki Parry (Thank God You’re Here). The Impro Melbourne ensemble were also there- including Lliam Amor (Neighbours, Underbelly), Rik Brown (Comedy Slapdown, Prank patrol), Jason Geary (Skithouse, Prank Patrol), Patti Stiles (Neighbours, 774 ABC Melbourne), and Jamie Robertson (Strange Bedfellows). The celebrity judges were Derek Guille (774 ABC Melbourne), and Brian Nankervis (RocKwiz), with Impro Melbourne’s Karl McConnell as the hanging judge.

The night lived up to expectations, with skilled, interactive compering, rapid skits, clever costume changes, witty banter, moments of tear-making hilarity, inspired songs, one scene so bad it received the judges’ horn, and of course, lollies! The winner of the night, Ladyfish (captained by Rik Brown), was well deserved, with a number of brilliant skits that had most of the audience and cast doubled over with laughter. The highlight was an inspired piece of Shakespearean dialogue- set in the profoundly poetic copying room of an office. Another stand-out skit was that by 3rd place getter Aieee, getting the whole cast together for a ‘We are the world’ anthem to highlight the plight of one of our most needy causes- real estate agents. Songs by Rebecca de Unamuno were magnificent, including the soon-to-be best seller – Shoe Bitch.

The charm of Theatersports is both old-world and fast-paced. Playing in the National Theater in St Kilda, it vibrated good, (mostly) clean fun. It was a refreshing opportunity to laugh out loud and admire the power of quick wits and team work. A member of the Impro Melbourne stable, this year’s Celebrity Theatersports suggests it will be worth checking out the next of Impro Melbourne’s offerings – The Impro Cave in Brunswick.

Celebrity Theatresports

Season closed