ImprovisAsian Festival 2021

Online Improv Festival • August 26-29, 2021

☕ Buy Some Merch, or Coffee for the Crew!

Welcome to the Festival!

Thanks for coming! 🎉

Rewatch the Festival on Facebook
Third World Improv Logo

Third World Improv &
the Manila Improv Fest bring you

ImprovisAsian Festival 2021

featuring Asian improvisers and troupes from around the world.

The vision of the festival is to...

  • Be a celebration of Asian improv, cultures, stories, and perspectives
  • Have conversations about our experiences
  • Build connections across Asian improvisers and communities

Watch the Festival Again

For the best viewing experience, we recommend watching the Festival on Facebook.
To watch a specific performer/panel, click on the timestamps below.
Watch on FB

Day 1

  • 13:25

    Stream 1

    Opening Segment

  • 23:10

    Stream 1

    Block 1: SPIT (PH)

  • 59:17

    Stream 1

    Block 1: Comediasians (UK)

  • 1:33:34

    Stream 1

    Block 1: Improv Comedy Mumbai (IN)

  • 2:05:22

    Stream 1

    Panel: Improv is Asian - But what is Asian Improv? with Gabe Mercado, Tim Yeo, Jay Wang, and Laxmi Priya

  • 3:43

    Stream 2

    Block 2: Isprikitik Musical Improv (PH)

  • 30:02

    Stream 2

    Block 2: Lost in Translation (HK)

  • 59:56

    Stream 2

    Block 2: Sabadurbia (PH)

  • 1:29:00

    Stream 2

    Block 2: Hinprov (CA)

  • 1:50

    Stream 3

    Block 3: Typical Heroes (IN, PH, CN)

  • 30:03

    Stream 3

    Block 3: Carambola Improv MNL (PH)

  • 58:52

    Stream 3

    Block 3: MiyerKuLETs (PH)

  • 4:49

    Stream 1

    Panel: Improvising with your colonizers - How do we destroy colonial mentality? Moderated by Ariel Diccion (PH), and panelists Siddarth Venkatesh (IN), Aih Mendoza (PH), King Chan (HK), and Maheen Mohammed (PK)

  • 1:10:18

    Stream 1

    Block 4: GG Improv (PH)

  • 1:36:07

    Stream 1

    Block 4: Words and Feelings (IN)

  • 2:03:03

    Stream 1

    Block 4: The Modern Schemers (SG)

  • 2:32:00

    Stream 1

    Block 4: citylamps (IN. NP)

  • 3:06

    Stream 2

    Block 5: PPTKTV (Various)

  • 31:28

    Stream 2

    Block 5: Memeprov (PH Panel)

  • 1:00:36

    Stream 2

    Duo Roulette #1

  • 2:01:32

    Stream 2

    Block Feature: Improv Comedy Bangalore (IN)

  • 5:35

    Stream 1

    Block 7: Fillow Talk (AU)

  • 30:00

    Stream 1

    Block 7: Schrödinger's Act Improv Club (PH)

  • 1:00:44

    Stream 1

    Block 7: Herring and Chopsticks (SW/NO)

  • 1:30:39

    Stream 1

    Block 7: Buwan ng Wika (PH)

  • 2:01:05

    Stream 1

    Block 7: Nautankibaaz Improv Collective (IN)

  • 1:41

    Stream 2

    Block Feature: Kaivalya Plays (IN)

  • 4:15

    Stream 2

    Kaivalya Plays Panel: No But, Have You Tried Yoga?: Why Mental Health Conversations are so difficult for Asians and why Improv helps

  • 30:55

    Stream 2

    Kaivalya Plays Panel: Why are Indians so into Bryan Adams?: Weird stereotypes about your Indian improviser friends that might be true

  • 1:03:51

    Stream 2

    Kaivalya Plays Panel: SCREW APPROVAL!: You don’t need to be like anyone else, your improv is enough

  • 1:26:40

    Stream 2

    Kaivalya Plays: INDIA IMPROV ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE: India’s own fully homegrown team of improvisers from all over the country

  • 2:01:22

    Stream 2

    Duo Roulette #2

  • 1:34

    Stream 3

    Block Feature: Dechaffing the Wheat

  • 1:09:30

    Stream 3

    Dechaffing the Wheat: Panel Discussion

  • 2:00:55

    Stream 3

    Block 10: Adult Impro (JP)

  • 2:58:45

    Stream 3

    Block 10: Asiansploitation (CA)

  • 3:28:49

    Stream 3

    Block 10: Niagrontonians (CA)

  • 3:58:16

    Stream 3

    Block 10: Monosodium Glutamates (NO)

  • 5:56

    Stream 1

    Block 11: Almost Friends Extended (PH)

  • 34:36

    Stream 1

    Block 11: Imprawrv (PH)

  • 1:02:50

    Stream 1

    Block 11: Pridetime (PH)

  • 1:35:50

    Stream 1

    Panel: Political Correctness: Where is the line between Celebration and Appropriation? with Ariel Diccion, Aree Witoelar, Jacob Joseph, and Genica Bucao

  • 6:29

    Stream 2

    Block 12: The Improverts (PH)

  • 35:25

    Stream 2

    Block 12: Ash Creek Improv (PH)

  • 1:04:17

    Stream 2

    Block 12: ASAP Improv (SG)

  • 1:34:22

    Stream 2

    Block 12: ImproJapan (JP)

  • 12:06

    Stream 3

    Block Feature: The Improv Company (SG)

  • 2:30

    Stream 4

    Block 14: The Dodot (IS)

  • 30:19

    Stream 4

    Block 14: Improv Lab (PH)

  • 58:38

    Stream 4

    Block 14: FIG Formosa Improv Group 福爾摩沙即興組合 (TW)

  • 1:27:01

    Stream 4

    Block 14: ACDC (PH)

  • 1:56:22

    Stream 4

    Block 14: Housekeeping Improv (PH)

  • Music Video (Post-Festival)

  • Music Video (Pre-Festival)

  • Adult Impro

  • Buwan ng Wika Improv

  • Carambola Improv MNL

  • citylamps playback theatre

  • Comediasians

  • インプロジャパン Impro Japan

  • Improv Comedy Bangalore

  • Improv Lab

  • Lost in Translation

  • The Dodot

  • Typical Heroes

  • The Words and Feelings Show

Check Out Our Festival Schedule

Adjust your timezone below.

Thursday, August 26 (+00:00)

11:00 AM
11:30 AM

Opening Program

Opening Program
opening

11:30 AM
1:00 PM

Block 1: SPIT | Comediasians | Improv Comedy Mumbai

Philippines • London, UK • Mumbai, India
showblock

1:00 PM
2:00 PM

Improv is Asian: But What is Asian Improv?

Jay Wang, Tim Yeo, Laxmi Priya, Gabe Mercado
panelshow

1:30 PM
3:30 PM

Chekhov Technique for Improv

Kelsey Yuhara
workshopsold out

2:00 PM
4:00 PM

Block 2: Isprikitik Improv | Lost in Translation | Sabadurbia | HinProv

Quezon City, Philippines • Hong Kong • Quezon City, Philippines • Indians living in Canada
showblock

4:00 PM
5:30 PM

Block 3: Typical Heroes | Carambola | MiyerKuLETs

India, Philippines, China (and the West) • Philippines • Philippines
showblock

Friday, August 27 (+00:00)

11:00 AM
1:00 PM

Pause and Action from Akira Kurosawa

OSHOW
workshopsold out

11:00 AM
12:00 PM

Destroying Colonial Mentality: Improvising with Your Colonizers

King Chan, Maheen Mohammed, Siddharth Venkatesh, Aih Mendoza, Ariel Diccion
panelshow

12:00 PM
2:00 PM

Block 4: GG Improv | The Words and Feelings Show | The Modern Schemers | citylamps Playback Theatre

Philippines • Bangalore, India • Singapore • India (various) and Nepal (Kathmandu)
showblock

1:00 PM
3:00 PM

Press Púsong Play

Heart the Trickster at PlayAriel Diccion
workshopsold out

2:00 PM
3:00 PM

Block 5: PPTKTV | Memeprov

Singapore • Philippines
showblock

3:00 PM
4:00 PM

Duo Roulette 1

Karl Echaluse, Aih Mendoza, Jin Ong
jamshowWill be streamed for free.free

4:00 PM
6:00 PM

Group Block 6: Improv Comedy Bangalore

India
groupblock

Saturday, August 28 (+00:00)

6:00 AM
8:00 AM

Break Sh*t: Lean Into Your Femininity

(Open to all gender identities)Bala Viswanathan
workshopsold out

7:00 AM
9:30 AM

Block 7: Fillow Talk | Schrodinger's Act | Herring & Chopsticks | Buwan ng Wika Improv | Nautankibaaz Improv Collective

Sydney, Australia • Mandaluyong City, Philippines • Stockholm, Sweden/Oslo, Norway • Philippines • India
showblock

9:00 AM
11:00 AM

Meisner for Improvisers

Missy Maramara
workshopsold out

9:30 AM
11:30 AM

Group Block 8: Kaivalya Plays

India
groupblock

11:00 AM
1:00 PM

Silly Short Form Word Games

Jon Nguyen
workshopsold out

11:30 AM
12:30 PM

Duo Roulette 2

Vincent Bocaling, Jin Ong
jamshowWill be streamed for free.free

12:30 PM
2:30 PM

Group Block 9: Dechaffing the Wheat

Israel, Turkey, India, Philippines
groupblock

2:00 PM
4:00 PM

Relationships That Matter

Hon Chong
workshopsold out

2:30 PM
5:00 PM

Block 10: Adult Impro | Asiansploitation Comedy Lab Rats | Niagrontonians | Monosodium Glutamates

Japan • Canada • Niagara, Toronto (Canada) • Oslo, Norway (from Indonesia, Singapore, China, Vietnam, Iran and India)
showblock

5:00 PM
6:00 PM

Socials!

Aryn Cristobal
socials

Sunday, August 29 (+00:00)

5:00 AM
7:00 AM

Love, Jhemerlyn

Embrace your Filipino (or other) rootsMonica Cordero-Cruz
workshopsold out

5:00 AM
7:00 AM

Musical Drop-In Jam!

Karl Echaluse
jamTo join, buy a ticket. Will not be streamed.paidsold out

7:00 AM
9:00 AM

Bollywood Improv

Varoon Anand
workshopsold out

7:00 AM
8:30 AM

Block 11: Almost Friends Extended | ImpRAWRv | Pridetime

Philippines • Philippines • Philippines
showblock

8:30 AM
9:30 AM

Political Correctness: Drawing the Line between Celebration and Appropriation

Jacob Joseph, Genica Bucao, Aree Witoelar, Ariel Diccion
panelshow

9:00 AM
11:00 AM

Meisner for Improvisers

Missy Maramara
workshopsold out

9:30 AM
11:30 AM

Block 12: The Improverts | Ash Creek Improv | ASAP | ImproJapan

Philippines • Philippines • Singapore • Tokyo, Japan
showblock

11:30 AM
1:30 PM

Improvising the Amman Movie

Meeting Some Tamil Quintessential Movie CharactersLaxmi Priya
workshopsold out

11:30 AM
12:30 PM

Improv is Asian: How can we continue to celebrate as a global community?

Monica Cordero-Cruz, Kim Tan, Varoon Anand, Gabe Mercado
panelshow

12:00 PM
2:00 PM

Intro to Improv Teaser Workshop

Irvs Redor
workshopfreesold out

12:30 PM
2:30 PM

Group Block 13: The Improv Company

Singapore
groupblock

1:30 PM
3:30 PM

Fairy Tales from the East

Aree Witoelar
workshopsold out

2:30 PM
5:00 PM

Block 14: The Dodot | Improv Lab | Formosa Improv Group 福爾摩沙即興組合(FIG) | ACDC (AA Charles Dennis Collab) | Housekeeping Improv

Tel Aviv, Israel • Philippines • Taipei, Taiwan • Philippines • Philippines
showblock

5:00 PM
6:00 PM

Socials!

Aryn Cristobal
socials

You are invited to rewatch the Festival!

More info about Workshops, Duo Roulettes, Jams, and Panels Below!

SPIT Manila performing at Manila Improv Fest 2017

Check Out Our Workshops

Adjust your timezone below.

#TicketEasy with
Ticket2Me logo

Chekhov Technique for Improv

Kelsey Yuhara (UK)

Thu, August 26, 1:30 PM 3:30 PM (+00:00)

Kelsey Yuhara
sold out

Pause and Action from Akira Kurosawa

OSHOW (JP)

Fri, August 27, 11:00 AM 1:00 PM (+00:00)

OSHOW
sold out

Press Púsong Play

Heart the Trickster at Play

Ariel Diccion (PH)

Fri, August 27, 1:00 PM 3:00 PM (+00:00)

Ariel Diccion
sold out

Break Sh*t: Lean Into Your Femininity

(Open to all gender identities)

Bala Viswanathan (IN)

Sat, August 28, 6:00 AM 8:00 AM (+00:00)

Bala Viswanathan
sold out

Meisner for Improvisers

Missy Maramara (PH)

Sat, August 28, 9:00 AM 11:00 AM (+00:00)

Sun, August 29, 9:00 AM 11:00 AM (+00:00)

Missy Maramara
sold out

Silly Short Form Word Games

Jon Nguyen (UK)

Sat, August 28, 11:00 AM 1:00 PM (+00:00)

Jon Nguyen
sold out

Relationships That Matter

Hon Chong (SVK)

Sat, August 28, 2:00 PM 4:00 PM (+00:00)

Hon Chong
sold out

Love, Jhemerlyn

Embrace your Filipino (or other) roots

Monica Cordero-Cruz (PH)

Sun, August 29, 5:00 AM 7:00 AM (+00:00)

Monica Cordero-Cruz
sold out

Bollywood Improv

Varoon Anand (IN)

Sun, August 29, 7:00 AM 9:00 AM (+00:00)

Varoon Anand
sold out

Improvising the Amman Movie

Meeting Some Tamil Quintessential Movie Characters

Laxmi Priya (IN)

Sun, August 29, 11:30 AM 1:30 PM (+00:00)

Laxmi Priya
sold out

Intro to Improv Teaser Workshop

Irvs Redor (Philippines)

Sun, August 29, 12:00 PM 2:00 PM (+00:00)

Irvs Redor
sold out

Fairy Tales from the East

Aree Witoelar (NOR)

Sun, August 29, 1:30 PM 3:30 PM (+00:00)

Aree Witoelar
sold out

See Our Duo Roulettes, Jams, and Panels

Adjust your timezone below.

#TicketEasy with
Ticket2Me logo

Improv is Asian: But What is Asian Improv?

Jay Wang, Tim Yeo, Laxmi Priya, Gabe Mercado

Thu, August 26, 1:00 PM 2:00 PM (+00:00)

panelshowWill be streamed for free.free
Jay Wang, Tim Yeo, Laxmi Priya, Gabe Mercado

Destroying Colonial Mentality: Improvising with Your Colonizers

King Chan, Maheen Mohammed, Siddharth Venkatesh, Aih Mendoza, Ariel Diccion

Fri, August 27, 11:00 AM 12:00 PM (+00:00)

panelshowWill be streamed for free.free
King Chan, Maheen Mohammed, Siddharth Venkatesh, Aih Mendoza, Ariel Diccion

Duo Roulette 1

Karl Echaluse, Aih Mendoza, Jin Ong

Fri, August 27, 3:00 PM 4:00 PM (+00:00)

jamshowWill be streamed for free.free
Karl Echaluse, Aih Mendoza, Jin Ong

Duo Roulette 2

Vincent Bocaling, Jin Ong

Sat, August 28, 11:30 AM 12:30 PM (+00:00)

jamshowWill be streamed for free.free
Vincent Bocaling, Jin Ong

Musical Drop-In Jam!

Karl Echaluse

Sun, August 29, 5:00 AM 7:00 AM (+00:00)

jamTo join, buy a ticket. Will not be streamed.paidsold out
Karl Echaluse
sold out

Political Correctness: Drawing the Line between Celebration and Appropriation

Jacob Joseph, Genica Bucao, Aree Witoelar, Ariel Diccion

Sun, August 29, 8:30 AM 9:30 AM (+00:00)

panelshowWill be streamed for free.free
Jacob Joseph, Genica Bucao, Aree Witoelar, Ariel Diccion

Improv is Asian: How can we continue to celebrate as a global community?

Monica Cordero-Cruz, Kim Tan, Varoon Anand, Gabe Mercado

Sun, August 29, 11:30 AM 12:30 PM (+00:00)

panelshowWill be streamed for free.free
Monica Cordero-Cruz, Kim Tan, Varoon Anand, Gabe Mercado

You Got Questions?
We Have Answers.

What is improv?

Improvisational theater, or improv, is a form of theater where the scenes, stories, dialogue and movement are unscripted and unrehearsed. Improv players create shows that surprise, enthrall, and inspire their audiences by relying on their ability to think on their feet, collaborate in the moment, let go, listen deeply and recognize patterns and connections.

These same skills are valuable not just for the purpose of entertaining an audience but are also used to help people become better leaders, workers, teachers, students, family members.

Everyone is invited to watch improvisers tell stories that are made up on the spot entirely based on your suggestions.

Keep sending in your comments and you may inspire their scenes and stories! 🛎

Who is Third World Improv?

Third World Improv is the first school in the Philippines dedicated to teaching the art and craft of improvisational theater.

Set up in 2015 by Gabe Mercado and the members of the pioneering improv group SPIT, Third World Improv aims to produce improv practitioners who are authentic, innovative, culturally and socially relevant and a lot of fun.

Our instructors are members of SPIT or alumni of the school, and have between five to thirteen years of experience performing improvisation, highlighted by representing the Philippines at the Manila, Shanghai, Singapore, Hong Kong, Beijing, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York and Amsterdam Improv Festivals.

They have also learned from some of the best teachers in improv including Paul Sills, Jason Chin. Armando Diaz. Mark Sutton, Shaun Landry, Ed Reggi, The Second City, Treehouse, Magnet Theater and many more.

Third World Improv & the Manila Improv Fest bring you ImprovisAsian Festival 2021. You may learn more about TWI and its offerings on their Facebook page and their website.

Where can I watch the shows?

We streamed the shows, duo roulettes, and panels online on our Facebook Page. Tell your friends about it!

Where were the workshops and jams held?

The workshops and jams were held online via Zoom.

Paid events (workshops, jams except for Duo Roulettes) were not streamed online.

Upon purchasing a ticket through Ticket2Me, expect to receive further instructions in your email!

What were the technical requirements to join a workshop or a jam?

Make sure you:

  • have the latest version of Zoom
  • have a working camera, speakers/earphones, microphone (We prefer you join via desktop or a laptop)
  • have a stable Internet connection
  • are in a place with ample privacy, good lighting, minimal background noise
  • you are not in a moving vehicle or a middle of a meal
  • you can come up to 15 minutes earlier
  • you attend all sessions (for workshops on multiple days)

What should I expect for the panel discussions?

The panel discussions were streamed online for free.

While live, we encourage you to participate and talk to the panelists and moderators by sending your thoughts in the comments. Our Community Managers will send over your questions and comments to the panel.

What is the ImprovisAsian Festival's Code of Conduct?

The ImprovisAsian Festival does not tolerate harassment, whether physical or verbal, in any of our spaces.

We are all involved when it comes to keeping the class a safe space. This is not upheld just by the instructors or the staff, but by every single person participating.

We are encouraged to communicate our boundaries and express when they have been crossed. We speak up if we are uncomfortable or if we see that someone else may be uncomfortable as well.

We assume good will from each other.

No one's identity, such as their sexuality, religion, or nationality, must ever be the butt of any joke.

Playing in a multi-cultural setting means we must listen with open minds and hearts, as well as be thoughtful, respectful, and considerate about our actions.

If there are any concerns or questions, please email us at improvisasianfestival@gmail.com.

We reserve the right to remove participants who do not abide by these guidelines.

Still can't find what you're looking for here?

Reach out to us over at Facebook Messenger or via email.