A year after its first launch, the Quebec Improv Festival is sailing full sail towards its second edition. With new partners, the event is expanding from three to ten days, welcoming artists from Europe — and is preparing to bring improvisation through the main door of the Diamond.
The first year already felt like a honeymoon given the enthusiasm of the public and artists for the new spring event. Today, the high mass of improv is perhaps only in its leather wedding, but already, the marriage seems set to be a long-term one.
“The attendance at all the shows was very satisfactory last year,” rejoices Dominic Lapointe, one of the main organizers of the festival. The public was excited to discover new improvisation concepts derived from the classic match that everyone knows, so much so that this year, the festival lasts ten days instead of three. It’s already a good steps, for a second edition! »
Given the crowd success experienced last year, the festival is taking its time and ease this year. It also takes a first step in Europe with the arrival of veterans Marion Billy and Ismaël Habia, who will add their French touch during four shows.
Some popular performances last year are coming back for a spin. This is particularly the case of the Punch Club, where the improv arena is inspired by the wrestling ring, and of Turboa show without points, huddles or penalties, where constraints and ideas come from the public rather than from a referee.
The improvised musical Almost Broadway also wins money to close the festival. The show doubles its duration and partners with the Ligue d’improvisation musicale de Québec for a two-hour tour de force without text or score.
Among the new features, several takes delight Dominic Lapointe. “This year we are offering a show aimed at young audiences called The big thugs. It’s a festival production that we tried twice and it worked really well. Children can enjoy it as soon as they are able to speak: we involve them a lot and ask them for ideas. It’s also really something to discover for parents who have young children and who want to get started with improvisation — which is a fantastic medium for kids. »
” Something is happening “
The arrival of troupes from Saguenay and the Magdalen Islands this year also fulfills one of the original ambitions of the Quebec Improv Festival: that of becoming a meeting place for a community scattered across the four corners of the province. .
“Links are being forged, people are interested [les uns aux autres] and the improv community is a great winner from that because we talk to each other more, emphasizes Dominic Lapointe. At this level, we feel that something is happening. »
The emergence of the festival comes at a time when the National Improvisation League is leading a group that works to recognize improvisation as an artistic discipline like any other.
“This is not the case at the moment, which makes improvisation very difficult to subsidize,” explains Mr. Lapointe. So there is this movement that the festival, I think, further strengthens. »
The Quebec Improv Festival has been able to count on significant sponsorship since its birth. Participating in a podcast recorded in front of an audience last year, Robert Lepage this time rolls out the red carpet of his theater to welcome the opening match of the festival in his Diamant.
“Already, last year, after recording the podcast, he whispered to me that if we wanted to do something at Le Diamant, we shouldn’t hesitate,” remembers Dominic Lapointe. When approaching the players to ask them if they were interested in participating in the first improv match in the history of the Diamond, it was super easy, everyone wanted to get involved! »
The 600 tickets on sale for this show, which features big names like Vincent Bolduc, Pier-Luc Funk, Richardson Zéphyr, Guy Jodoin, Sophie Cadieux and Fabiola Nyrva Aladin, found takers in less than 10 days.
“When Dominic Lapointe contacted our team to present his project, our response was instantaneous: an enthusiastic “yes!” written to Duty the general director of the theater, Steve Labrie. Improvisation is part of the DNA of the Diamant co-founder, so it was natural for us to open our doors to the festival to present its grand opening match. »
Could the event that has the wind in its sails bring the famous director back onto the ice for his third year? “I talked to his team about it and they were like, ‘Ah, I don’t think it would be closed.’ We’ll have to work on it a little, but we’re definitely going to push on it. That would be excellent! »