about us
We are a loveable group of comedy die-hards who passionately bring the laughs every Thursday night.
Our story begins when a bunch of us rag-tag improvisers began producing the hugely popular show, Improv Attacks Humanity…initially titled Improv Against Humanity until the cease and desist letters started rolling in from a certain popular card game (true story, ask us about it sometime). After a few years of touring the Australian festival circuit, we started performing weekly shows in 2018, before branding ourselves The Improv Pit in 2020. In the aftermath of the global pandemic, we launched our public workshop program, training up new students in our unique brand of Chicago-style improvised comedy.
Training students in Chicago-style improv comedy
Showcasing Melbourne's best improv comedy
Check out our YouTube channel
Coming soon…
workshops
Think you’re not funny? We’ll prove you wrong!
Improv is a learned discipline just like tying your shoelaces…we’re guessing you weren’t born knowing how to do that either. Our course is carefully designed to take new students by the hand and guide them on a journey of self-discovery.
BENEFITS OF IMPROV
improv Levels 1 - 4
Each of our 4 Workshop Levels runs for either 6 or 8 weeks, with 2 hours per class.
In order to enroll in Levels 2 & 3, students must have completed the Level prior or have received the expressed permission from the Artistic Director, Damien Vosk. If you would like to enquire about skipping Level 1, you can contact us at the bottom of the screen.
Begin your improv journey by signing up to Level 1 today!
Think you’re not funny enough to do improv? We'll prove you wrong! Our highly experienced teachers are here to guide you every step of the way in a super supportive environment.
In Level 1, we begin by teaching the basics of initiating a scene and letting it grow to its full potential. There’s no expectation to be funny in the beginning, although you’ll probably surprise yourself and earn a few cheeky laughs along the way!
Continue your improv journey with Level 2, where we delve deeper into scene work.
Students must have completed Level 1, or have express permission of the Artistic Director to enrol.
Continue your improv journey with Level 3, where we delve deeper into the ‘Harold’ format.
Students must have completed Level 2, or have express permission of the Artistic Director to enrol.
For advanced students, Level 4 offers the opportunity to sharpen their improv skills in preparation for stage performance.
Students must have completed Level 3, or have express permission of the Artistic Director to enrol.
free trial workshops
Want to try improv out for free before you commit to a full 8-week term?
Book in for a free trial!
We run these roughly once a month so click below to book in for our next one.
SHOWS
THURSDAY NIGHT IMPROV
Join us for our weekly show every Thursday night at 7:30pm at The Grace Darling on Smith St, Collingwood!
Sit back in awe as our wildly talented cast takes you on a journey beginning with a single-word suggestion from the audience. It's fast-paced and hilarious and you'll no doubt want to keep coming back for more. Oh, and did we mention it's a FREE show?
Our Improv Jams are super fun and low-pressure. Come hit the stage with us at 6:30pm before our free weekly show!
EVENTS CALENDAR
OUR MISSION
authentic | funny | Proficient
Come watch a show and train with the BEST improvisers in Melbourne!
Embracing our local diverse performance network
Providing a world-class comedy curriculum
Using audience laughter as a guide, rather than formulas
Providing live comedy performance opportunities for all
Pushing the improv art form to new heights
Our approach to improv
The Improv Pit is committed to making sure everyone is welcome and free to express their creativity in a fun, safe environment.
Our students benefit from this by:
Having a diverse group of classmates
Being exposed to multiple comedy influences
Finding comedic patterns in grounded scenes in an organic low pressure environment.
Exploring unfamiliar ideas in a safe space
this is the key to our success!
Venue Hire
The Pit Theatre
The Improv Pit has a new home for it’s weekly shows and workshops. Situated on the iconic Easy Street it houses a 60 Seat Black Box Theatre and 50 Seat pop up theatre on Level 1 throughout the festival. The space is also available for hire to run rehearsals, meetings, writer read throughs and band practices throughout the year. Fill in the EOI for Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2026 or email anders@improvpit.com to chat about booking the spaces throughout the year!
Bard’s Apothecary
The Improv Pit has partnered with the good people at Bard’s Apothecary to program the cosy 45 seat theatre set up as a blackbox style. This popular venues is smack bang in the middle of Melbourne’s CBD on Crossley St round the corner from Pelligrini’s on Bourke St.
Wheat, Wine & Whisky
The Improv Pit has partnered with another spectacular pub on Smith Street in Collingwood. Wheat, Wine and Whisky is a new gastropub, function and events venue that has professional sound, lighting and AV and can seat 70+ in their downstairs function room.
The GRace Darling
The Grace Darling Hotel lies in the heart of Smith Street in Collingwood and has housed the Improv Pit’s weekly shows for the last few years. It has three 50 seat spaces throughout the festival all complete with Stage, Sound & AV.
OUR TEAM
Tom Galtieri
Anders Gamboni
(Managing Director)
David Tieck (Teacher)
Danielle Robinson (Teacher)
Damien Vosk
(Artistic Director)
Sharnema Nougar (Teacher)
PERFORMERS
Danni Robinson | Susan Motyer | Sharnema Nougar | Sujith De Silva | Caitlin Yolland | Tom Galtieri | Adam Lofthouse | Jonny Pelagidis | David Brent | Alessandra Gallucci | Jessica Watson | Priyanca Menon | Emily Hopper | Max Nunes-Cesar | Arthur Pont | Shane Colbert | Vanessa | David Vader | Sarina Darling | Cem Turhan | AJ Steele | Jake Payne | Malila Gabuardi | David Brent | Bailee Scott | Ben Margalith
Who trained our trainers?
Our teachers have trained and performed with international long-form improvisation groups, including The Second City, The IO Theatre, Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB), The Gaulier Clown School, The Annoyance Theatre. They’ve also performed with Australian improvisation groups including The Improv Conspiracy, Impro Melbourne, LMA (Laugh Masters Academy), and The Big Hoo Haa!
Want to perform with us?
We’re always looking for new talent to join our growing cast ensemble! If you’re an experienced improviser looking for stage time, send us a message through the contact form and we’ll get back to you.
Contact Us
To book our upcoming workshops & watch shows, contact us!
Phone or email us using the details below:
we want to hear from you!
Where: 5/48 Easey St, Collingwood VIC 3066
Email: improvpitmelbourne@gmail.com
Phone: 0481559777
Send us a message using the form below :)