Alistair Cook has been performing, instructing, consulting, and directing improvisation for audiences across Canada, the US and Europe.

He is currently the National Director and President of our nation’s improvisation tournament for young people, the Canadian Improv Games.

Alistair is the Founder and Director of !nstant Theatre Company. He’s also the Artistic Director of the Vancouver International Improv Festival.

Alistair’s main focus has been as the National Artistic Director and president of the national Improv tournament the Canadian Improv Games. This long standing relationship with the CIG has lead to his development of the IMPROVCAMP, NEXT ACT and IMPROV UNIVERSITY programs. With the creation of these programs and the tournament it’s self Alistair’s work reaches over 2800 students every year. For his years of work Alistair received the Founders award for his dedication and contributions to the CIG.

Instant theatre Company has long been Alistair’s professional improvisational playground and artistic outlet. Working with outstanding local improvisers Alistair has produced many seasons of work and launched the Vancouver Improv Festival, Vancouver Cage Match, the Young and The Spontaneous series and Instant Theatre’s much sought after Conservatory program.

Here is what a few other people say about him:

“Alistair Cook’s ability to communicate his vision to the improvisers he works with is unsurpassed by any director I’ve experienced. He has found balance directing an ensemble strictly and specifically while allowing spontaneous in-the-moment creations from the players to influence the final design. He is able to provide process to the group that makes sense and leads to a final product satisfying to the improvisers and beautiful for audiences.” – B Tierney, Artistic Director, Upfront Theatre Bellingham Wa.

“Alistair Cook is a world class improviser who is a pioneer. He is constantly creating and championing new techniques and new ways to look at fundamental techniques. He strives for excellence and has found a way to inspire those that work with him to achieve it. I personally find that working with Alistair Cook has made me a better improviser” –Stephen Sim, CRUMBS Winnipeg Man.

Instant Theatre Company has been producing improvisational theatre in Vancouver, BC since 1994. The company has a wide scope and broad artistic vision as we have learned from (and continue to learn from) many of the great teachers and producers in the field. We work in both short and long format improv, and in both structured and freestyle techniques.

In the nearly twenty years we’ve operated, a lot has changed within the world of improvisational theatre. Instant Theatre Company has both experienced that change and has created some of it, too. By spending time on the road across North America and in Europe, as well as here at home, the company and its Artistic Director Alistair Cook have developed a great blend of styles and a non-exclusionary perspective on how to teach improvisation.

Aside from our regular Classes and Shows, we also produce the Young and the Spontaneous series every February (check back here for details) and Vancouver International Improv Festival every October.

We are proud to be a leader in Vancouver’s alternative improv community and your best choice for training in improvisational theatre. We welcome students and guests from across the world. Join us.