SCI | |
| | |
| Address | 17-6, Hangang-Daero 48-Gil, Yongsan-Gu Seoul South Korea |
|---|---|
| Current use | Improvisational comedy Sketch comedy Comedic plays |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 2007 |
| Website | |
| seoulcityimprov | |
Seoul City Improv (SCI) is a theater company and improvisational comedy troupe located in Seoul, South Korea. Founded in 2007, in Seoul's Itaewon neighborhood [1] by an international group of actors and creatives it's known to be Korea's oldest English-language improv group [2] and has since grown to perform all around the world, including Taiwan, Tokyo, Hong Kong, USA, Canada and more. [3]
Seoul City Improv was founded in 2007 by actress Margaret Whittum as an outlet for performers of theater group Seoul Players who, at the time, had only two performance opportunities a year. [4] Their shows first began with short-form improv games, influenced by the show Whose Line Is It Anyway? (U.S. TV series), but has since grown to incorporate various long-form and musical improv formats. [5]
SCI's first international debut would be in April 2010 with a collaborative show in Taichung, Taiwan with Taichung Improv [4] and would follow that up in Tokyo, Japan with a showing at the Tokyo Improv Festival. [3]
In April 2011, Seoul City Improv took part in the International Interactive Arts Festival in Beijing, a five-day event where it was mentioned as a “talent from across Asia” by Time Out Beijing. [6] In May of that year, SCI would go on to host the Seoul International Improv Festival featuring performers from the US, China, Hong Kong, and more. [3]
Seoul City Improv would later collaborate with the Korea Improv Theater to host South Korea's first English-language Theatresports performance. [7]
In March 2016, Seoul City Improv was named one of the best expat performing groups by 10 Magazine (South Korean magazine). [2] The next year, Seoul City Improv would find itself performing in Shanghai for the Shanghai Improv Festival, as well as being featured in the Busan International Comedy Festival. [5]
They offered their first eight-week introductory improv courses in mid-2018. [8]
Currently, Seoul City Improv's events are located in The Funtastic Theater located near Samgakji station. [9]