Gulf Islands Secondary School (GISS) students defended their title and took home another win at the Canadian Improv Games’ Vancouver Island Regional Tournament in Courtenay on Saturday, Feb. 15.
And while competition and art “aren’t always happy companions,” according to teacher and coach Jason Donaldson, the youth improvisational theatre community in Canada is a supportive and close-knit one. Donaldson said as a coach getting to visit with his colleagues at these larger events was something to look forward to — and for many of the students, the games were a chance to reunite and catch up with friends they’d made at improv camps.
“The level of competition was really high, but the competition isn’t ruthless,” laughed Donaldson. “Everybody wants everybody else to do their best, and you really feel it.”
Improv competition is divided into several categories, Donaldson explained — at regionals the life, story, character, theme and style events — where students have to work together and quickly create scenes. There’s always a balance to be struck between “free play” and a cohesive structure, he said — and on the stage in Courtenay, the GISS team delivered.
“Our ‘life’ event, which is often the hardest, was the highest scoring of the evening by far,” said Donaldson. “And boy oh boy, it was so endearing to see our kids just throw it down with such brazen abandon.”
GISS won the event “by about 30 points,” according to Donaldson, hoisting the regional trophy for the second time in as many years. Now, he said, the race is on to raise funds to once more send students to join the top eight in Canada for the national event in Ottawa — four days of shows, workshops and education in and around the National Arts Centre April 16-19.
Flights are a little less expensive this year, Donaldson said, but the team still needs to raise around $12,000; fundraising events will be announced very soon, and are likely to include burgers at Country Grocer, bake sales and online crowdsourcing.
Fundraising was “off to a good start,” said Donaldson, noting donations from Windsor Plywood and some individuals had already been received. He said islanders looking to support in-person — or simply looking for great entertainment — should attend what will likely be multiple improv shows by the team between now and the nationals.
“We have a show at the Legion on Thursday, March 6 at 7:30 p.m.,” said Donaldson. “It’s a great opportunity for people to see this talented group.”