Interview with Inbal Lori, Artistic Director of IMPRO 2025. Questions and Translation into German by Teodora Tzankova
Teodora Tzankova : What can people expect from this year’s International Improv Festival in Berlin starting April 1st?
Inbal Lori : This year we will have many cast members who are invited to the festival for the first time. We invited people who are very talented and who also develop the scene in their own countries forward. We asked them to bring something that they would like to try in the festival: direct a format or teach a specific workshop. So as an audience member, you will see the cast playing a beautiful range of different shows, in different storytelling styles. They are all different ways of creating this unscripted theater that we all love so much.
We will also have two world premieres of two formats that we asked Hila Di Castro and Paula Galimberti to direct especially for the festival with our international cast. The deal we have with the audience is that anyone could take those formats later and do whatever they want with it: play it, change it, be inspired to create something different from it. We want to offer two new improvised possibilities for the world wide community.
Teodora Tzankova : How did you select the international performers who join the IMPRO Festival 2025?
Inbal Lori : I selected people that I love. People who are talented. Some who have never been in the festival before. People who know how to create the magic!
Teodora Tzankova : What makes the IMPRO 2025 unique compared to other festivals worldwide?
Inbal Lori : I think it is fairly big. Lots of talents all working together to push the art form further. Lots of workshops participants coming to share the love of the artform. And a big wish to inspire the local and worldwide community to go back home full of ideas and develop the art form further.
Teodora Tzankova : What is the Berlin audience like compared to audiences in other cities?
Inbal Lori : I think there is a long beautiful tradition of Impro audiences in Berlin, thanx to Die Gorillas and other groups who have worked here for years. I think people are very supportive and curious but also critical. We all know how Germans LOVE to give feedback even if it's not just positive. It can be harsh, but in a way- I love this honesty and also the attitude of "I am not just gonna like it. I am going to have an opinion". Sure, it can be a bit annoying as a performer, but from an artistic point of view- it can be great!
Teodora Tzankova : What advice would you give to aspiring improvisers who want to perform on a global level?
Inbal Lori : rehearse! rehearse! rehearse!
Teodora Tzankova : What do you hope the future holds for international improv and the annual Improv Festival in Berlin?
Inbal Lori : I don't know what the future hold for us as humanity so I would suggest to take everything one step at a time 🤣 but also- I am positive about impro staying relevant in a future world. People will want gatherings that bring them together to a one of a kind show, where they could share space and time with other humans, connect and tell/ hear stories. The intimacy and the uniqueness of each show and the fact it happens in the moment especially for the audience who's there on that night, will be needed. I think that improvisation will have to find more ways to be "Funny" though. I think soon just "Funny" will not be enough. I see it in Israel in a few shows I've done in the past year. It's funny, but painful, thoughtful, sometimes angry. It's funny and cathartic.
Teodora Tzankova : Can you tell us something about the Impro Embassy, the international show series in English on select Thursdays, where you are doing lots of various shows?
Inbal Lori : The Impro Embassy is an incredible privilege that we have in the town thanks to the Ratibor Theater. They are so committed to having the best improvisers in the world come and perform their art. They are so incredibly supportive because they want to have high quality shows there for an international audience. I think Berlin is so lucky to have the Impro Embassy line at the Ratibor Theater. I think everybody should watch at least 3 shows a year from this beautiful line-up they are creating. I know I sound like a citizen of a dictatorship who is forced to glorify their supreme leader, but this is truly how I feel. It's a gift in my life and I think for Berlin as well.