In 1993, Marc Breban was introduced to improvisational theater through classes taught by Michiel Devlieger, who was working at Wisper at the time. Together, they traveled to Canada to train with Keith Johnstone, a pioneer in improvisational theater.
At that time, Marc was very active with the youth vacation organization Top Vakantie. Every year, they organized a grand theatrical spectacle at the thank-you party for the camp counselors. In 1993, Marc brought a group of people together for an improvisational theater production. It was a huge success, so the troupe decided to keep going: Inspinazie was born.
Inspinazie grows just as a good improvisational theater performance develops: combining a ‘wait-and-see’ approach with agility. And embracing changes within the group in order to evolve. The original small, close-knit tribe has grown into a larger group with regular members, supplemented by participants from our own courses and other improvisers.
Inspinazie has also grown by participating in international improvisation festivals and by organizing 10 editions of its own world-famous Leuven International Improvisation Theater Festival. These festivals are always a source of inspiration for improvisers both within and outside Inspinazie, and both within and outside Belgium.
Keith Johnstone’s work is the company’s greatest source of inspiration. Many actors train with him at his home base in Canada, and we also invite him to Belgium. We are also more than happy to attend workshops led by two of his close associates, Patti Stiles and Shawn Kinley, whom we have had the pleasure of welcoming to Leuven on several occasions.
Photo: Marc, Ivo, Keith Johnstone, Nathalie, Suzanne
Offering courses is becoming a cornerstone of our work. For adults, we do this through our partnership with Wisper, and we’ll soon be launching our own Inspinazie XS program for teens and, later on, younger children as well. This way, anyone who wants to learn improvisation can come to us. All of this is in line with our mission: ‘to better promote improvisational theater as a performing art within the theater world through performances and training programs.’ A mission we continue to pursue.
Inspinazie is becoming more professional and specialized as more performers turn their beloved hobby into a career. In addition to our monthly evening performances for the general public, we now present improvisational theater performances at workshops and conferences. We are increasingly responding to very specific requests from organizations and companies with customized ‘in-company‘ improvisational theater programs. The high level of interaction quickly turns improvisational theater into a popular form of corporate theater.
In addition, Inspinazie develops team-building, communication, leadership, and creativity training programs, thereby contributing to the growing global movement of ‘Applied Improvisation’: the application of improvisational theater principles outside the theater.
Inspinazie is diversifying and becoming a hybrid organization. The rigid, exclusive distinctions often drawn between professionalism and amateurism in the arts—or between commercial and volunteer, for-profit and nonprofit—are being challenged, resulting in a fascinating, though not always easy, quest to combine inclusion and quality. Inspinazie has found an answer to this by evolving into a network called the Improvisational Theater House Inspinazie. Under this banner are autonomous entities: the festival, independent communication trainers, an artistic troupe, youth courses, adult courses, a corporate theater group, an experimental space, and more…
Among other things, the event will honor the members who have served for more than 25 years with a medal from the Flemish Government’s Department of Culture: Suzanne Kempeneers, Leen De Koker, Nathalie Van Renterghem, Marc Breban, and Bo Loosen, who also served as chairperson for nearly the entire time.
Inspinazie lives on as a quality label, proudly promoted by its brand ambassadors.
Between 1993 and 2023, these more than 50 wonderful people were part of the cast. (Approximately) In order of appearance:
Marc Breban, Johan Avoux, Bo Loosen, Nathalie Van Renterghem, Leen De Koker, Ingrid Deprez, Wim Verbeke, David Deprez, David Derwael, Bernard Vanassche, Fien Ongenae, Leen Rams, Vanessa Fierens, Nico Sturm, Tomas Leyers, Yvo Mentens, Senne Dehandschutter, Bert Van Puyenbroeck, Geert Rogiers, Kathleen Brusselmans, Betty Kutten, Jan Breban, Leen Broucke, Suzanne Kempeneers, Tine Marain, Ingrid Crollet, Steven Beersmans, Christoph Van Doninck, Joep Van Lishout, Bart Alenus, Wim Alenus (+2023), Wim Pluymers, David Nouwen, Didier Vander Perre, Wim Poppeliers, Jan Schoolmeesters, Koen De Broeck, Tom Tiels, Tanguy Scorpati, Leen Van Barel, Joke Luyten, Karlien Devos, Thierry Willemaers, Leen Breban, Tine Breban, Daisy Vaerewyck, Peter Van Riet, Geert, Alain Rinckhout, Frank De Block, Ann Claes, Elke Janssen, Bill Barberis, Filip Leonard, Kevin Van Staeyen, Charlotte De Metsenaere, and Eva Van Eynde.
Thanks also to: Philip Masure, Tom Tollenaere, Mieke Van Dessel, Kathleen Cortens, Han Lasseel, Karen Aerts, Els Lenaerts, Erwin Scheepmans, Willem Nelissen, Klaas Vandenbroeck, Eva Demulder / Wisper, Bart Fets, Martin Ophoven.