Liverpool Improvisation Festival

Overview

The Liverpool Improvisation Festival (LiF) is an annual festival bringing together international and local improvisers to showcase unscripted performance across multiple disciplines. Founded in 2022 with its inaugural event in April 2023, the festival emerged as a post-pandemic initiative to revitalize Liverpool's improv scene and has grown rapidly since. It is supported by Unity Theatre, Liverpool John Moores University, and Liverpool Arts Bar Studios, and continues Liverpool's improvisational theatre traditions associated with Ken Campbell, Improbable Theatre, and Showstoppers.

The 2026 edition features 18 live shows - including three world premieres - and seven workshops. The programme spans improv comedy, clowning, shadow puppetry, musical theatre, and storytelling. Highlights include David Elms Describes a Room, Limboland from musical theatre improviser T.J. Mannix, The Sinners' Table from ImprompTwo & Co, a 12-performer ensemble piece called Ancestors, and "legends of literary improvisation" School of Night. The festival also maintains what it describes as the UK's largest archive of improvised performance documentation.

Sources

• Liverpool Improvisation Festival - Official Website
• About LiF
• Liverpool Improvisation Festival 2026 dates and performers - Arts City Liverpool
• Liverpool Improvisation Festival Returns for 2026 - The Reviews Hub
• Improvisation festival returns to Liverpool - British Theatre Guide
• Unity Theatre Unveils Spring 2026 Festival Season - BroadwayWorld