Bio

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Aree Witoelar is an improv teacher, director, and performer who grew up in Indonesia and lives in Norway. Living half his life in Asia and half in Europe, half in science and half in arts, he believes improv is the artform to express who you are. Aree is the artistic director of Oslo Impro Festival and founder of Impro Neuf International. He started improv in 2005 in the Netherlands while doing a PhD in physics, and the need to balance science with that joy of spontaneity. He brought that passion to Oslo where he sparked a vibrant international improv community. He has been teaching and performing across Europe (Norway, the Netherlands, Estonia, Finland, Germany, UK, Bulgaria), and Asia (Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam).

Aree has been a part of comedic short form Stranger Things Have Happened, drama-comedy troupe The Improv Speakeasy, and Asian-representing teams Monosodium Glutamates and Herring & Chopsticks. Aree believes improv is easy when you laugh with your partner through curiosity. Aree loves both silly and cerebral fun, with influences from Susan Messing, Jay Sukow, Will Hines, Jason Shotts, and Andel Sudik. Yet he believes that the best improv is yet to come as the East meets West. His mission is to make improv a global artform where anyone can bring their culture on stage. He has connected improvisers around the globe through "Aree & a Friend", a duo series highlighting over 150 improvisers from 65 countries, where we chat about food, society, and funny tidbits from their lands. His thoughts on improv are on the blog On Cloud Nine.

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Aree Witoelar is a Norwegian improv teacher and director from Indonesia. He is the artistic director of Oslo Impro Festival and founder of Impro Neuf International, Norway’s biggest improv community. His improv style has been mentioned as smart, versatile, mischievious and authentic to his cultural roots. Aree has taught at Impro Amsterdam, Improfestival Wurzburg, Improfestival Karlsruhe, Robin Hood, Sofia Improv Festival, Italy, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand and more. His mission is to make improv a global artform for anyone from any culture.

My Roles

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Creator.
I am the founder and artistic director of Impro Neuf International (INI) - Oslo’s first English improv comedy theatre. It is now Norway’s biggest international improv community with over 500 enthusiasts from over 50 countries. I am creator and director of Oslo’s first open festival A Curious Improv Comedy Festival in the Night Time. Together with Impro Neuf, we are powering Oslo’s rising improv scene.

Teacher.
I have been teaching improv for over ten years, developing entire curriculum for Impro Neuf International and heading the advanced improv programs for Impro Neuf, training and collaborating with more than 40 teachers for our community. I’m most proud that my students are now teachers, passing on the knowledge and traditions of Keith Johnstone and Del Close.

Diversity promoter.
I’m a big fan of cultural representation. I am a loud advocate for race diversity in our theatre, and have created minority representation teams Rice Eaters and Monosodium Glutamates, mixed language shows, and produced Impro Neuf's world-bending Cloud Atlas.

Performer.
I have been playing improv since 2005, starting in the Netherlands with EQD and Stranger Things Have Happened. Nowadays I am playing primarily in Norway on The Improv Speakeasy and curious projects, and internationally in Denmark, Canada, Romania, Estonia, Finland and USA. I have performed in nice theatres, a medieval church, frathouses, dark alleys, a courthouse, a farm and a Glühwein stand.

Nerd.
I am also a science teacher in the university with a Ph.D. degree in physics - which explains my overuse of science references, or why I get overexcited when you suggest Black Hole. I muse about improv a lot. Here’s my blog inspired by Impro Neuf: On Cloud Nine.

Teaching Philosophy

 

I love, love, love teaching improv. I believe every improviser is their own special blend. My teaching philosophy therefore is to help players find that improv that brings joy, and then make bold choices within that style. See testimonials.

I’m fascinated by the many ways to do improv. I strive to balance as many perspectives on improv from studying with the great mæsters of the art. The following teachers have been influential:

  • Jay Sukow, Anděl Sudik, Dave Razowsky, Jonathan Pitts (Second City)

  • Susan Messing (Annoyance)

  • Will Hines, Amanda Blake Davis, Jon Lutz (UCB)

  • Jason Shotts, Colleen Doyle, Craig Cackowski (iO West)

  • Stacey Smith, Craig Uhlir (iO)

  • T.J. Mannix (Magnet)

  • Katy Schutte, Chris Mead (Maydays)

  • Adam Cawley, Rob Norman (Second City Toronto)

  • Tim Orr, Rafe Chase, Regina Saisi (BATS San Francisco)

  • Lolu Ajayi (Boom Chicago Amsterdam)