Step into the shadowy streets of the 1940s, where fedoras are sharp, secrets are sharper, and there’s always a smoking gun. It’s an unscripted film noir classic, unfolding live before your eyes.

Somebody’s dead. But who? Why? And who’s holding the smoking gun? Enter the hard-boiled Private Dick, sniffing out clues in a tangled web of lies, double-crosses, and intrigue. In this world, trust is as rare as a dame who doesn’t spell trouble, and everyone’s got something to hide.

Prepare for mystery, suspense, and a whole lot of snappy one-liners as the 1940s noir style gets an improv twist. With danger lurking in every shadow and plot twists you won’t see coming, one thing’s for sure—this is a rip-roaring yarn you can’t afford to miss.

Slip into something shady, grab a ticket, and get ready for a night where the only thing unscripted is everything

Our fully licensed bar opens one hour before the show begins so come and have a drink before the show.

The Covert Theatre is community in spirit and professional in standards. No audience member is brought up on stage, so you can relax and enjoy the show from the comfort of your seat.

The Covert Theatre is NZ's home of improvised comedy. With workshops and shows every night of the week there is something for everyone. Be sure to check out www.coverttheatre.com

To book wheelchair accessible seats, or for assistance with your booking, please email us comedy@coverttheatre.com or call (09) 600 1877

The Covert Theatre is community in spirit and professional in standards. No audience member is brought up on stage, so you can relax and enjoy the show from the comfort of your seat.

The Covert Theatre is NZ's home of improvised comedy. With workshops and shows every night of the week there is something for everyone.

To book wheelchair accessible seats, or for assistance with your booking, please email us comedy@coverttheatre.com or call (09) 600 1877

Step into the shadowy streets of the 1940s, where fedoras are sharp, secrets are sharper, and there’s always a smoking gun. It’s an unscripted film noir classic, unfolding live before your eyes.

Somebody’s dead. But who? Why? And who’s holding the smoking gun? Enter the hard-boiled Private Dick, sniffing out clues in a tangled web of lies, double-crosses, and intrigue. In this world, trust is as rare as a dame who doesn’t spell trouble, and everyone’s got something to hide.

Prepare for mystery, suspense, and a whole lot of snappy one-liners as the 1940s noir style gets an improv twist. With danger lurking in every shadow and plot twists you won’t see coming, one thing’s for sure—this is a rip-roaring yarn you can’t afford to miss.

Slip into something shady, grab a ticket, and get ready for a night where the only thing unscripted is everything

Our fully licensed bar opens one hour before the show begins so come and have a drink before the show.

The Covert Theatre is community in spirit and professional in standards. No audience member is brought up on stage, so you can relax and enjoy the show from the comfort of your seat.

The Covert Theatre is NZ's home of improvised comedy. With workshops and shows every night of the week there is something for everyone. Be sure to check out www.coverttheatre.com

To book wheelchair accessible seats, or for assistance with your booking, please email us comedy@coverttheatre.com or call (09) 600 1877

Welcome to Jester, the show where our bright-eyed newbies mix with our seasoned pros for a night of unpredictable, family-friendly fun!

Think Whose Line Is It Anyway?, but with way more chaos. Our improvisers leap onto the stage to create scenes, sagas, and songs based on whatever wild suggestions you can dream up, all while battling it out for the ultimate title of Jester.

Expect laugh-out-loud moments, a few glorious missteps, and plenty of cheeky banter as they vie for your applause—and their dignity. Always different, always hilarious, and always a bit of cheeky fun. You won’t want to miss it!

Rated: M

Ticket Information

• General Admission: $17.55 each ($16.00 + $1.55 fees)

• Concession (Student, Gold Card, Group 6+): $15.50 each ($14.00 + $1.50 fees)

“Sheer madcap wit and an energetic, slapdash hour of fun.” Theatreview

“Come armed with your funny bone and some unique suggestions for the performers who are guaranteed to leave you grinning from ear to ear before the night is done.”

NZ Entertainment Podcast

Our fully licensed bar opens one hour before the show begins so come and have a drink before the show.

No audience member is brought up on stage, so you can relax and enjoy the show from the comfort of your seat.

The Covert Theatre, home of improv comedy, is community in spirit and professional in standards. With workshops and shows every night of the week there is something for everyone. Be sure to check out www.coverttheatre.com

To book wheelchair accessible seats, or for assistance with your booking, please email us comedy@coverttheatre.com or call (09) 600 1877

It’s open mic night for improvisers, where the only rule is to keep the laughs coming!

Watch as improv comedians take the stage with just 15 minutes each to wow the crowd, trying out bold new games, spontaneous scenes, and off-the-cuff formats.

Expect a mix of old favourites, unexpected twists, and brand-new ideas hot off the comedy press. No script, no safety net—just pure, unpredictable fun!

Our fully licensed bar opens one hour before the show begins so come and have a drink before the show.

Rated: M

The Covert Theatre is community in spirit and professional in standards. No audience member is brought up on stage, so you can relax and enjoy the show from the comfort of your seat.

The Covert Theatre is NZ's home of improvised comedy. With workshops and shows every night of the week there is something for everyone.

To book wheelchair accessible seats, or for assistance with your booking, please email us comedy@coverttheatre.com or call (09) 600 1877

The Improv Bandits – No Scripts. No Gimmicks. No Safety Net. Just Pure Comedy.

Since 1997, NZ’s most successful improvised comedy act has been leaving audiences in stitches with their lightning-fast wit and seamless teamwork. With international awards under their belt and a reputation for jaw-dropping spontaneity, these comedy masters create unrepeatable magic right before your eyes. No two shows are ever the same—so buckle up for a night of high-energy, off-the-cuff hilarity that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

Audience participation level: Low
No audience member is brought up on stage, so you can relax and enjoy the show from the comfort of your seat.

Ticket Information

• General Admission : $27.80 each ($26.00 + $1.80 fees)

• Concession (Student, Gold Card, Group 6+): $23.70 each ($22.00 + $1.70 fees)

The Covert Theatre is community in spirit and professional in standards. No audience member is brought up on stage, so you can relax and enjoy the show from the comfort of your seat.

The Covert Theatre is NZ's home of improvised comedy. With workshops and shows every night of the week there is something for everyone.

To book wheelchair accessible seats, or for assistance with your booking, please email us comedy@coverttheatre.com or call (09) 600 1877

Calling all Trekkies—prepare for warp-speed laughs!

The Covert Theatre is beaming up another round of its galaxy-class improv comedy show! Join us on a side-splitting mission where no punchline has gone before, exploring the final frontier of comedy with a show that’s as highly illogical as it is highly hilarious.

Set phasers to fun and claim your seat—before they vanish into a wormhole!

Rated: M

The Covert Theatre is community in spirit and professional in standards. No audience member is brought up on stage, so you can relax and enjoy the show from the comfort of your seat.

The Covert Theatre is NZ's home of improvised comedy. With workshops and shows every night of the week there is something for everyone. Be sure to check out www.coverttheatre.com

To book wheelchair accessible seats, or for assistance with your booking, please email us comedy@coverttheatre.com or call (09) 600 1877

Welcome to Fother Muckers, the late-night talk show you didn’t know you needed (and might wish you hadn’t).

In this delightfully chaotic improv spectacle, our human host is joined by three puppet guests—chosen by the audience, so if things go off the rails, well, you only have yourselves to blame. Together, they’ll engage in a series of absurd games, painfully revealing interviews, and moments of awkward intimacy as we peel back the layers of the human (and felt) condition. Relationships will be formed and promptly destroyed, dark secrets will come to light, and one lucky puppet will walk away with the title of shameful victor—a distinction that no one should really want but everyone seems to fight for anyway.

Please note: neither the puppets nor the host take responsibility for any emotional damage or personal regrets suffered during this questionable journey into the absurd. You have been warned.

Rated: R18
Tickets $10.00

The Covert Theatre is community in spirit and professional in standards. No audience member is brought up on stage, so you can relax and enjoy the show from the comfort of your seat.

The Covert Theatre is NZ's home of improvised comedy. With workshops and shows every night of the week there is something for everyone.

To book wheelchair accessible seats, or for assistance with your booking, please email us comedy@coverttheatre.com or call (09) 600 1877

The Improv Bandits – No Scripts. No Gimmicks. No Safety Net. Just Pure Comedy.

Since 1997, NZ’s most successful improvised comedy act has been leaving audiences in stitches with their lightning-fast wit and seamless teamwork. With international awards under their belt and a reputation for jaw-dropping spontaneity, these comedy masters create unrepeatable magic right before your eyes. No two shows are ever the same—so buckle up for a night of high-energy, off-the-cuff hilarity that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

Audience participation level: Low
No audience member is brought up on stage, so you can relax and enjoy the show from the comfort of your seat.

Ticket Information

• General Admission : $27.80 each ($26.00 + $1.80 fees)

• Concession (Student, Gold Card, Group 6+): $23.70 each ($22.00 + $1.70 fees)

The Covert Theatre is community in spirit and professional in standards. No audience member is brought up on stage, so you can relax and enjoy the show from the comfort of your seat.

The Covert Theatre is NZ's home of improvised comedy. With workshops and shows every night of the week there is something for everyone.

To book wheelchair accessible seats, or for assistance with your booking, please email us comedy@coverttheatre.com or call (09) 600 1877

Calling all Trekkies—prepare for warp-speed laughs!

The Covert Theatre is beaming up another round of its galaxy-class improv comedy show! Join us on a side-splitting mission where no punchline has gone before, exploring the final frontier of comedy with a show that’s as highly illogical as it is highly hilarious.

Set phasers to fun and claim your seat—before they vanish into a wormhole!

Rated: M

The Covert Theatre is community in spirit and professional in standards. No audience member is brought up on stage, so you can relax and enjoy the show from the comfort of your seat.

The Covert Theatre is NZ's home of improvised comedy. With workshops and shows every night of the week there is something for everyone. Be sure to check out www.coverttheatre.com

To book wheelchair accessible seats, or for assistance with your booking, please email us comedy@coverttheatre.com or call (09) 600 1877

Welcome to Fother Muckers, the late-night talk show you didn’t know you needed (and might wish you hadn’t).

In this delightfully chaotic improv spectacle, our human host is joined by three puppet guests—chosen by the audience, so if things go off the rails, well, you only have yourselves to blame. Together, they’ll engage in a series of absurd games, painfully revealing interviews, and moments of awkward intimacy as we peel back the layers of the human (and felt) condition. Relationships will be formed and promptly destroyed, dark secrets will come to light, and one lucky puppet will walk away with the title of shameful victor—a distinction that no one should really want but everyone seems to fight for anyway.

Please note: neither the puppets nor the host take responsibility for any emotional damage or personal regrets suffered during this questionable journey into the absurd. You have been warned.

Rated: R18
Tickets $10.00

The Covert Theatre is community in spirit and professional in standards. No audience member is brought up on stage, so you can relax and enjoy the show from the comfort of your seat.

The Covert Theatre is NZ's home of improvised comedy. With workshops and shows every night of the week there is something for everyone.

To book wheelchair accessible seats, or for assistance with your booking, please email us comedy@coverttheatre.com or call (09) 600 1877

Get ready for a wild ride with The Remarkable Case Of...

This improv extravaganza turns every audience member into a potential detective as our talented cast dives headfirst into a brand-new mystery inspired by your wackiest suggestions. Expect a whirlwind of quirky characters, outrageous plot twists, and laugh-out-loud moments that’ll leave you questioning everything—especially our detectives' sanity!

Watch as our improvisers piece together clues and crack jokes, often with questionable logic, while navigating through a sea of absurdity and hilarity. Who needs a script when you can have chaotic fun? From suspicious cats to overzealous butlers, every performance is a new adventure filled with shenanigans and plenty of cheeky banter.

Join us for a night where solving the case is only half the fun—because in this world of improv, the only thing you can count on is the unexpected! The Remarkable Case Of... proves that with a dash of creativity and a sprinkle of mischief, every mystery can lead to unforgettable laughs!

Rated: M

Our fully licensed bar opens one hour before the show begins so come and have a drink before the show.

No audience member is brought up on stage, so you can relax and enjoy the show from the comfort of your seat.

The Covert Theatre, home of improv comedy, is community in spirit and professional in standards. With workshops and shows every night of the week there is something for everyone.

To book wheelchair accessible seats, or for assistance with your booking, please email us comedy@coverttheatre.com or call (09) 600 1877

Do you like Graham Norton? Then you'll love On The Couch. It's the Covert Theatre's comedy show that takes a chat show format and throws in some hilarious celebrity show biz improv.

The improvised chat show where three celebrity guests spill the secrets, scandals, and surprises of their lives in the spotlight. From rockstars and influencers to movie stars, bestselling authors, and even that one person who once did a TED Talk—no one is off-limits. Get ready for fame, fortune, and a fair share of misfortune On The Couch.

Our fully licensed bar opens one hour before the show begins so come and have a drink before the show.

No audience member is brought up on stage, so you can relax and enjoy the show from the comfort of your seat.

Rated: M
Tickets $22.00

The Covert Theatre is community in spirit and professional in standards. No audience member is brought up on stage, so you can relax and enjoy the show from the comfort of your seat.

The Covert Theatre is NZ's home of improvised comedy. With workshops and shows every night of the week there is something for everyone. Be sure to check out www.coverttheatre.com

To book wheelchair accessible seats, or for assistance with your booking, please email us comedy@coverttheatre.com or call (09) 600 1877

Get ready for a wild ride with The Remarkable Case Of...

This improv extravaganza turns every audience member into a potential detective as our talented cast dives headfirst into a brand-new mystery inspired by your wackiest suggestions. Expect a whirlwind of quirky characters, outrageous plot twists, and laugh-out-loud moments that’ll leave you questioning everything—especially our detectives' sanity!

Watch as our improvisers piece together clues and crack jokes, often with questionable logic, while navigating through a sea of absurdity and hilarity. Who needs a script when you can have chaotic fun? From suspicious cats to overzealous butlers, every performance is a new adventure filled with shenanigans and plenty of cheeky banter.

Join us for a night where solving the case is only half the fun—because in this world of improv, the only thing you can count on is the unexpected! The Remarkable Case Of... proves that with a dash of creativity and a sprinkle of mischief, every mystery can lead to unforgettable laughs!

Rated: M

Our fully licensed bar opens one hour before the show begins so come and have a drink before the show.

No audience member is brought up on stage, so you can relax and enjoy the show from the comfort of your seat.

The Covert Theatre, home of improv comedy, is community in spirit and professional in standards. With workshops and shows every night of the week there is something for everyone.

To book wheelchair accessible seats, or for assistance with your booking, please email us comedy@coverttheatre.com or call (09) 600 1877

Do you like Graham Norton? Then you'll love On The Couch. It's the Covert Theatre's comedy show that takes a chat show format and throws in some hilarious celebrity show biz improv.

The improvised chat show where three celebrity guests spill the secrets, scandals, and surprises of their lives in the spotlight. From rockstars and influencers to movie stars, bestselling authors, and even that one person who once did a TED Talk—no one is off-limits. Get ready for fame, fortune, and a fair share of misfortune On The Couch.

Our fully licensed bar opens one hour before the show begins so come and have a drink before the show.

No audience member is brought up on stage, so you can relax and enjoy the show from the comfort of your seat.

Rated: M
Tickets $22.00

The Covert Theatre is community in spirit and professional in standards. No audience member is brought up on stage, so you can relax and enjoy the show from the comfort of your seat.

The Covert Theatre is NZ's home of improvised comedy. With workshops and shows every night of the week there is something for everyone. Be sure to check out www.coverttheatre.com

To book wheelchair accessible seats, or for assistance with your booking, please email us comedy@coverttheatre.com or call (09) 600 1877

Ever wondered what it’s like to see a Broadway show created right before your eyes? Welcome to Instant Broadway!

In this uproarious musical comedy extravaganza, a team of quick-thinking improvisers takes audience suggestions and spins them into a full-blown musical—complete with catchy songs, hilarious characters, and unforgettable dance numbers—all made up on the spot! No two shows are the same, and every night is a brand-new, side-splitting adventure. Whether you're a musical theatre fan or just love a good laugh, Instant Broadway guarantees a show-stopping performance you’ll be singing about long after the curtains close!

“Genuinely funny comedy.”
Theatreview

“Adroit manoeuvring at its finest .”
NZ Herald

“Seriously good comedy, genuine side-splitting laughter. Extraordinarily great… gorgeous vocal work in seriously well-sung songs.”
The Speakeasy

Our fully licensed bar opens one hour before the show begins so come and have a drink before the show.

Rated: M
Tickets $22.00

The Covert Theatre is community in spirit and professional in standards. No audience member is brought up on stage, so you can relax and enjoy the show from the comfort of your seat.

The Covert Theatre is NZ's home of improvised comedy. With workshops and shows every night of the week there is something for everyone.

To book wheelchair accessible seats, or for assistance with your booking, please email us comedy@coverttheatre.com or call (09) 600 1877

Double the improvisers, double the fun—welcome to Double Down!

In this fast-paced, laugh-out-loud comedy show, pairs of improvisers team up to create spontaneous, unscripted adventures based on just one suggestion from the audience. With quick wit, wild imagination, and no script to hold them back, these dynamic duos dive headfirst into unpredictable storylines that can go anywhere! From hilarious mishaps to heartwarming moments, Double Down delivers twice the comedy and endless surprises, proving that when it comes to improv, two heads are better than one!

No audience member is brought up on stage, so you can relax and enjoy the show from the comfort of your seat.

The Covert Theatre, home of improv comedy, is community in spirit and professional in standards. With workshops and shows every night of the week there is something for everyone.

To book wheelchair accessible seats, or for assistance with your booking, please email us comedy@coverttheatre.com or call (09) 600 1877

Rated: M

Ever wondered what it’s like to see a Broadway show created right before your eyes? Welcome to Instant Broadway!

In this uproarious musical comedy extravaganza, a team of quick-thinking improvisers takes audience suggestions and spins them into a full-blown musical—complete with catchy songs, hilarious characters, and unforgettable dance numbers—all made up on the spot! No two shows are the same, and every night is a brand-new, side-splitting adventure. Whether you're a musical theatre fan or just love a good laugh, Instant Broadway guarantees a show-stopping performance you’ll be singing about long after the curtains close!

“Genuinely funny comedy.”
Theatreview

“Adroit manoeuvring at its finest .”
NZ Herald

“Seriously good comedy, genuine side-splitting laughter. Extraordinarily great… gorgeous vocal work in seriously well-sung songs.”
The Speakeasy

Our fully licensed bar opens one hour before the show begins so come and have a drink before the show.

Rated: M
Tickets $22.00

The Covert Theatre is community in spirit and professional in standards. No audience member is brought up on stage, so you can relax and enjoy the show from the comfort of your seat.

The Covert Theatre is NZ's home of improvised comedy. With workshops and shows every night of the week there is something for everyone.

To book wheelchair accessible seats, or for assistance with your booking, please email us comedy@coverttheatre.com or call (09) 600 1877

Double the improvisers, double the fun—welcome to Double Down!

In this fast-paced, laugh-out-loud comedy show, pairs of improvisers team up to create spontaneous, unscripted adventures based on just one suggestion from the audience. With quick wit, wild imagination, and no script to hold them back, these dynamic duos dive headfirst into unpredictable storylines that can go anywhere! From hilarious mishaps to heartwarming moments, Double Down delivers twice the comedy and endless surprises, proving that when it comes to improv, two heads are better than one!

No audience member is brought up on stage, so you can relax and enjoy the show from the comfort of your seat.

The Covert Theatre, home of improv comedy, is community in spirit and professional in standards. With workshops and shows every night of the week there is something for everyone.

To book wheelchair accessible seats, or for assistance with your booking, please email us comedy@coverttheatre.com or call (09) 600 1877

Rated: M

Prepare to be transported back to ye olde times with A Bard’s Tale—the improvised Shakespearean adventure where wit meets whimsy!

In this delightful romp through Elizabethan intrigue, our cast of improvisers brings to life a brand-new tale inspired by the Bard himself. With flowery language, outrageous characters, and plot twists that would make even Shakespeare do a double-take, no two performances are the same. Whether it's mistaken identities, star-crossed lovers, or some good old-fashioned swordplay, you’re in for a night of clever wordplay and hilarious mischief.

Get ready to laugh, gasp, and maybe even shout “Huzzah!” as A Bard’s Tale proves that all the world’s a stage—and it’s full of surprises.

• General Admission: $23.70 each ($22.00 + $1.70 fees)

• Concession (Student, Gold Card, Group 6+): $19.60 each ($18.00 + $1.60 fees)

A Bard’s Tale – the greatest plays Shakespeare never wrote

The cast perform a full length play in the style the greatest playwright that ever lived.

A Bard’s Tale has been performed at the Pop-up Globe and the Hawaiian Improv Festival and of course – it’s different every night!

“An impressive feat in improvised performance. Well worth a watch!” Theatreview

“A unique, unexpected and uncanny show. This show is a testament to the clever and quick-witted talents of its players.” Mac + Mae

“Spontaneous laughter that is pure and it’s bloody funny. This show is as good as any improv you’ll see in the modern world.” The Speakeasy

Our fully licensed bar opens one hour before the show begins so come and have a drink before the show.

No audience member is brought up on stage, so you can relax and enjoy the show from the comfort of your seat.

The Covert Theatre, home of improv comedy, is community in spirit and professional in standards. With workshops and shows every night of the week there is something for everyone. Be sure to check out www.coverttheatre.com

To book wheelchair accessible seats, or for assistance with your booking, please email us comedy@coverttheatre.com or call (09) 600 1877

The Covert Theatre is community in spirit and professional in standards. No audience member is brought up on stage, so you can relax and enjoy the show from the comfort of your seat.

The Covert Theatre is NZ's home of improvised comedy. With workshops and shows every night of the week there is something for everyone.

To book wheelchair accessible seats, or for assistance with your booking, please email us comedy@coverttheatre.com or call (09) 600 1877

Prepare to be transported back to ye olde times with A Bard’s Tale—the improvised Shakespearean adventure where wit meets whimsy!

In this delightful romp through Elizabethan intrigue, our cast of improvisers brings to life a brand-new tale inspired by the Bard himself. With flowery language, outrageous characters, and plot twists that would make even Shakespeare do a double-take, no two performances are the same. Whether it's mistaken identities, star-crossed lovers, or some good old-fashioned swordplay, you’re in for a night of clever wordplay and hilarious mischief.

Get ready to laugh, gasp, and maybe even shout “Huzzah!” as A Bard’s Tale proves that all the world’s a stage—and it’s full of surprises.

• General Admission: $23.70 each ($22.00 + $1.70 fees)

• Concession (Student, Gold Card, Group 6+): $19.60 each ($18.00 + $1.60 fees)

A Bard’s Tale – the greatest plays Shakespeare never wrote

The cast perform a full length play in the style the greatest playwright that ever lived.

A Bard’s Tale has been performed at the Pop-up Globe and the Hawaiian Improv Festival and of course – it’s different every night!

“An impressive feat in improvised performance. Well worth a watch!” Theatreview

“A unique, unexpected and uncanny show. This show is a testament to the clever and quick-witted talents of its players.” Mac + Mae

“Spontaneous laughter that is pure and it’s bloody funny. This show is as good as any improv you’ll see in the modern world.” The Speakeasy

Our fully licensed bar opens one hour before the show begins so come and have a drink before the show.

No audience member is brought up on stage, so you can relax and enjoy the show from the comfort of your seat.

The Covert Theatre, home of improv comedy, is community in spirit and professional in standards. With workshops and shows every night of the week there is something for everyone. Be sure to check out www.coverttheatre.com

To book wheelchair accessible seats, or for assistance with your booking, please email us comedy@coverttheatre.com or call (09) 600 1877

Welcome to Jester, the show where our bright-eyed newbies mix with our seasoned pros for a night of unpredictable, family-friendly fun!

Think Whose Line Is It Anyway?, but with way more chaos. Our improvisers leap onto the stage to create scenes, sagas, and songs based on whatever wild suggestions you can dream up, all while battling it out for the ultimate title of Jester.

Expect laugh-out-loud moments, a few glorious missteps, and plenty of cheeky banter as they vie for your applause—and their dignity. Always different, always hilarious, and always a bit of cheeky fun. You won’t want to miss it!

Rated: M

Ticket Information

• General Admission: $17.55 each ($16.00 + $1.55 fees)

• Concession (Student, Gold Card, Group 6+): $15.50 each ($14.00 + $1.50 fees)

“Sheer madcap wit and an energetic, slapdash hour of fun.” Theatreview

“Come armed with your funny bone and some unique suggestions for the performers who are guaranteed to leave you grinning from ear to ear before the night is done.”

NZ Entertainment Podcast

Our fully licensed bar opens one hour before the show begins so come and have a drink before the show.

No audience member is brought up on stage, so you can relax and enjoy the show from the comfort of your seat.

The Covert Theatre, home of improv comedy, is community in spirit and professional in standards. With workshops and shows every night of the week there is something for everyone. Be sure to check out www.coverttheatre.com

To book wheelchair accessible seats, or for assistance with your booking, please email us comedy@coverttheatre.com or call (09) 600 1877

Welcome to the Auckland Improv Festival's grand opening event: AIF Mash Up!

Get ready for boundless creativity as improvisers come together to showcase their talents in a whirlwind of games and scenes.

Whether you're a seasoned performer or a first-time participant, everyone is welcome to join in the fun.

Don't miss your chance to witness the magic of improv unfold before your eyes as we kick off the festival in style!

Our fully licensed bar opens one hour before the show begins so come and have a drink before the show.

No audience member is brought up on stage, so you can relax and enjoy the show from the comfort of your seat.

The Covert Theatre, home of improv comedy, is community in spirit and professional in standards. With workshops and shows every night of the week there is something for everyone. Be sure to check out www.coverttheatre.com

To book wheelchair accessible seats, or for assistance with your booking, please email us comedy@coverttheatre.com or call (09) 600 1877

Ticket Information

• General Admission: $21.65 each ($20.00 + $1.65 fees)

• Concession (Student, Gold Card, Group 6+): $17.55 each ($16.00 + $1.55 fees)

A funeral. Only two people are in attendance - the funeral director and one guest. Why? Who was this person? What kind of life did they lead? How did they come to such an uncelebrated end? Join Stacey Hallal and Inbal Lori on an improvised journey to answer all of these questions and more. Inspired by audience suggestions, floating from the present to the past, and playing multiple characters throughout, these two darkly comedic and whip smart minds reveal the story of a life - that just ended.

Our fully licensed bar opens one hour before the show begins so come and have a drink before the show.

No audience member is brought up on stage, so you can relax and enjoy the show from the comfort of your seat.

The Covert Theatre, home of improv comedy, is community in spirit and professional in standards. With workshops and shows every night of the week there is something for everyone. Be sure to check out www.coverttheatre.com

To book wheelchair accessible seats, or for assistance with your booking, please email us comedy@coverttheatre.com or call (09) 600 1877

Ticket Information

• General Admission: $21.65 each ($20.00 + $1.65 fees)

• Concession (Student, Gold Card, Group 6+): $17.55 each ($16.00 + $1.55 fees)

Stardust in Our Eyes.

Two budding musical creators have one last chance to write a hit musical for you, an audience of musical scouts. Will they make it to 42nd Street? Or will it be Misérables? Two of NZ’s most experienced musical improvisers Penny Ashton (Austen Found, The Tempestuous) and Greg Ward (The Improv Bandits, Lyon and Ward) will play these two stardusty desperados, who might just realise, that music be the food of love.

“excellently executed, hilarious and side-splitting bit of nonsense.” Otago Daily Times - Austen Found

Greg Ward…stood out with some very strong and hilarious performances. Theatreview - Instant Broadway

Our fully licensed bar opens one hour before the show begins so come and have a drink before the show.

No audience member is brought up on stage, so you can relax and enjoy the show from the comfort of your seat.

The Covert Theatre, home of improv comedy, is community in spirit and professional in standards. With workshops and shows every night of the week there is something for everyone. Be sure to check out www.coverttheatre.com

To book wheelchair accessible seats, or for assistance with your booking, please email us comedy@coverttheatre.com or call (09) 600 1877

Ticket Information

• General Admission: $21.65 each ($20.00 + $1.65 fees)

• Concession (Student, Gold Card, Group 6+): $17.55 each ($16.00 + $1.55 fees)

Dream Team

Brendon and Criss are experts* on dreams: Brendon has read almost the entirety of the prologue to Freud’s Interpretation of Dreams, and Criss has had several dreams. Now, as the Dream Team, they will use the full power of spontaneously created theatre to investigate, interpret, and -if needed- fix your dreams. This is a show of joyfully improvised chaos, where your dreams can become reality.
*not really experts

Radio Show

Video may have killed the radio star but Improverished are here to bring them back to life! Radio Show is a celebration of radio broadcasting from beloved Tāmaki Makaurau improv institution Improverished. Featuring their signature knack for storytelling and silliness, Radio Show brings you all of the yarns with less of the moving around. The show features improvised radio drama, classic radio DJ's, helpful news bulletins, and even improvised live foley! The show can be enjoyed with or without visuals and is highly descriptive. After previously delighting audiences at the Auckland Fringe Festival, Radio Show is now coming to the Auckland Improv Festival for the very first time! Impoverished have been called “highly entertaining”, “incredibly silly”, and “charming” by reviewers and were nominated for the illustrious Best Use of Mayonnaise prize at the NZ International Comedy Festival 2021. Come along to Radio Show and tune in to your new favourite imaginary radio station and ruin yourself for normal radio stations forever

Our fully licensed bar opens one hour before the show begins so come and have a drink before the show.

No audience member is brought up on stage, so you can relax and enjoy the show from the comfort of your seat.

The Covert Theatre, home of improv comedy, is community in spirit and professional in standards. With workshops and shows every night of the week there is something for everyone. Be sure to check out www.coverttheatre.com

To book wheelchair accessible seats, or for assistance with your booking, please email us comedy@coverttheatre.com or call (09) 600 1877

Ticket Information

• General Admission: $21.65 each ($20.00 + $1.65 fees)

• Concession (Student, Gold Card, Group 6+): $17.55 each ($16.00 + $1.55 fees)

TUTO: When the Teachers Take the Stage

They’ve taught the workshops, they’ve shared their wisdom—but can they walk the talk? TUTO brings together the all-star tutors of the Auckland Improv Festival for one unforgettable night of spontaneous brilliance.

These masters of improv will throw themselves into the unknown, proving that even the experts don’t know what’s coming next. Expect the unexpected as they create magic out of thin air, showcasing the very techniques, risks, and playfulness they’ve been teaching all week.

It’s improv at its finest—bold, unpredictable, and completely unrepeatable. Come see the teachers teach themselves a lesson or two in the art of making it up!

Our fully licensed bar opens one hour before the show begins so come and have a drink before the show.

No audience member is brought up on stage, so you can relax and enjoy the show from the comfort of your seat.

The Covert Theatre, home of improv comedy, is community in spirit and professional in standards. With workshops and shows every night of the week there is something for everyone. Be sure to check out www.coverttheatre.com

To book wheelchair accessible seats, or for assistance with your booking, please email us comedy@coverttheatre.com or call (09) 600 1877

Ticket Information

• General Admission: $21.65 each ($20.00 + $1.65 fees)

• Concession (Student, Gold Card, Group 6+): $17.55 each ($16.00 + $1.55 fees)

What makes an improv scene truly powerful? Is it the high-energy punchlines, the fast-paced action, the relentless comedy? Or is it the quiet moments—the pause before the punchline, the tension in the silence, the weight of a single glance?

Join internationally acclaimed improviser Stacey Hallal and a hand-selected cast as they explore the full spectrum of power in improv—from explosive dynamite energy to the magnetic pull of stillness. This unique workshop-to-show experience will challenge expectations, push boundaries, and reveal how true power isn’t just in volume or speed, but in the choices we make on stage.

Expect the unexpected. Feel the shift. Witness the full DYNA-mic range of improv in action.

Praise for Improverished: “What unfolds is a series of side-splitting hijinks… that is both highly comedic and heartwarming” - Theatreview

Cast: Improverished

Our fully licensed bar opens one hour before the show begins so come and have a drink before the show.

No audience member is brought up on stage, so you can relax and enjoy the show from the comfort of your seat.

The Covert Theatre, home of improv comedy, is community in spirit and professional in standards. With workshops and shows every night of the week there is something for everyone. Be sure to check out www.coverttheatre.com

To book wheelchair accessible seats, or for assistance with your booking, please email us comedy@coverttheatre.com or call (09) 600 1877

Ticket Information

• General Admission: $21.65 each ($20.00 + $1.65 fees)

• Concession (Student, Gold Card, Group 6+): $17.55 each ($16.00 + $1.55 fees)

Fat City

Dive headfirst into the unpredictable world of Fat City. Where the streets are teeming with characters who play by their own rules. This isn’t your typical crime show—here, morality is as flexible as the city’s crooked alleys. Whether it's a fast-talking hustler, a smooth operator with a heart of gold, or a no-nonsense dame who’s always three steps ahead, the citizens of Fat City do whatever it takes to get by. Every decision is spur-of-the-moment, driven by pure survival instinct, and laced with a wicked sense of humor. Inspired by crime classics but with our signature twist, this show is packed with high-stakes action, outrageous personalities, and plenty of surprises. In Fat City, expect the unexpected—where nothing is ever as it seems, and everything’s up for grabs.

Our fully licensed bar opens one hour before the show begins so come and have a drink before the show.

No audience member is brought up on stage, so you can relax and enjoy the show from the comfort of your seat.

The Covert Theatre, home of improv comedy, is community in spirit and professional in standards. With workshops and shows every night of the week there is something for everyone. Be sure to check out www.coverttheatre.com

To book wheelchair accessible seats, or for assistance with your booking, please email us comedy@coverttheatre.com or call (09) 600 1877

Ticket Information

• General Admission: $21.65 each ($20.00 + $1.65 fees)

• Concession (Student, Gold Card, Group 6+): $17.55 each ($16.00 + $1.55 fees)

A format created by Inbal Lori (Berlin) and Keng-Sam Chane Chick Te (Reunion Island) and played by various improvisers.
The stage is an imaginary border between sleep and wakefulness, where pictures appear and fade, stories are born and develop, and the audience gets a peek at a visual fantasy led by charismatic storytelling

Our fully licensed bar opens one hour before the show begins so come and have a drink before the show.

No audience member is brought up on stage, so you can relax and enjoy the show from the comfort of your seat.

The Covert Theatre, home of improv comedy, is community in spirit and professional in standards. With workshops and shows every night of the week there is something for everyone. Be sure to check out www.coverttheatre.com

To book wheelchair accessible seats, or for assistance with your booking, please email us comedy@coverttheatre.com or call (09) 600 1877

Ticket Information

• General Admission: $21.65 each ($20.00 + $1.65 fees)

• Concession (Student, Gold Card, Group 6+): $17.55 each ($16.00 + $1.55 fees)

The Mechanical

Tom Snout, fresh from his triumph as 'A Wall' in Pyramus and Thisbe, finds himself alone on stage without his fellow Mechanicals and not a script in sight.
Still determined to entertain the audience with an action-packed theatrical dramatical, Tom will have to rely on audience suggestions and his own can-do attitude to make sure the show does indeed go on.
A fast paced, character laden whirlwind of improvised theatre that will leave you breathless.
Our fully licensed bar opens one hour before the show begins so come and have a drink before the show.

A Bard's Tale

Prepare to be transported back to ye olde times with A Bard’s Tale—the improvised Shakespearean adventure where wit meets whimsy!

In this delightful romp through Elizabethan intrigue, our cast of improvisers brings to life a brand-new tale inspired by the Bard himself. With flowery language, outrageous characters, and plot twists that would make even Shakespeare do a double-take, no two performances are the same. Whether it's mistaken identities, star-crossed lovers, or some good old-fashioned swordplay, you’re in for a night of clever wordplay and hilarious mischief.

Get ready to laugh, gasp, and maybe even shout “Huzzah!” as A Bard’s Tale proves that all the world’s a stage—and it’s full of surprises.

Our fully licensed bar opens one hour before the show begins so come and have a drink before the show.

No audience member is brought up on stage, so you can relax and enjoy the show from the comfort of your seat.

The Covert Theatre, home of improv comedy, is community in spirit and professional in standards. With workshops and shows every night of the week there is something for everyone. Be sure to check out www.coverttheatre.com

To book wheelchair accessible seats, or for assistance with your booking, please email us comedy@coverttheatre.com or call (09) 600 1877

Ticket Information

• General Admission: $21.65 each ($20.00 + $1.65 fees)

• Concession (Student, Gold Card, Group 6+): $17.55 each ($16.00 + $1.55 fees)

Tekau

In 2024 Wellington-based improv troupe, Best on Tap, celebrated 10 years performing together. This has prompted us to ask: what were you doing ten years ago, and where will you be ten years to come? In true Best on Tap style, this show will weave together your ideas, dreams and experiences to look nostalgically at the past and wistfully ask, what’s next? Together we will build a world that is inspired by tekau, 10 years.

Best on Tap plays with fun, grounded and emotional stories within a variety of formats. This is spontaneous theatre that honours and entertains.

We are a Wellington-based improvisation group with a combined 80 years or more of knowledge and experience.

Our fully licensed bar opens one hour before the show begins so come and have a drink before the show.

No audience member is brought up on stage, so you can relax and enjoy the show from the comfort of your seat.

The Covert Theatre, home of improv comedy, is community in spirit and professional in standards. With workshops and shows every night of the week there is something for everyone. Be sure to check out www.coverttheatre.com

To book wheelchair accessible seats, or for assistance with your booking, please email us comedy@coverttheatre.com or call (09) 600 1877

Ticket Information

• General Admission: $21.65 each ($20.00 + $1.65 fees)

• Concession (Student, Gold Card, Group 6+): $17.55 each ($16.00 + $1.55 fees)

Beat Cafe

Spoken words, spoken spontaneously, send scenes and stories swirling on to stage. Softly skipping off the page. Subtle joys and sudden rage. Ours to speak and yours to gauge.
Lips loosed lovingly to let language loom large. A wonderful world of wandering words wilfully wending your way.

Also, some heaps funny scenes and stuff.

Our fully licensed bar opens one hour before the show begins so come and have a drink before the show.

No audience member is brought up on stage, so you can relax and enjoy the show from the comfort of your seat.

The Covert Theatre, home of improv comedy, is community in spirit and professional in standards. With workshops and shows every night of the week there is something for everyone. Be sure to check out www.coverttheatre.com

To book wheelchair accessible seats, or for assistance with your booking, please email us comedy@coverttheatre.com or call (09) 600 1877

Ticket Information

• General Admission: $21.65 each ($20.00 + $1.65 fees)

• Concession (Student, Gold Card, Group 6+): $17.55 each ($16.00 + $1.55 fees)

Experience the allure of mid-century horror films brought to life on stage in our cinematic, improvised horror-comedy. Join a charming cast as they navigate the suspense of a small town gone awry. A must-see, accessible improv show for film and theatre enthusiasts alike—prepare for thrills, laughs, and a unique theatrical journey!

ICFBTS is directed by Malcolm Morrison, a pioneer in improv show creation, as an exploration in how to effectively portray horror in minimalist theatre. Powered by cutting-edge open-source software, specially developed to elevate the art of improv, 'It Came From Beyond the Script’' promises an unforgettable journey.

"There hasn’t yet been quite a show like It Came From Beyond The Script, although in future, I’ll be disappointed there aren’t." - Wellyott.com

Our fully licensed bar opens one hour before the show begins so come and have a drink before the show.

No audience member is brought up on stage, so you can relax and enjoy the show from the comfort of your seat.

The Covert Theatre, home of improv comedy, is community in spirit and professional in standards. With workshops and shows every night of the week there is something for everyone. Be sure to check out www.coverttheatre.com

To book wheelchair accessible seats, or for assistance with your booking, please email us comedy@coverttheatre.com or call (09) 600 1877

Ticket Information

• General Admission: $21.65 each ($20.00 + $1.65 fees)

• Concession (Student, Gold Card, Group 6+): $17.55 each ($16.00 + $1.55 fees)

Ruby Rocket is an intoxicating, intoxicated private eye who always gets her man. Except, of course, when she doesn’t. In this hilarious improvised show, Stacey Hallal plays Ruby, weaving vivid noir storytelling, physical comedy, Jon Timm’s innovative multimedia imagery. Featuring a (rotating) guest cast of (THIS CITY’S) top improvisers. Not to be missed!

Our fully licensed bar opens one hour before the show begins so come and have a drink before the show.

No audience member is brought up on stage, so you can relax and enjoy the show from the comfort of your seat.

The Covert Theatre, home of improv comedy, is community in spirit and professional in standards. With workshops and shows every night of the week there is something for everyone. Be sure to check out www.coverttheatre.com

To book wheelchair accessible seats, or for assistance with your booking, please email us comedy@coverttheatre.com or call (09) 600 1877

Ticket Information

• General Admission: $21.65 each ($20.00 + $1.65 fees)

• Concession (Student, Gold Card, Group 6+): $17.55 each ($16.00 + $1.55 fees)

We Slept Together – An Improv Show with Joe Bill & Stacey Hallal

Two improvisers. A night that changes everything.

Acclaimed improv veterans Joe Bill and Stacey Hallal take the stage in a show that explores the hilarity, tension, and raw honesty of what happens after two people share a night together. Through razor-sharp wit, deep emotional connection, and years of experience, they’ll create a completely unscripted story—sometimes hilarious, sometimes heartbreaking, always unpredictable.

Expect chemistry. Expect surprises. Expect to wake up thinking about it.

Our fully licensed bar opens one hour before the show begins so come and have a drink before the show.

No audience member is brought up on stage, so you can relax and enjoy the show from the comfort of your seat.

The Covert Theatre, home of improv comedy, is community in spirit and professional in standards. With workshops and shows every night of the week there is something for everyone. Be sure to check out www.coverttheatre.com

To book wheelchair accessible seats, or for assistance with your booking, please email us comedy@coverttheatre.com or call (09) 600 1877

Ticket Information

• General Admission: $21.65 each ($20.00 + $1.65 fees)

• Concession (Student, Gold Card, Group 6+): $17.55 each ($16.00 + $1.55 fees)

Laenye Productions presents: "The Avatars"

Join us for The Avatars, a show where the audience helps bring our characters to life! At the start of the show, you’ll work together to create unique avatars by combining props and accessories for each performer. These avatars will become the characters in a fast-paced, interconnected series of scenes, entirely unscripted!
While you'll help shape our characters, don’t worry—no further participation is required beyond a potential prompt to inspire the stories. Sit back and enjoy as we dive into playful, spontaneous explorations of relationships and storytelling, guaranteed to keep you laughing all night long.

Gen V: Musical About You

Things get weird, touching, and hilarious when improv duo Lindsay & Ben make up an unpredictable musical with you, right on the spot – with the help of a ukulele or two.

Lindsay Drummond (founder of Australia’s only all-online improv school Improv Hub) & Ben Zolno (founder of NZ-based Improv Connection) combined to do a weekly, quirky, passionate YouTube show to inspire improvisers and each other. Join them for their live debut!

From the moment they started working together, Gen V has been about the absurdity you get that results when grounded, flawed characters ruthlessly strive to find success in their crazy worlds.

Lindsay has been a professional singer, musician, and entertainer for over 20 years, and is a self confessed 'Improv evangelist'. Lindsay teaches both online at her school Improv Hub and ‘in real life’ classes at theatres and festivals locally in Brisbane and overseas. Her dynamic and fun-first approach leads to thrilling improv that can’t be missed.

Ben is the founder of NZ-based Improv Connection. Starting his improv journey in the Chicago scene of the 1990s, he went on to train and perform at Improv Olympic (now iO), and now performs and teaches narrative and short-form across 3 continents. His passion lies in discovery – for both players and audiences alike.

Our fully licensed bar opens one hour before the show begins so come and have a drink before the show.

No audience member is brought up on stage, so you can relax and enjoy the show from the comfort of your seat.

The Covert Theatre, home of improv comedy, is community in spirit and professional in standards. With workshops and shows every night of the week there is something for everyone. Be sure to check out www.coverttheatre.com

To book wheelchair accessible seats, or for assistance with your booking, please email us comedy@coverttheatre.com or call (09) 600 1877

Ticket Information

• General Admission: $21.65 each ($20.00 + $1.65 fees)

• Concession (Student, Gold Card, Group 6+): $17.55 each ($16.00 + $1.55 fees)

The Armando – A Masterclass in Storytelling & Spontaneity

One suggestion. One storyteller. Unlimited possibilities.

Join legendary improviser Joe Bill and a cast of performers fresh from his workshop as they bring The Armando to life. This iconic improv format blends real-life storytelling with fast-paced, spontaneous scenes—where truth inspires comedy, and comedy uncovers unexpected truths.

With Joe Bill at the helm, expect sharp wit, rich characters, and a seamless blend of humour and heart. No two shows are ever the same, but every Armando is unforgettable.

Come witness the magic of stories unfolding in real time!

Our fully licensed bar opens one hour before the show begins so come and have a drink before the show.

No audience member is brought up on stage, so you can relax and enjoy the show from the comfort of your seat.

The Covert Theatre, home of improv comedy, is community in spirit and professional in standards. With workshops and shows every night of the week there is something for everyone. Be sure to check out www.coverttheatre.com

To book wheelchair accessible seats, or for assistance with your booking, please email us comedy@coverttheatre.com or call (09) 600 1877

Ticket Information

• General Admission: $21.65 each ($20.00 + $1.65 fees)

• Concession (Student, Gold Card, Group 6+): $17.55 each ($16.00 + $1.55 fees)

The Mash-Up

The stage is open, the energy is high, and anything can happen!

To close out the Auckland Improv Festival, we’re throwing the ultimate improv jam—The Mash-Up! This is your chance to jump in, play along, and share the stage with festival performers, tutors, and fellow improv lovers.

Expect hilarious games, wild scenes, unexpected team-ups, and whatever else seems like fun in the moment. Whether you’re an improv veteran or a first-time player, this night is for you—no scripts, no pressure, just pure, joyful chaos.

Come watch, play, or cheer from the sidelines—just don’t miss the final, unforgettable night of the festival!


Come witness the magic of stories unfolding in real time!

Our fully licensed bar opens one hour before the show begins so come and have a drink before the show.

No audience member is brought up on stage, so you can relax and enjoy the show from the comfort of your seat.

The Covert Theatre, home of improv comedy, is community in spirit and professional in standards. With workshops and shows every night of the week there is something for everyone. Be sure to check out www.coverttheatre.com

To book wheelchair accessible seats, or for assistance with your booking, please email us comedy@coverttheatre.com or call (09) 600 1877

Ticket Information

• General Admission: $21.65 each ($20.00 + $1.65 fees)

• Concession (Student, Gold Card, Group 6+): $17.55 each ($16.00 + $1.55 fees)