Teacher Faculty
The Covert Theatre teaches improvisational theatre - from short form improv games, to improvised scenes to full length improvised plays.
The Covert Theatre teachers are very experienced in creating a safe, non-judgemental environment essential to learning the art of improvisation.
Improv 101 & 201 teachers
Ambika Kumar
Yoong originally signed up to improv as part of professional learning and development to get better at thinking on her feet and gain more confidence in giving presentations. She stayed for the comedy, creativity and spontaneity.
Yoong Ru Heng
Tom brings his vast acting experience to all his workshops and is known for his expertise in physicality and accents. He has been teaching improvisation for over 15 years to people of all ages including improv workshops in the corporate field.
What do you love about teaching improv?
"I love encouraging people to step out of their fearful comfort zones, and witnessing their development and breakthroughs. I love guiding people to work as a team, and play like no one's watching."
Tom Kane
Wade Jackson (PG Dip Drama) started his improv journey in 1994. He has worked on four continents and is regarded as a master teacher. Outside of the theatre stage, he imparts the principles of improvisation as a high performance coach working with corporates, militaries, universities, elite athletes and not-for-profits.
What do you love about teaching improv?
“Improv liberates you and imparts many important life lessons so I love it when people get what they need out of the art form and enrich their lives."
Wade Jackson
Improv 301 teachers
Edith studied drama theory at The University of Pretoria in South Africa in what feels like a lifetime ago and has taught drama classes to kids between the ages of 8-14 in her native country as well as in NZ. She also draws on her professional career as a trainer and coach and loves the variety of the classes she runs at the Covert.
What do you love about teaching improv?
“I enjoy watching different people discover how their minds work. Everyone is so different, some people feel more, others analyse everything. I love watching that moment, where they just let go, and allow things to happen - that joy and amazement on their faces when they are not sure where an idea came from, but they know it was good.”
Edith Fumarola
Elle Collins
Matt has been performing improv for nearly 20 years and coaching for a decade, supporting performers in his own independent productions and directing at the Covert Theatre's regular shows. Matt has performed in New Zealand, USA, and Japan and studied with ComedySportz, UCB, and WGIS.
What do you love about teaching improv?
"I love working with people as they develop their improv skills, and then see those changes enhance their personal and professional lives. It’s great to see adults reawaken the creative and playful side of themselves in workshops, and then stretch their confidence onstage"
Matt Armstrong
Michael has been in education for over 25 years. As an educator and a leader he continues to learn every single day. He enjoys sharing his love of improv and utilising his 20+ years of improvised comedy experience.
What do you love about teaching improv?
"I love helping people to develop and grow as they challenge themselves to be ever more present. I also get a huge buzz from the fact that improv skills are transferable to everyday life."
Michael Fletcher
Drop in workshops
Mark has been teaching improvisation since 2001 and enjoys a focus on team storytelling. These connections generally continue offstage and have resulted in treasured local and global networks that keep Mark coming back for more.
What do you love about teaching improv?
“I find new insights when teaching that deepens the work for me and I’m always delighted when a group pull a tale together as one mind.”
Mark Scott
Paul is an experienced actor who has been teaching Improv since 2003. Over the years he has had the pleasure of introducing many new faces to the joy of improvising at the Covert Theatre as well as teaching in High Schools and coaching corporate teams. He loves to design workshops that focus on creating strong characters, performing from instinct and being truthful in the moment, no matter how ridiculous that moment is!
What I Love
“I love to play! It's almost like I've got a key to the Secret Garden and I'm inviting small groups of people in to play for a while. The joy and connection and self belief that comes from that play is always a wonder to me. Seeing these players then head back out into the real world beaming with enthusiasm is a very satisfying bonus.“
Paul Paice
Edith studied drama theory at The University of Pretoria in South Africa in what feels like a lifetime ago and has taught drama classes to kids between the ages of 8-14 in her native country as well as in NZ. She also draws on her professional career as a trainer and coach and loves the variety of the classes she runs at the Covert.
What do you love about teaching improv?
“I enjoy watching different people discover how their minds work. Everyone is so different, some people feel more, others analyse everything. I love watching that moment, where they just let go, and allow things to happen - that joy and amazement on their faces when they are not sure where an idea came from, but they know it was good.”
Edith Fumarola
Wade Jackson (PG Dip Drama) started his improv journey in 1994. He has worked on four continents and is regarded as a master teacher. Outside of the theatre stage, he imparts the principles of improvisation as a high performance coach working with corporates, militaries, universities, elite athletes and not-for-profits.
What do you love about teaching improv?
“Improv liberates you and imparts many important life lessons so I love it when people get what they need out of the art form and enrich their lives."
Wade Jackson
Tom brings his vast acting experience to all his workshops and is known for his expertise in physicality and accents. He has been teaching improvisation for over 15 years to people of all ages including improv workshops in the corporate field.
What do you love about teaching improv?
"I love encouraging people to step out of their fearful comfort zones, and witnessing their development and breakthroughs. I love guiding people to work as a team, and play like no one's watching."
Tom Kane
Matt has been performing improv for nearly 20 years and coaching for a decade, supporting performers in his own independent productions and directing at the Covert Theatre's regular shows. Matt has performed in New Zealand, USA, and Japan and studied with ComedySportz, UCB, and WGIS.
What do you love about teaching improv?
"I love working with people as they develop their improv skills, and then see those changes enhance their personal and professional lives. It’s great to see adults reawaken the creative and playful side of themselves in workshops, and then stretch their confidence onstage"
Matt Armstrong
Michael has been in education for over 25 years. As an educator and a leader he continues to learn every single day. He enjoys sharing his love of improv and utilising his 20+ years of improvised comedy experience.
What do you love about teaching improv?
"I love helping people to develop and grow as they challenge themselves to be ever more present. I also get a huge buzz from the fact that improv skills are transferable to everyday life."
Michael Fletcher
Youth programs
Nik is an experienced actor, singer and dance teacher. Nik is especially passionate about working with young people and has done so in many guises - as a primary school teacher, on a cruise ship, as a drama teacher and educator. He loves sharing the joy of improv through performing and teaching.
What do you love about teaching improv?
"It's awesome to see students letting go of the thoughts that hold them back, becoming more and more confident putting themselves out there, and just having a really great time together!"
Nik Edwards
After specialising in art, dance and drama at Teacher's College, Gill has taken the opportunity to combine these passions with her 25 + year teaching career which has included working as a specialist drama teacher for Year 6 children. She has been involved in the improv scene since 2001 as a learner, performer and teacher.
What do you love about teaching improv?
I love teaching improv because I get to witness the students develop self-confidence and belief while having fun! This manifests in a twinkle in the eye, and an inward smile , and is delightful to behold.
Gill Berry
Edith studied drama theory at The University of Pretoria in South Africa in what feels like a lifetime ago and has taught drama classes to kids between the ages of 8-14 in her native country as well as in NZ. She also draws on her professional career as a trainer and coach and loves the variety of the classes she runs at the Covert.
What do you love about teaching improv?
“I enjoy watching different people discover how their minds work. Everyone is so different, some people feel more, others analyse everything. I love watching that moment, where they just let go, and allow things to happen - that joy and amazement on their faces when they are not sure where an idea came from, but they know it was good.”
Edith Fumarola
Guest teachers
The Covert Theatre has a number of guest teachers who run workshops in not just improv but also stagecraft, voice, clown, directing, Shakespeare, Rap, stand up comedy and more.
Jennifer Ward-Leland
Michele Hine
Kirstie O’Sullivan
Stuart Devenie
Pedro Ilgenfritz
International guest teachers
The Covert host international teachers throughout the year
Larry Dorsey Jr
Jonathan Pitts
Jason Geary
Joe Bill
Nick Byrne
Patti Stiles