WE'VE MOVED!!
We've moved to a BRAND NEW location in East Van! As of April 1st, all classes and shows will be in our new space at 1330 Napier Street!
Tightrope Conservatory
Conservatory is a 9 month training program made up of weekly classes and monthly shows!
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12 Participants per cohort
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Weekly 2 hour classes (74 hours of training total)
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Monthly Showcases on Sunday nights!
Applications for our 2026/2027 Program are now closed!
26/27 Program Overview
This season we're offering two different Conservatory streams:
Short Form Conservatory
A comprehensive program focused on developing skilled, confident short-form improvisers.
Short-form is a style of improvisation built around short, self-contained scenes and games that emphasize spontaneity, audience connection, and storytelling.
Students will:
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Learn classic improv games and develop new ones
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Strengthen narrative skills
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Explore the fundamentals of hosting and audience care.
As part of the Sunday Showcase series, students will work with ITI-certified instructors to train in and perform Keith Johnstone’s internationally recognized short-form formats, including Maestro, Theatresports, and Gorilla Theatre.
Long Form Conservatory
A program focused on narrative improvisation, sustained storytelling, and theatrical performance.
Long-form is a style of improvisation where performers create extended narratives that often unfold over the course of an entire show.
Students will explore:
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Character development,
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World-building
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Genre work
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Skills required to create fully improvised plays.
Tightrope is best known for its long-form shows, including The Yes Files, Love Unexpected, Fuck Marry Kill, and Doctor Hospital. As part of the Sunday Showcase series, students will work with experienced long-form creators to develop a variety of genre-based improvised shows.
Program Details
Each cohort is capped at 12 participants to ensure a high level of individual attention and ensemble development.
Each conservatory includes a 2 hour weekly class (totalling 74 hours of class time), plus a monthly showcase.
Program Dates:
September 1st/2nd 2026 - May 25th/26th 2027
No classes December 21st - January 4th.
Program Price:
$1750.00 + GST
(Monthly payment plans available)
Performance Component:
A core part of the Conservatory is regular performance.
Sunday Showcase Series: Sideshow!
(6:00 – 9:00 PM)
Each conservatory presents a 45-minute set, with audiences invited to come and go throughout the evening.
2026/27 Show Dates:
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September 27
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October 25
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November 29
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December 20
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January 31
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February 28
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March 28
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April 25
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May 30
