Our Story

Improv Queensland (formerly known as ‘ImproMafia’) was founded in 2004 with the goal of spreading and celebrating the joy of improvised performance and unscripted theatre. From our humble beginnings on pub stages, we've grown to become Brisbane’s best-known improvisation company, performing locally and internationally, participating in major festivals, and providing world-class training.

We specialise in Keith Johnstone’s classic Theatresports™ format, as well as our own unique style of long-form genre plays, often featuring extravagant costumes and sets, larger-than-life characters, and inventive special effects. Our performers explore emotion, truth, and humour, pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved through unscripted theatre.

We live and breathe improv, and we hope this passion is reflected in the energy and enthusiasm that we bring to each and every performance and classroom.

Meet our Teachers

Wade Robinson

Wade Robinson is one of Improv QLD’s founders, its training director and current President. Wade has performed with Improv QLD since it was known as ImproMafia, in the Great Grandiosa at the Wonderland Festival (2015), the Pineapple Club at the Brisbane Comedy Festival (2014/2015) and Robinson, Rimmelzwaan and White at the Anywhere Theatre Festival (2014). His producer credits include the Theatresports Grand Championships at the Brisbane Powerhouse (2013/2014), and he was also a member of the first Queensland team to win the National Theatresports Championships in Sydney. Wade is an experienced teacher, and has been a key driver of its workshop program since 2010. He has also taught improvisation to a range of clients including schools, community groups, and corporate clients.

Luke Rimmelzwaan

Luke Rimmelzwaan is a founder of Improv QLD and a 20-year veteran improviser. He has performed and taught around the world including in Warsaw, Taipei, Manila, Wellington, Sydney and Melbourne. He has developed many new improvised shows across a wide range of styles including Martini Time, Rock Pigs, Trade, Not 4 Kidz and Tales from the Old Country. He has also performed circus with Tofulama and directed operas, musicals and short films as well as appearing in a number of shows such as Jesus Christ Superstar, King Lear, Much Ado About Nothing and Lovepuke. Luke is also a founder of Corporation Theatre.

Amy Driscoll

Amy Driscoll took her first impro class with Imrpvo QLD (then ImproMafia) in 2011 and hasn't stopped. She has represented Improv QLD at national and international events and performed in multiple shows including Hooking Up, Animated the Improvised Musical, Lord of the Thrones, Queensland Theatresports Championships and What the Butler F#*ked. She made her directorial debut in 2018 with Anywhere Theatre Festival's True Food Confessions and is currently the Treasurer of Improv QLD.

Leica Baker

Leica Baker originally trained with ImproMafia in Brisbane and has been working to hone her skills as a teacher. In 2019, Leica made her Brisbane Comedy Festival debut in Improv QLD’s "Heartfelt High" and competed in the "Queensland Theatresports Championships". She then ventured onto the international stage in "People Like You" and "Truth or Dare" at the New Zealand Improv Festival. Leica loves the effortlessness of improvisation and lives for the joy it can bring.

Siobhan Finniss

Siobhan has training in multiple creative disciplines and is a graduate of UQ Drama and QUT Film and Television. She began training with Improv QLD in 2015 and has gone on to perform in many of the company’s most successful shows including - Murder at the Bowlo, Heartfelt High and Not 4 Kidz. Siobhan’s other creative endeavours include post-production for short films, live broadcast, television and radio plays. She is also a lover of scripted theatre and has experience as an actor, producer and director. Siobhan is a Theatresports Grand Champion and former Artistic Director of Improv QLD.

Scott Driscoll

Scott Driscoll started improvising in 2011 after a false start doing stand-up. He has represented Improv QLD as ImproMafia nationally and internationally. He is also a murder mystery host, and pop-culture convention Emcee. He has been in a large number of improvised shows with Improv QLDand scripted works with other companies. He has directed his own show, including Lord of the Thrones, and developed several other formats, including “State-Mandated Story Time”.

Carla Haynes

Carla’s approach to teaching is warm, encouraging, and supportive. She likes to create a very fun, stress-free, and non-judgemental environment in her classroom. It’s a space where the stakes are low, and you can try new things safely, knowing that whatever happens is okay. Carla’s psych background (she has a bachelor of psychology with first class honours from Griffith University) informs her approach to teaching and thinking about improv. She understands that it takes great courage to get yourself to an improv class, and she loves to see students start to relax, have fun, and become more comfortable as the weeks go on. Carla believes that improv is for everyone, and that improv can teach us so much, including how to play again, get in touch with our creative side, share control with others, be present in the moment, pay attention and really listen to others, trust and honour our instincts, and bravely give things a go without knowing what the outcome will be. Carla’s hope is that she will gently guide her students towards the realisation that they are creative, interesting people who are, and always have been, enough. Exactly as they are.
Carla has been performing with Improv Queensland for many years now and has performed as a cast member in shows around Australia and overseas. She has previously held the titles of Brisbane’s Iron Improvisor and Theatresports Grand Champion. She has featured in some of Improv Queensland’s biggest shows including Heartfelt High at the Brisbane Comedy Festival and Murder at the Bowlo for the Anywhere Festival. Carla is also a working actor, and has appeared in numerous television commercials, including advertising campaigns for Compare the Market, Suncorp, Domino’s, Geeks 2U, Youfoodz, and Lendlease, among others.

Natalie Bochenski

Natalie Bochenski a past President and Artistic Director of Improv QLD, back when it was known as ImproMafia. A 20-year veteran improviser, she has produced and performed in some of the company’s key theatrical works including Prognosis: Death!, Agatha Holmes, and Fists of Fury. Natalie helped produce two Theatresports Championships at the Brisbane Powerhouse (2013/2014) and spearheaded The Pineapple Club, ImproMafia’s first outing as part of the Brisbane Comedy Festival (2014/2015). Natalie also runs Act React, which specialises in pop-culture inspired theatre and comedy.

Tom Dunstan

Tom Dunstan has been performing and teaching improvised theatre for 30 years, both in Brisbane and Sydney. He has performed around the world, including in Hong Kong, Manila, as well as at the Loose Moose Theatre in Calgary, Canada.
An award-winning performer, Tom has been a National Theatresports Champion more than once. He has also been a regular performer with Act React. Tom is a valued Improv QLD teacher, specialising in character, intimacy and stagecraft.