International Theatresports Institute

Founding (1998)

Keith Johnstone established the International Theatresports Institute on May 23, 1998 in Calgary as the stewardship and licensing body for the improv formats he had developed over decades at Loose Moose Theatre. The ITI's creation formalized the global community of companies performing Theatresports, Maestro Impro, and Gorilla Theatre, providing a membership structure, production rights framework, and communication hub for groups worldwide.

Mission and Structure

ITI licenses the right to perform Johnstone's three formats to member organizations, companies, schools, and universities. Membership provides access to format guidelines, training materials, and the broader ITI community of practitioners. At the time of Johnstone's death in 2023, ITI had more than 90 member organizations across 22 countries.

Global Reach

The ITI network spans 6 continents and 22 countries, with formats performed in 17 different languages. The organization operates online at impro.global, and is headquartered at Unit 6, 215-36 Avenue NE, Calgary, Alberta.

The International Theatresports Institute is the worldwide licensing and community body for Keith Johnstone's three major improv formats, maintaining the integrity and development of Theatresports, Maestro Impro, and Gorilla Theatre globally.

The International Theatresports Institute formalized the global spread of Keith Johnstone's formats, enabling over 90 companies across 22 countries to perform Theatresports, Maestro Impro, and Gorilla Theatre within a structured community. As the institutional legacy of Johnstone's life's work, ITI ensures that the formats developed at Loose Moose Theatre since the 1970s continue to be performed and taught worldwide following Johnstone's death in 2023.