Impro is in the present - An interview with co-Artistic Director Willem van den Brink

What does it take to define the artistic vision of a festival as giant and historic as IMPRO Amsterdam? After over thirty years of organizing the festival, we have a pretty solid answer: two dedicated comedy/theatre nerds coming together and working tirelessly to bring something new and exciting to the artform.

In a previous interview, we introduced you to one of these individuals, our lead Artistic Director Erica Maity. Now we’d love for you to meet the newest member of the team, co-Artistic Director Willem van den Brink!

Willem being the artistic leader we all deserve!

Willem is both a talented improviser and a community leader in Amsterdam. He’s a cast member of easylaughs and the founder of the independent group Cliffs of Dover and the production company Made For You Productions. He’s also one of the most involved improvisers in The Netherlands (and perhaps the international scene). 

Since stepping into the local scene in 2021, Willem has done more than most to create performance and learning opportunities, including a weekly jam in Amsterdam. He’s the go-to person for community building - he’s literally everywhere, ask any local performer - and puts the artform ahead of himself in every instance. So, it was a no-brainer to bring him on as co-AD of the festival. 

This interview digs into what inspired Willem to become an improviser, how he grew into the community leader we know and love, and what to expect from his dawning tenure as a major contributor to IMPRO Amsterdam’s artistic vision. Let’s talk to Willem!

How’d you first get into improv? What kept you coming back?

Years ago, I was living in Krawów, Poland. The city was lovely, but at the time lacking in English-speaking activities. After a while, I discovered short form improv jams which were held in the basement of some bar and were hosted by Alan Pakosz. As I was working some office job, I was really enjoying the opportunity to invest my energy into being funny and having fun. 

I dropped improv for a year after moving from Krakow to Prague in 2017, but when I moved to Amsterdam, I saw it as a perfect opportunity to do something fun while meeting new people. So, I took a course at easylaughs and never looked back. 

Willem performing his guts out at one of the his many amazing shows.

What was your relationship with IMPRO Amsterdam before becoming co-Artistic Director and what inspired you to apply to the gig?

Before COVID, still very new to improv, I attended the festival as an audience member and was inspired as a performer regarding the wide variety of options improv has to offer beyond the short form I’d already seen. So after lockdowns lifted, I increased my involvement in IMPRO Amsterdam and became an active volunteer. At the time, open production team positions either didn’t suit my skills, or my availability. However, when the co-AD position opened up this year, all the pieces fell into the place.

Over the past years, I have been working on getting different types of improv to different types of audiences for individual performances or short runs of the same show. That role requires artistic vision on what you’re offering, and which audience needs that you’re fulfilling. In that capacity, I just finished producing a new show (It’s A Love Story), making this the right time to step into the new role. 

How do you perceive improv in The Netherlands and how would you like it to be perceived? What needs to happen for this vision to come to fruition?

There is a lot of high-quality English-language improv in The Netherlands. Unfortunately, I feel improv has a negative image among non-improvisers. This could be related to expectation setting: a show by beginning improvisers will provide value in a different way, and to a different audience, than a show by experienced improvisers. If an audience member goes to one type of show expecting the other, they will be disappointed. 

Additionally, it is important that people who see an improv show for the first time encounter quality. Even in a beginner student showcase, the hosting can convince people that experienced improvisers know what they are doing. So together, as a community, we can raise the profile of improv in The Netherlands. 

What are your goals as the new co-Artistic Director of IMPRO Amsterdam?

To contribute to making improv be perceived as the artform that it is. Both within the framework of IMPRO Amsterdam, but also by boosting high-quality shows to a wider audience, as well as reaching out to other artforms to explore the borders (or grey areas) which separate us.

What is your favorite stuff to do as an improviser?

My personal preference, both as a performer and audience member, is a combination of comedy and theatre. However, improv has much more to offer. As a performer, I can enjoy playing Chicago-style games, doing short-form , doing musical improv, addressing heavier subjects, etcetera, etcetera. Within every type of improv, I can find my fun.

Aside from IMPRO Amsterdam, where else can we see you?

I am currently performing in Amsterdam with the long form cast of easylaughs. Additionally, I am performing nationally and internationally with my independent team Cliffs of Dover. Besides that, I am always happy to be onstage, so if there is a jam or mixer team at a festival, you’ve got a chance to see me. Offstage, I am also occasionally doing tech at local shows and producing shows as the founder of Made for You Comedy. 

Willem takes improvised comedy and theatre very seriously.

What’s the story behind your production outfit Made For You Comedy?

When I started Made For You Comedy, Amsterdam had several types of opportunities, but I felt something was missing. Boom Chicago was and is doing hit shows that appeal to a broad audience, and Flock Theatre is pushing improv as an artform (and all theatres are doing community-oriented shows). What I was missing were high-quality, hit shows which aren’t comedy-only. Additionally, it was important to me that this would not be a fixed cast sort of company, but more production-oriented. Sometimes it is difficult as an improviser with multiple years of experience to make the step up. By having different casts per production, Made For You was able to provide new opportunities to people. 

Finish this sentence: “Impro(v) is…” And tell us why!

Impro is in the present. I believe we should ask ourselves as an artform what our comparative strengths and weaknesses are. One of our strengths is that we are in the now. This works in two ways. First of all, we typically create everything on the spot; we have to live in the moment and therefore get to be more spontaneous than if everything was fully scripted. Secondly, we can be inspired by what is going on right now - whether it is by receiving a personal get from the audience, or by addressing what is going on in the world around us without having to write and script everything before it reaches the stage. This being in the present gives us the opportunity to truly connect with any audience.