Liverpool: A City of Improv
The Liverpool Improvisation Festival (LiF) brings the best of the world’s improvisation to Liverpool and the best of Liverpool to the world. Building on a legacy of improvisational excellence – from Ken Campbell, Improbable Theatre, Hoof! and The Liverpool Improvathon – LiF brings the best local, national, and international talent to the heart of the city.
LiF cultivates innovation and risk-taking. Since 2023, we have premiered 16 pieces of brand-new improvised work. The festival serves as a platform for performers, teachers, and improvisers of all levels to connect, learn, and grow. Building on the success of our most recent event in 2025, plans for the next festival are already underway.
Our volunteer team comprises of dedicated improvisation enthusiasts committed to supporting their local community. We offer valuable networking opportunities, facilitate engaging improvisation workshops, and help develop essential skills beyond performance, including marketing, press liaison, and show production.
We document performances and conduct artist interviews, making this material freely accessible as a valuable resource for researchers and future improvisers. Currently, we maintain the UK's largest archive of this kind.
LIF is supported by the Unity Theatre and Liverpool John Moores University.
LiF cultivates innovation and risk-taking. Since 2023, we have premiered 16 pieces of brand-new improvised work. The festival serves as a platform for performers, teachers, and improvisers of all levels to connect, learn, and grow. Building on the success of our most recent event in 2025, plans for the next festival are already underway.
Our volunteer team comprises of dedicated improvisation enthusiasts committed to supporting their local community. We offer valuable networking opportunities, facilitate engaging improvisation workshops, and help develop essential skills beyond performance, including marketing, press liaison, and show production.
We document performances and conduct artist interviews, making this material freely accessible as a valuable resource for researchers and future improvisers. Currently, we maintain the UK's largest archive of this kind.
LIF is supported by the Unity Theatre and Liverpool John Moores University.
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'LiF is a rip roaring success'
North West End |
'LiF has changed the improv landscape in Liverpool'
The Reviews Hub |
Festival Aims
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Artistic policyThe festival encourages innovation, risk taking and are inspired by those that do. The festival aims to create opportunity for those who create and teach improvised live performance at whatever stage of their career and across multiple art forms. In doing so we aim to educate, inspire and develop future audiences and performers of improvisation.
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LIF 2025Photo Credit: Andrew AB
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Socials |
Visiting the festival
The Unity Theatre |
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The Unity Theatre is located on:
1 Hope Place, Liverpool, L1 9BG Home - Unity Theatre (unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk) 0151 709 4988 Box Office Opening Hours Unity is open to the public 2 hours before show start time. You are able to contact our box office at the following times: Via Phone: Mon – Fri, 10am – 5pm In Venue: 2 hours before show start time You can book tickets for our shows 24/7 using the UNITY website. Access needs: There are staff on hand to show you around. If you have specific access needs, please let us know in advance via email at
[email protected] |
The Unity Theatre is a 15 minute walk from Lime street station (Mainline) and a ten minute walk from Central station (Merseyrail).
There are numerous small hotels within the area all of which are 5 minutes from the venue. There are numerous bars, coffee shops, cafes and restaurants near to the Unity theatre. There is on street pay & display parking around Hope Street. There are car parks on: – Renshaw Street (8 min walk) – Hanover Street (15 min walk) – Mount Pleasant (10 min walk) – Duke Street (10 min walk) – Lime Street Station (15 min walk) If you are staying overnight these are a good resource for affordable accommodation.
https://www.theatredigsbooker.com/towns/liverpool https://www.kayak.co.uk/hotels/Unity-Theatre,Liverpool,England,United-Kingdom-c17586-l26306/2024-04-18/2024-04-21/2adults?sort=distance_a |
The festival is supported by:
Supported in kind
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Supported
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Supported financially and in kind
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