Matias Avaca is an Argentinian improviser residing in New Zealand who has performed and coached in more than 15 countries through South America, Europe, Asia and Oceania. He is the co-founder and artistic director of “Mabel Impro”, the first Spanish speaking Improv group in Australasia. His style is characterised by working with different languages, and the absence of them, recurring to Improv as a universal language. He also develops Improv Theatre formats, and travels the world coaching Improv troupes in them. Two of his most popular formats: “Livin’ La Impro Loca” and “Perfect Strangers” have been performed by Improv groups in several countries. Matias is the founder and director of the Auckland Improv Marathon and co-founder and director of the Auckland Improv Festival.

Nicolas Mankiewitz holds a degree in Business Administration and Accounting, and is from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Since childhood he has been very curious and took part in shows in Argentina and Chile during primary and secondary school. Then he took drama and acting classes in Buenos Aires at the La Soderia Cultural Centre, under the direction of Mary Sue Bruce, who studied performing arts in Argentina and New York. Nicolas has also taught creativity courses for different organisations and universities.

In 2015 he took part in the workshop “The Art of Improvisation” directed by Wade Jackson, and in 2017 in the “Program in Actor’s Improv” directed by Bobbi Block (USA), and is an active member of Covert Theatre, directed by Wade Jackson and other members of the Improv Bandits, one of the most renowned English speaking improv theatre groups in New Zealand. With Covert Theatre he performed for two years in a row at the NZ International Comedy Festival. In 2017 he took the “Magic realism, poetic body, reality levels” workshop taught by Omar Galván.