Inclusion Mission and Scholarships
Feel your voice isn’t heard in our community?
Improv Theatre Sydney works hard to be an inclusive company and improv community. We are a better community for the diversity of voices that comes to our stage and we want to be able to foster that as well as we can. Our objective is to have a far reaching inclusion across all parts of the company that involves diversities of ethnicities (in particular, First Nation Australians), sexual orientations, gender identities, ages and abilities.
We also believe firmly that cost should never be prohibitive to those especially interested in learning improv from ITS.
In an effort to reach our objectives, we have a policy towards gender parity in faculty and in ensemble, as seen by a gender balance in show casting and workshop instructors. We also have a mandate that show casts should work to include people of colour, members of the LGBTQIA+ community and people representing a variety of ages.
To further help us reach our objectives, ITS offers scholarships to prospective students.
A scholarship can be partial or full, depending on the situation of the applicant and comes with the expectation of participation of the recipient.
Participation requires attending a minimum of 75% of classes (six out of a term of eight classes) as well as completing Levels 1 – 6 within an 18 month time frame ie. completing each term with no more than one term missed between each level (please reach out to us if your circumstances prevent you from doing so). Participation in the workshops comes with the expectation that all students adhere to the ITS Students Bill of Rights.
New participants are expected to start at level one, despite level of experience.
Scholarship Information
Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship
This scholarship is a full or partial scholarship to complete our Improv classes Levels 1 – 6 and is open to participants on the basis of Race or ethnicity inclusion, Age inclusion, Queer inclusion and Disability inclusion. We also offer this scholarship on a one-off class basis for a workshop.
Need support but don’t fit the above criteria?
We also have a Low-income Scholarship and payment plans. Please note we have a limited number of scholarships available so please consider if a payment plan* would provide the assistance you need before applying for a scholarship.
Low-income Scholarship
This scholarship is a full or partial scholarship to complete our Improv classes Levels 1 – 6 and is open to participants seeking financial support. We also offer this scholarship on a one-off class basis for a workshop.
House Team Scholarship
This scholarship is a full or partial scholarship to participate in our House Team program and is open to participants seeking financial support and on the basis of Race or ethnicity inclusion, Age inclusion, Queer inclusion and Disability inclusion. Upon successful audition you are welcome to apply for the House Team Scholarship.
Applications are accepted per term with applications closing prior to the start of the term. We welcome you to apply now!
Please note: If your application is unsuccessful or we have reached capacity and you are struggling financially we have payment plans* available and ask you email us at info@improvtheatresydney.com.au for more information.
Improv Theatre Sydney is proud to claim that we looked to the following companies for inspiration in creating this mission statement. Many thanks to Dad’s Garage and their Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship Application, The Philly Improv Theatre’s Diversity Program and The Free Association Diversity Mission.
*Payment plan
A payment plan splits your course cost into 2 payments. One up front payment for half of the course costs and a second payment due 3 weeks into term. If you require a payment plan please email and we can arrange next steps!
Scholarship Application
Applications are assessed on a term basis via a committee and a member of ITS will be in touch with you as soon as possible when you submit your application. Please be aware our review process can take up to 5-10 business days.
Please note we have a limit to the number of scholarships available. We would love to support as many people as possible and as such ask you to consider requesting a partial scholarship if you have the means to do so, or contact us about a payment plan by emailing info@improvtheatresydney.com.au.
If you have any questions in the meantime please contact us via info@improvtheatresydney.com.au