The Loose Moose Theatre Company presented it’s first performance at the Alberta College of Art in Calgary, Canada in September of 1977. Subsequently the company began regular weekly performances at the Pumphouse Theatre in October of that same year. However, the Loose Moose Theatre was not officially incorporated as a company until March of 1978. This upcoming season will also mark the 30th anniversary of the first public presentations of Theatresports.

Keith Johnstone originally had devised the concept of Theatreports while still working at the Royal Court Theatre in London, but the format was not performed publicly until 1977 when Keith introduced the idea to his acting classes at the University of Calgary. In early 1978 the Loose Moose Theatre Company began weekly performances of Theatresports at the Pumphouse Theatre where Keith continued to develop the structure and rules.

Over the next few years Theatresports spread very quickly to other cities and countries, and is now played on every continent except Antarctica. To celebrate their 30th year of performances the Loose Moose Theatre Company plan to perform a series of 30 shows in 30 hours over six days in the spring of 2008. The performances will be a range of presentations that will reflect the diverse character of the Loose Moose, and will include children's theatre, plays, sketch comedy, and various forms of improvisation, including of course Theatresports. Other titles and formats have not yet been confirmed as we are still in the initial planning stages. We do hope that a number of former company members will be able to join us for these celebrations as well as participate in performances. As is traditional at Loose Moose, at least some of what we do to celebrate our 30th year will be produced and performed spontaneously, and without being entirely prepared - it is the nature of the beast.

The Loose Moose Theatre Company has a international reputation for excellence and innovation in improvisational theatre. Training techniques and performance formats created by co-founder and former Artistic Director Keith Johnstone, and developed at Loose Moose are now used around the world. The Loose Moose Theatre Company was founded in Calgary, Canada in1977 by Keith Johnstone and Mel Tonkin to explore new formats for presenting improvisation, as well as acting as a training centre for performers. Over the past 30 years the Moose has helped to develop and present a variety of improvisation formats including Theatresports (TM), Gorilla Theatre (TM), The Life Game (TM), and More Or Less. The company also uses improvisation techniques to develop plays for children and adults, as well as producing more traditionally scripted work in a style uniquely their own.

“For really impressive acting, often hilarious business and some quite poignant drama, you have to go and see these people.” The Edmonton Journal

The Loose Moose Theatre Company has performed at festivals around the world, and won numerous international improvisation competitions. They have performed in a 1500 seat opera hall in Brisbane, Australia, as well as the Port Authority Building in New York City (the largest bus station in the world). They have been invited to present The Life Game at World Stage in Toronto, and Gorilla Theatre at the World Games Of Improvisation Theatre in Helsinki, Finland. Wherever they go they have provided audiences with a style of improvisation that is second to none.

“Having also ran off with the honours at the ... Winter Olympics, Canada's Calgary team remains invincible.” Sydney Morning Herald

Since 1989 the Loose Moose Theatre Company has hosted the International Improvisation School, a annual two week intensive workshop in improvisation that has attracted teachers, directors, corporate trainers, and performers from around the world. The company is also very proud of their large number of alumni trained at Loose Moose who are now working in television, film, and theatre as writers, directors and performers

“A whole generation of comics will come out of this little theatre in Western Canada.” Mark McKinney - Alberta Report

The Loose Moose Theatre continues to develop new methods of training improvisors, as well as new formats for presenting improvisation including the development of Keith Johnstone's Theme and Forfeit. The company also works in related areas such as using masks characters in improvisation, and the development of new plays using improvisation.

Loose Moose Theatre Company will celebrate their 30th season in 2007/08, and to mark the occasion they are planning to present 30 Shows In 30 Hours in the spring of 2008. 30 Shows In 30 Hours will showcase a wide range of Loose Moose performances from the past as well as the present, including improvisation, children's theatre, and plays. The Loose Moose has had a long history of excellence as a training and performance centre, and continues to offer a unique contribution to the world of improvisation.

“...are capable of reaching into forbidden areas of the cerebellum where other teams fear to tread.” The Globe And Mail