Once a month, the Improvisation Catch Championship “battles” delight the Village

In the middle, a ring. All around, chairs. But what is this setting that mixes the codes of boxing with those of the show? This lair is that of a cultural and artistic concept, "Catch Impro", which has gone viral in a few years. In this verbal joust, seeing extraordinary actors-speakers face off, the audience vibrates to the rhythm of the words. A thrilling, funny, one-of-a-kind match that takes up residence in the form of a "Catch Impro Championship" once a month at the Village until the grand finale scheduled for June. Curtain up.

When you push open the door of the Carrosserie du Village hall, everything suggests that you are about to attend a boxing or wrestling match. In the ring, two people dressed from head to toe in the codes of sportsmen, just like the referee. Then, your gaze falls on the chairs, obediently placed facing this scene. In this disconcerting decorum, it is indeed the theater that plays the leading role, sport being only a medium, a "passer" of words. Because here the battle is played not in actions, but in words.

"Catch Impro is two actors who face off in the ring for 1h30 (two 45-minute periods interspersed with an intermission). But unlike traditional "wrestling", here, the winner will do so thanks to their handling of words. On mainstream themes, they will have to speak, make people laugh, find the right word(s) related to the subject, which they obviously do not know beforehand!" explains Vincent Buclin, Artistic Director of the Catch Impro Championship which began at the Village du Soir on Friday, October 25. Total improvisation, in front of an audience of 150 people at each edition, which it is also a question of convincing, because it will be them, at the end of each evening, who will determine the winning team.

Who says improv, says singularity. Reacting in a totally spontaneous way to the themes - which change each time -, the actors offer the audience a version that is always new. "A Catch Impro will never be the same thing twice, and that is also what makes it so special. Here, no scenario is planned in advance, everything is in the discovery in real time" concludes Vincent Buclin. Diversion guaranteed!

From 10pm, at the end of the 1h30 of "battle", the room is transformed into a dance party with DJ from the Village. The perfect representation of what the Village has always advocated: this alliance between culture, art and party, a spirit that this Festival Catch Impro also totally represents!