CRUMBS
History
CRUMBS was formed by Stephen Sim and Lee White in the fall of 1997. They were both members of Higher Than The Ground, a Winnipeg based sketch comedy troupe and improv company that lasted from 1992 to 1996. CRUMBS originally formed as an experiment in sketch and comedy and was also originally a trio. CRUMBS also went through several musical accompanists until finally being lucky enough to acquire Dj Hunnicutt. CRUMBS first show as a duo actually occurred in 1999 in Vancouver of all places. For a short time both Lee White and Stephen Sim lived in Vancouver.
In the late '90s CRUMBS did shows in Saskatoon, Edmonton and Vancouver. Then being invited to an international improv festival in Seattle introduced them to an international improv community. This is when CRUMBS first met members of the IO (Chicago, USA), Die Gorillas (Berlin, Germany), Unexpected Productions (Seattle, USA), Keith Johnstone (Loose Moose, Calgary, AB) among others. This led them to be invited to the inaugural Berlin International IMPRO Festival.
CRUMBS then started to tour Internationally almost non-stop. CRUMBS are largely responsible for helping spread the long-form improv style across Canada and Europe. They also helped create an improv touring circuit in Europe.
Collaborations
CRUMBS has worked with a lot of improv companies and improvisers all over the world. They have certainly influenced the international improv as scene as much as they have stolen everybody's great ideas and called them their own. They have developed great working relationships with Rapid Fire Theatre (Edmonton), Instant Theatre (Vancouver), Die Gorillas (Berlin), Theatre Im Bahnhoff (Graz, Austria), Dad's Garage (Atlanta) and The National Theatre of the World (Toronto) to name but a few. They are lucky enough to have had the good fortune of working with the world's best improv artists and looks forward to the future work with the future best improv artists as well.
Here is a list of some of the CRUMBS &... shows that have been produced.
- CRUMBS & Kevin McDonald (The Kids in the Hall)
- CRUMBS & Joe Bill (Chicago, USA)
- CRUMBS & 4Track (NYC/LA)
- CRUMBS & Ryan Stiles (Upfront Theatre, USA)
- CRUMBS & Die Gorillas (Berlin, Germany)
- CRUMBS & Isar 148 (Munich, Germany)
- CRUMBS & The National Theatre of the World (Toronto)
- CRUMBS & The Sufferettes (Toronto)
- CRUMBS Garage (Atlanta)
- CRUMBS & Theatre Im Bahnhoff (Graz, Austria)
Touring
CRUMBS and the members of CRUMBS have toured all over the world. Including but not limited to:
- Berlin, Munich, Wuerzburg, Hamburg, Bremen, Konstanz, and many more cities (Germany)
- Zurich, Basel, Baden, Bern (Switzerland)
- Oslo (Norway
- Stockholm (Sweden)
- Amsterdam, De Hague (The Netherlands)
- Lyon (France)
- Mallorca (Spain)
- Ljubljana (Slovenia)
- Zagreb (Croatia)
- Vienna, Graz (Austria)
- London (UK)
- Antwerp (Belgium)
- Istanbul (Trukey)
- Tel Aviv (Israel)
- Wellington, Christchurch (New Zealand)
Improv and Comedy Festivals
- CBC Winnipeg Comedy Festival (2003, 2007, 2014)
- Winnipeg IF... Improv Festival (2000 – 2014)
- Edmonton Improvaganza (2001 – 2011, 2013)
- Seattle International Improv Festival (1999, 2000, 2001)
- Regina Improv Festival (2008)
- Toronto Combustion Festival (2009)
- Toronto Catch23 Tournament of Wonders (2005, 2008)
- Berlin International IMPRO Festival (2001-2014)
- New Zealand Improv Festival (2010)
- Calgary Improv Festival (2010)
- Winnipeg Folk Festival (2004, 2012)
- Edmonton Comedy arts Festival (1999)
- Regina Cathedral Arts Festival (2001)
- Graz International Improv Festival (2002)
- Vienna Moment Festival (2003)
- FIFA World Cup of Improv, Various cities throughout Germany (2006)
- Slovenia International Improv Festival (2004, 2014)
- Wuerzburg International Impro Festival (2012)
- Atlanta Improv Festival (2010)
- Winnipeg Fringe Festival (1998-2014)
- Edmonton Fringe Festival (1998, 2000-2005, 2006)
- Toronto Impulse Festival (2013)
- London Slapdash Festival (2013)
