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Sophie Nadeau
she/her
Executive Director/ Instructor
Sophie is an improviser, content creator and all around human who loves to share her passion for theatre and exploration. She has been a player, volunteer, coach and instructor with the Canadian Improv Games the last 11 years and has performed improv with Saint John’s Improvisation Corporation and HRM’s Make Em’ Ups. Sophie has taught improv classes with Neptune Theatre School for the last 5 years, teaching students from ages 10-adult, she has also coached improv teams and led improv workshops and classes with the HRCE. Sophie has 15 years of dance training in tap, jazz, contemporary, lyrical and musical theatre. Sophie is a graduate of the Screen Arts film program at NSCC and loves making digital content. She has performed theatre with Kennebecasis Valley High School, KV Players and Saint John Theatre Company and has written and produced three original Fringe Festival shows. Sophie is very excited to be encouraging young performers to be everything they want to be! Her favourite type of dog is a jack russell terrier and her favourite Summer Blizzard®️ Flavour is Cotton Candy.
Draven Hewitt
He/him
Instructor
Draven is an improvisor, comedian and writer based in Dartmouth and Halifax. He's been coaching in the Canadian improv games for 9 years now and is very excited to start this new chapter at Spontaneity. Dungeons & Dragons, rock climbing and painting are his favorite activities when he isn't improvising.
Mitchell Horne
He/ Him
Instructor
Mitchell is a perpetual student of the world; someone who seeks to understand
in order to be understood. He is also a clumsy goofball, known for his warm
presence and knowing smile.
Improv found Mitchell as a teenager, and has been a place to call home ever
since. He is a dedicated volunteer with the Canadian Improv Games, a national
organization bringing improv training and performance to high school students.
He has studied and performed improv in several places spanning Ontario and the
Maritimes, including The Making Box in Kitchener and Bad Dog Theatre in
Toronto. As a teacher his goals are always to embrace mistakes, surrender to
the present moment, and guide students in following their natural rhythm.
Mitchell believes that improv is a pure and very human form of expression,
through which we can (re)discover our sense of play and form meaningful
connections with others. The ephemeral nature of this art form is a reflection
of the temporary and fluid nature of our world and ourselves; a beautiful
thing.
Outside of improv he works as a computer engineer. He enjoys music, yoga, and
being in nature.
Dylan Jackson
he/ him
Instructor
Dylan is an actor and Improviser based in the HRM. He was introduced to improvised theatre through the Canadian Improv Games (CIG) in high school, performing at the national competitive level in his senior year. Outside of performing "normal theatre" he started a very short-lived Improv Society during his first year at the University Of King's College and attended the conservatory program at Neptune Theatre (2019-2020). After a long hiatus from performing he's finally ready to welcome back and embrace his inner weirdo (like that old acquaintance you haven't seen since graduation and you're like "yiiiikes, what happened to him"?)
He is very excited and eternally grateful to be given the opportunity to share his experience with improv to others and to bring some of that joy and wonder he first felt when he first started in high school.
MATTHEW MATERI
He/ him
Instructor
Matthew Materi is a Halifax teacher who originally was introduced to improv through a school club and Dungeons and Dragons. Almost 7 years later he is an accomplished improv coach that is the current two time winner of the Canadian Improv Games junior Tournament. Specializing in character development with a drop of musical theater he loves introducing new people to this fun, crazy and rewarding world.
Outside of the Spontaneity world; Matthew is a Science teacher in middle school and runs two separate improv teams at the middle school level as well as one at the High School level. He also assists with the Canadian Improv games as a mentoring coach for new teachers and coaches interested in starting their own improv club around Canada.
Matthew believes that improv is very much like teaching: No two styles are alike. Everyone has a different way to play and that is what makes improvisation so wonderful to watch and perform. By combining our collective strengths together we create a wonderful artform that will leave a lasting impression on anyone who is willing to take the “yes, and” plunge.
Adrianne Gagnon
She/ Her
Instructor
Meet Adrianne Gagnon, a seasoned improv instructor and performer with over 15 years of captivating audiences and nurturing emerging talent across North America. As the driving force behind the Big City Improv Festival in Toronto, Canada, Adrianne's visionary leadership as founder and executive producer propelled the festival's success for 7 incredible years.
Adrianne's dedication to the art of improvisation shines through her work with the renowned three-woman improv troupe, 'We're From Here.' Their dynamic performances have left a trail of laughter and inspiration wherever they go, earning them a well-deserved reputation across Canada and the United States.
With an unwavering passion for sharing her expertise, Adrianne has lent her teaching and technical talents to prestigious institutions like Second City Toronto’s Education Company, enriching the minds of aspiring improvisers. Her instructional prowess extends beyond the classroom, as she has graced stages at various festivals and improv centers across the continent, leaving an indelible mark on the improv community.
With an impressive blend of creativity, experience, and leadership, Adrianne continues to shape the world of improv, leaving a legacy of laughter, innovation, and artistic growth in her wake. She is thrilled to be part of the team at Spontaneity Improv and looks forward to growing both the musical and non-musical improv scene in Halifax.
