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The Court Jesters are a professional improv company founded in 1989 and based in Christchurch, New Zealand. The Court Jesters are a subsidiary of The Court Theatre professional theatre company, acting as a second company within the theatre.

The Court Jesters provide entertainment for corporate and private clients, run weekly community improv workshops, an annual Theatresports™ competition for high schools as well as performing their own weekly show, Scared Scriptless.

History

Theatresports began at The Court Theatre in 1987 under the direction of Bryan Aitken and Judie Douglass. This was largely due to the upswing in popularity of improvised theatre internationally and the desire to introduce it to a New Zealand audience. Corporate Entertainment Events Bands Music EntertainmentNow. The popularity of the style led to the formation of a permanent improvisational 'wing' of The Court Theatre with the irreverant moniker "The Court Jesters" in late 1989.

In 1990 The Court Jesters manager Michael Robinson began the late-night improvised comedy show Scared Scriptless at 11pm Fridays at The Court Theatre, which still runs to this day at The Court Theatre. It is the longest running show in New Zealand. (original members were John Hudson, Patrick Duffy, Geoff Dolan, Jeff Clark, KC Kelly, Greg Cooper, Ross Gumbley, Cal Wilson, Simon Peacock, Susan Fogarty, Matthew Gould, Kevin Smith, Craig Cooper, Carl Nixon, Andie Spargo and Michael Robinson.