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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. Sophie created Spontaneity Improv Co. in 2022 and has been running improv classes, workshops, and producing shows all year round! She has been a player, volunteer, coach and instructor with the Canadian Improv Games the last 12 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 8 years, teaching students from youth to adult. She has 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 8 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 all of them and her favourite Summer Blizzard®️ Flavour is Cotton Candy.
Adrianne Gagnon
She/ Her
Instructor
Meet Adrianne Gagnon, a seasoned improv instructor and performer with over 15 years of experience captivating audiences and teaching emerging talent across North America. Adrianne's dedication to the art of improvisation shines through her work with the Halifax-based musical improv troupe, Improv the Musicalher, as part of the three-woman improv troupe, 'We're From Here', and as the creator and producer of the former Big City Improv Festival. Adrianne has graced stages at various festivals and improv centers across the continent, leaving her mark on the local, national and international improv community.
Her dynamic performances have left a trail of laughter wherever she's gone, earning her a well-deserved reputation. With an unwavering passion for sharing her expertise, Adrianne willingly lends her improv skills and knowledge to anyone interested in enriching their minds, hearts, and lives. 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.
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.
ANNIE GAVIN
She/they
Instructor
Annie Gavin (she/they) is a Haligonian multidisciplinary Artist with an education in Acting and Theatre Creation from Dalhousie’s Fountain School of Performing Arts. She was in three of the Fountain Schools productions during her time there, appearing as Opal Bower in the 2025 Devised Production Learning Curve, Girl/Time in Branden Jacob Jenkins’ Everybody, and Irus/Solo in Homer’s The Odyssey. Annie
has been improvising since she was 15 years old, earning a Canadian Improv Games regional title and national ranking along with her team. During her education she acted as DalProv Coordinator for the 2024/25 school year, thus beginning her journey as an Improv instructor! Annie is a part of Spontaneity's Musical Improv team and is thrilled to find her life filled with creativity and joy through Improv.
DOUGLAS WETMORE
he/ him
Instructor
Douglas started his improv journey learning from Spontaneity in 2023. Based in Halifax, Douglas tries to bring a spontaneous spirit to everyday life and enjoys spaces where creativity and expression can be fostered. Douglas believes there are practical benefits to practicing improv benefiting one's social, professional and emotional skills. Beyond improv, Douglas is sometimes known as "The Bus Guy" and has a love for public transportation and city development.
Lewis coverdale
he/ him
Instructor
Dependable, versatile, cat. Those are the longest words Lewis knows how to spell. Born in England, Lewis has spent his whole life in theatres. He’s a Writer and Director with local film company Shwing Entertainment, winning awards for their short films, and producing their live shows. He’s an actor, a comedian and just a delight at weddings.
ERIK GARF
he/ him
Instructor
Erik Garf is a comedian of many trades, currently based in Halifax/Kjipuktuk, Nova Scotia. Early in his performance career, he developed his sense of humor and producer know-how in university acting as Artistic Director for his alma mater's comedy group; where he later graduated with a Drama Studies degree along with a Performance Award for his commitment and involvement in theatre and comedy. He then moved to Halifax where he began producing comedy shows at the Bus Stop Theatre, Mouse Trap Comedy, Halifax Fringe, and elsewhere. Erik made his debut in Toronto’s comedy scene at the 2020 TO SketchFest. These days, Erik continues to produce innovative and experimental shows with the Understudies, and brings new life to sketch, improv, and stand-up with his kind and generous direction to the growing comedy community and looks forward to facilitating workshops and creating opportunities for people of all experiences to perform comedy in a supportive environment.
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.
