Cast
Doing it differently…
Founded in San Francisco by Cirque du Soleil acrobat and clown Robert Rodgers, Scratch Theater was reborn in Berlin as an ensemble of performers expanding the possibilities of improvisational storytelling. Performances are never repeated—they are unique spectacles bursting with lights and sounds. By twisting and flipping genres and formats into something entirely different, these spontaneous stories become lasting memories.
Robert Rodgers
A veteran acrobat and clown who toured with Cirque du Soleil, on standup circuits and in feature films, Robert originally founded Scratch Theater in San Francisco before bringing the philosophy to Berlin. He has performed across multiple continents and is a sought-after instructor. He is creative director of the Scratch Impro School.
Theresa Mertens
A native Berliner and regular face on the English and German long-form circuits in town, Theresa teaches students of all levels at the Scratch Impro School and produces our Student Showcase, “…in good company!” She has trained with world-renowned improvisors and played at festivals across Europe.
Andrés Atala-Quezada
Andrés studied piano at the Hanns Eisler Academy of Music and teaches at UdK Berlin. He accompanies various improvisational groups and other musical projects. He is the beating heart beneath every Scratch Theater performance.
Dietger van Antwerpen
An avid-reader of play scripts, this Dutch-transplant brings his slow-burn style of improvisation to the ensemble. He has performed on several stages across Berlin and Europe and teaches students of all levels at the Scratch Impro School.
Naomi Blakeslee
Naomi has been improvising since her student years in the States. On stage, Naomi loves to play with tone, varying the mood of the performance to captivate the audience. Naomi coaches a performance group and performs herself with various other improvisors across the city.
Colin Willox (alumni)
Colin thrives in losing himself on stage. He helped expand the Scratch Impro School from humble beginnings to a leading improvisation school focused on theatrical storytelling. He performs with world-renowned improvisors in Berlin across various shows and stages and abroad and has played at festivals across Europe.
