About Sabir

Sabir was formed in 2016 and is a collective comprising of 15 improvisers from eight Mediterranean countries: Italy, Tunisia, Spain, France, Tȕrkiye, Malta, Greece, and Algeria. The word Sabir refers to a lingua franca that was an unofficial blend of languages used in the Mediterranean basin between the 11th and 19th centuries for commercial transactions and diplomacy. To reflect this common reality, the improvisers primarily use their own mother tongues in the show, giving audiences not only the possibility to listen to languages that are not often spoken on the Maltese stage, but also shows how understanding and communication are possible even when we don't speak the same language. 

The Sabir Project offers a chance to utilise social improvisation as a unique tool to enhance empathy within our society, promoting a new model of united and inclusive diversity. It uses shared foundations as a springboard to encourage cultural diversity through the power of improvisational theatre.

The improvisers all hail from Mediterranean countries, each with distinct cultures and different languages, yet sharing a strong historical connection and roots. They feel that this diversity constitutes their most valuable heritage and believe they have a social and ethical responsibility to ensure these stories are inclusive and impactful, thus altering the narrative that perpetuates limiting stereotypes in favour of building powerful human connections.

Meet our Performers

  • Bio: Alessandra first stepped on a stage when she was three years old and has never looked back. Born on the cusp between Gemini and Cancer with Pisces as the rising sign, Alessandra embraces her multitude of personalities by studying theatrical arts from different angles, as an actress, improviser, set designer, costume designer and trainer, she builds solid foundations in order to overturn them with a certain lightness.

    Fun Fact: Alessandra brushes her teeth for 25 minutes.

    Languages: When sober, Italian and English. After two gin tonics, all of them!

  • Bio: Chiara has always been passionate about the arts in all its forms: music, singing, painting and writing. In 2007 she discovered improvisational theatre, almost by chance, and since then, improvisation became a part of her. Chiara constantly strives for personal improvement and participates in frequent theatre and improvisation workshops. She performs in various scripted and improvised theatre shows with different groups. At the moment she is involved primarily with two professional improv projects: The Sabir Project and Mujeres. She also forms part of the resident company at The Spot Improv Digital Bistrot.

    Fun Fact: Chiara love the fascinating and perfect world of bees and when she grows up she would love to be a bee-keeper.

    Languages: Italian, English

  • Bio: Giulia began her artistic journey in 2001 by attending several theatre courses and then digging deeper into comedy and humour. In 2006 she discovered improvisational theatre and was instantly hooked. She has created various improv formats and performs in both long-form and short-form shows all over Italy. Giulia has furthered her training by attending courses in Italy and abroad, working with teachers of international renown.

    Since 2014 she teaches improvisational theatre to adults and children from 7 to 10 years of age.

    Fun Fact: When she was young she played football and was frequently hit by the ball.

    Languages: Italian, English, Spanish

  • Bio: Kıvanç is an improviser with over 15 years of experience. He is a member of AZOT, an improv troupe based in Istanbul, and is an improv trainer for BKM Istanbul, a major production and casting company. He has performed in several international shows and festivals and also organised a number of events. He was the Europe East representative of the ITI (International Theatresports Institute) for five years and translated the theatresports guide into Turkish. In his free time he is an attorney who runs his own office.

    Fun Fact: Kıvanç’s idea of light reading is a history book about empires and their adventures. He is also proud to have passed on his love of gaming to his daughter.

    Languages: Turkish, English, Italian.

  • Bio: Andrea has been doing theatre since 1999, although he claims to not have been aware of this. He came into contact with improvisation in 2006 and fell in love with it. He actually performed in his first improv shows in 2004/5 before even starting his improv training. In 2017 he moved to Tunisia and immediately joined one of the emerging improv groups in the capital as a trainer. He also helps to organise the Mahdia Improvise festival.

    When he’s not improvising, Andrea can be found practising his skills in cybersecurity and renewable energy, also using creative lateral thinking and logic.

    Fun Facts: He detests strong scents and arrogant people. He always tries to find the best solution for every situation and loves supporting his fellow performers on stage.

    Languages: Italian, French, English, Mantuan dialect and a little bit of Arabic (Tunisian dialect).

  • Bio: Simone trained as an actress and director and then slowly converted to improvisation some 12 years ago. She is passionate about theatre and loves playing grounded scenes that focus on emotions and relationships. She is also an intimacy director and exploring ways of making intimacy safe for improvisers has led her to develop workshops that allow improvisers to dig deeper in their scenes and express intimacy naturally and safely. She also loves to travel and combines this with her love of improv by attending as many international improv festivals as possible, as a participant, performer or instructor, as the case may be.

    Fun Fact: Simone loves Snoopy and most of her socks and pyjamas are Snoopy-themed.

    Languages: Maltese, English, Italian, Spanish (sort of), French (badly).

  • Bio: Jose started improvisation at Improv World in 1998. In 2001 he founded Planeta Impro, an improvisation theatre and school in Barcelona. At Planeta Impro he has directed and improvised several shows, including: Zzapping, Impro Fighters, Impro show, and Party Time. Jose is also the founder of Impro Training Center Barcelona in 2015. He teaches Impro for Business at Euncet International MBA University. Jose breathes, eats and lives improvisation 24/7. He has worked in cinema and TV.

    Fun Fact: He is an expert Father Christmas, and the children think he’s the real deal!

    Languages: Spanish and Catalan, English and a little bit of French.

  • Bio: Özer has been an improviser for 17 years and an improv instructor for 15 years. He is a member of Azot, an improv troupe based in Istanbul. He is a creative drama leader and teaches workshops to adults. He has attended and performed in numerous shows and festivals, including internationally. He organises improv events. He works as a senior sales director at a Turkish fintech company.

    Fun Fact: He loves to push the limits of his imagination by telling spontaneous stories to put his sons to sleep.

    Languages: Turkish, English

  • Bio: Stefano is an improviser. When you ask him what he’s going to get up to on stage, he replies with an enigmatic smile and a “we’ll see!”. This makes people think that he has no idea of what he’s about to do, but don’t be fooled by his seemingly uncertain facade, because Stefano is a master of making everything he does look improvised, when in actual fact, he would have practised for hours in front of a mirror.

    Fun Fact: Stefano is obsessed with The Simpsons and has just had a Homer Simpson tattoo added to his collection.

    Languages: Italian, English.

  • Bio: Barbara is an actress and a teacher of improvised theatre. She discovered improvisation in 2008 and it was love at first sight! Since then she has been researching and experimenting with the themes of individual and liberties and the interexchange of these elements between the stage and real life. Barbara is the co-founder of the troupe Mujeres, which is made up of a group of women, friends and actresses who explore the female condition and social conditioning through improvisation theatre. She is also a member of The Sabir Project, which looks at current social problems through improvised performance.

    Fun Fact: Barbara is a Flamenco dancer and a life coach. She loves life and people and has been described as “an employee of life”.

    Languages: Italian, English and the language of looks and smiles.

  • Bio: Sébastien is a French actor. He started doing improvisation in 2010 and hasn’t stopped since. He performs in many different shows and formats, both on stage and on YouTube. He also has a one-man show. Sébastien loves to travel and meet other performers from around the world.

    Fun Fact: Sébastien is afraid of anything sticky on his skin, especially natural glues such as honey or pine resin.

    Languages: French, English, a little German, a tiny amount of Arabic (Tunisian dialect).

Meet our Musician

  • Bio: Daniele was born in Rome and learned the guitar at the age of 10, immediately discovering the fun and beauty of playing such a unifying instrument. In his career he went from the electric guitar to the study of classical and fingerstyle guitar. From 2004 to 2013 he played in the popular music group I Cerchi Magici. He collaborated together with the harpist Vincenzina Capone (Ennio Morricone, Pippo Caruso, Celso Valli...) in the harp and classical guitar project Tutto Battisti. Over the years he has specialized in the acoustic repertoire of guitar and voice. Alongside his activity as a musician, he also works as a music copyist (working in various television productions) and as a guitar and ukulele teacher. In recent years he has entered the world of theatrical improvisation also as a musician.

    Fun Fact: Daniele is a fan of Disney films.

    Languages: Italian, a little bit of English, a little bit of Spanish.

Meet our Directors

  • Bio: Martina is an improviser with 15+ years of experience. She has been on stage since she was a child. She has trained in both music and theatre, and has participated in and directed numerous productions. Martina is specialised in vocal improvisation, and has toured Europe and participated in festivals over many years. She has trained more than 4,000 people and is a corporate trainer and is a senior visiting lecturer with a specialisation in applied improvisation. Martina is also president of the ITI, which is the International Theatresports Institute.

    When she’s not doing improv, Martina is a business consultant, an entrepreneur, a connector, and an activist.

    Fun Fact: You can read Martina’s essay on the art of vocal improvisation in The SIN: Essays on Improv, or find her on LinkedIn talking about how to change the world.

    Languages: Italian, English, Turkish

  • Bio: Enrico has been improvising for over 18 years, with his years of experience resulting in three major projects: he is the founder and artistic director of both the Sabir Project and the Tolfama International Improvisational Arts Festival. He also set up and runs The Spot Improv Digital Bistrot, which is a lovely venue in Rome dedicated to improvisation, where one can have a drink or bite to eat and watch an improvised show.

    He is a true believer of the active role of improvisors as artists in society.

    Fun fact: His ideal evening is ironing while watching the NBA with his family.

    Languages: He speaks English, Italian, Venetian and a little Sicilian...

Meet our Production Manager

  • Bio: Francesca’s passion for communication and human expressiveness pervades everything she does. Theatre, dance and music have always been and still are her most precious life companions. She works as a translator, political analyst, cultural event producer, EU Project manager and organiser. She discovered theatrical improvisation in 2007 and since then has never been able to do without it. She is one of the founders of the Tolfama International Festival of Improvised Arts and Producer of Sabir Project Collective.

    Fun Fact: Francesca has been composing music on the piano since she was little, but the only one who has ever heard her songs is her husband, as she feels too naked and vulnerable to play them to others.

    Languages: Italian, Spanish, English, French and Portuguese.