When to edit a scene is an often overlooked discussion for a lot of improv groups, especially new teams. It’s not the most glamorous part of doing improv, but it’s so so important. When we first learn improv it’s often just the thing that the fastest players do when they have a funny idea. As … Read more
Last week I attended How To Teach Improv Inclusively, a four-day intensive led by Stephen Davidson and Monica Gaga, with thoughtful standalone sessions by Tai Campbell and Katy Schutte. I enjoyed the workshop week and had a lovely time; as Stephen invited me to delve a little deeper, I found myself thinking on the “why” … Read more
One of the best things about improv is that it’s full of variety. There’s something in it for lots of different kinds of people, whether it’s a skill they’ll excel at, a particular type of game that they find fun and rewarding, a way of connecting with people, or something else. Because of that variety, … Read more
Viewpoints is a vocabulary for co-creation originally invented by Mary Overlie as a way of reinventing dance improvisation and choreography. The six original viewpoints were Space, Shape, Time, Emotion, Movement, and Story. Viewpoints was later expanded and repurposed for theatre by Anne Bogart and Tina Landau, and split into two categories: Physical Viewpoints (Spatial relationship, … Read more
I heard the term ‘community improv’ recently and had a strong emotional reaction to it, and I’ve been pondering why it brought up such strong feelings. For me, I instantly read the expression as derogatory, though I’m not sure that was the tone intended. But why? In the UK we have a tradition of community … Read more
The world is currently reeling because a police officer, Derek Chauvin, killed a black man, George Floyd, while fellow officers passively watched and civilians filming begged him to stop. Of course, we’re horrified. It’s even more horrifying to think that Chauvin had at least 10 official complaints about police brutality and had been involved in … Read more
There’s a difference between a safe space and a held space. When I imagine safe space I imagine a document outlining the rules about how I should behave. When I imagine a held space I imagine a person. For me, that’s a crucial difference. The very phrase, “Safe Space” can be problematic because it implies … Read more
Constructive criticism is something that I find a lot of improvisers struggle with, both giving and receiving. In a way it can feel contrary to the spirit of our art; it’s our job to make our scene partner look good, to accept and build on their choices, to make classes and rehearsals feel safe. … Read more