Improvisation
Why study Improvisation?
Improvisation involves responding to a stimulus and using a series of techniques to create a scene.
It gives you skills in these concepts:
•Creativity
•Spontaneity
•Making, Accepting and extending ideas.
•Focus
•Scene work and development
It gives you skills in these concepts:
•Creativity
•Spontaneity
•Making, Accepting and extending ideas.
•Focus
•Scene work and development
Main Concepts of Improv
Creativity and Spontaneity
Spontaneity is the ability to “act on the spot” without hesitation.
You need to:
•“JUST DO IT ” – don’t think about it. Too often we edit our ideas if we think or talk about it.
•Learn to listen actively – you don’t need to react to everything but you need to pick up on things that could work.
•Be physically OPEN as well as mentally.
You need to:
•“JUST DO IT ” – don’t think about it. Too often we edit our ideas if we think or talk about it.
•Learn to listen actively – you don’t need to react to everything but you need to pick up on things that could work.
•Be physically OPEN as well as mentally.
Making, accepting and extending offers
OFFERING – is providing an action or idea to begin or keep a scene progressing.
ACCEPTING - is saying YES to an offer that comes from another performer.
Offer – I’ll drive Accept – Here are the keys.
FOCUSING OFFERS – Once an offer has been accepted then this idea becomes the focus of the action.
EXTENDING – involves accepting an offer and then contributing new ideas or focus to the scene.
Offer – I’ll drive Extending – Ok and I will get to chose the radio station.
BLOCKING – this is when an offer is rejected or ignored.
Offer – I’ll drive Block - No
ACCEPTING - is saying YES to an offer that comes from another performer.
Offer – I’ll drive Accept – Here are the keys.
FOCUSING OFFERS – Once an offer has been accepted then this idea becomes the focus of the action.
EXTENDING – involves accepting an offer and then contributing new ideas or focus to the scene.
Offer – I’ll drive Extending – Ok and I will get to chose the radio station.
BLOCKING – this is when an offer is rejected or ignored.
Offer – I’ll drive Block - No
Focus
FOCUS can occur when a performer concentrates their attention on a person , object or event.
It is like funnelling the audience’s attention.
SO WHAT
You can do this by:
•Eye contact
•Gesture
•Space
•Contrasts – different images e.g. High and Low
•Language and Voice
It is like funnelling the audience’s attention.
SO WHAT
You can do this by:
•Eye contact
•Gesture
•Space
•Contrasts – different images e.g. High and Low
•Language and Voice
Scene Work
The improviser needs to answer THREE questions:
1. Who am I ?
2.Where am I ?
3.What am I doing to get what I want?
1. Who am I ?
2.Where am I ?
3.What am I doing to get what I want?
A. Who (basic character type).
The best way to create a character in improv is to think of a very specific personality type and just start moving like the character. Choosing an occupation might help to spark a character. Or you could pick someone you’ve seen in real life or a movie. Really get into the body of the character and try to physicalise him. Also, use your voice in interesting ways. Whatever the other person chooses as a character, make sure you choose the exact opposite so you will have a conflict. For example, if I am the clean freak, you would choose the slob.
Two choices work well for comedy. First, choose to play every detail that is exactly like your specific character. (Do everything a real old lady actually would do in great detail, for example.) Second, choose the exact opposite of who we think you would be in the situation (the Queen of England working at a fast food restaurant).
B. Where (setting).
Create where you are very specifically. Choose someplace interesting. Don’t ever talk about the setting, but show us instead. For example, don’t tell me you see the ocean, but splash water on someone.
C. What (conflict, or “the game”).
The conflict is so important that we call it “the game.” You can’t have a scene without a conflict. This rule is going to save your tush in any improv scenario. As soon as you establish your characters, whatever the other person does that you notice first irritates you. Once you are obviously irritated by it, you have basically told the other character “the game,” and he does more of it. ( https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/easy-steps-great-improv-6513/)
The best way to create a character in improv is to think of a very specific personality type and just start moving like the character. Choosing an occupation might help to spark a character. Or you could pick someone you’ve seen in real life or a movie. Really get into the body of the character and try to physicalise him. Also, use your voice in interesting ways. Whatever the other person chooses as a character, make sure you choose the exact opposite so you will have a conflict. For example, if I am the clean freak, you would choose the slob.
Two choices work well for comedy. First, choose to play every detail that is exactly like your specific character. (Do everything a real old lady actually would do in great detail, for example.) Second, choose the exact opposite of who we think you would be in the situation (the Queen of England working at a fast food restaurant).
B. Where (setting).
Create where you are very specifically. Choose someplace interesting. Don’t ever talk about the setting, but show us instead. For example, don’t tell me you see the ocean, but splash water on someone.
C. What (conflict, or “the game”).
The conflict is so important that we call it “the game.” You can’t have a scene without a conflict. This rule is going to save your tush in any improv scenario. As soon as you establish your characters, whatever the other person does that you notice first irritates you. Once you are obviously irritated by it, you have basically told the other character “the game,” and he does more of it. ( https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/easy-steps-great-improv-6513/)
Tips for Improv
1. Yes and – Accept offers - don’t block other players.
2. Respect each other - don’t make fun of others.
3. Allow others to be in the spot light - don’t steal the scene.
4. Make a fool of yourself.
5. Make use of your body.
6. Have fun - don’t take things too seriously.
7. Practice your skills.
8. Get good at quick thinking
9. Focus on a particular improv skill
10. Lose your inhibitions.
2. Respect each other - don’t make fun of others.
3. Allow others to be in the spot light - don’t steal the scene.
4. Make a fool of yourself.
5. Make use of your body.
6. Have fun - don’t take things too seriously.
7. Practice your skills.
8. Get good at quick thinking
9. Focus on a particular improv skill
10. Lose your inhibitions.
Article - Top Ten Tips for Improv