Improv

Contact the adviser, Jim

Improv (short for improvisation) is great new activity for u3a offering the chance to learn things like self-confidence and teamwork while having a good laugh. No experience of any kind is required - anybody can learn to be an improviser.

What is improv?

If you remember the TV series Whose Line is it Anyway? that will give you some idea of what improv is about. The basic premise is very simple. Two or more people act out a scene, making up the dialogue entirely on the spot. There is no scenery, no props, no costumes; everything has to be created by the improvisers by what they say and do. The aim is to create a scene which is entertaining and amusing. But the main thing is that everyone has fun.

Workshops

Improv is not simply making stuff up. Improvising is a skill which you need to learn and practise. The key thing is that the improvisers always have to work together. That way they can create a scene which none of them could have achieved on their own. Improv workshops usually consist of playing some improv games and exercises, followed by a chance to perform some scenes in front of the rest of the group.

Want to know more?

I started improvising twelve years ago and fell in love with it. I’ve been teaching it for nine years and want to introduce it to as many people as I can. Please view the resources below for more information about starting an improv group and the activity in general. There is also a list of improv games and exercises and some suggested lesson plans for your first few improv sessions. Please let me know if these are useful or if you need any further information

If you are doing improv or anything similar in your u3a, or if you just want to know more about it, please email me using the link above. I’d love to hear from you. I also run online improv workshops which are open to members of any u3a or IGO, so let me know if you are interested in attending one.

Resources

Notes on improv (74.11 KB)

Improv games and exercises (157.71 KB)

Suggested lesson plans.pdf (62.28 KB)

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