What is Impro/Improv/Improvisation?

It's all of the above...

But for us, 'Impro' or 'improv' is acting without a script. It is about generating and then developing an idea, or a story, or a scene, from nothing.

Actors use impro skills to get into character (see more about this below), a means to an end. For us, impro is not only part of a process, but also the end product - the creation of a new idea or a new performance. It is also a good way to build confidence in yourself and your creativity. Also, impro is not a solo activity - it is about generating ideas and stories with another person or group of poeple so communication skills can be improved through impro.

Impro is a skill anyone can learn.

How is it done?

Live improvisation is one of those skills that always prompts the 'how did they do that?' reaction. At its best, improvised performances can leave audiences suspecting that some or all of it was planned, but the actors are not using 'cheating' by adapting old routines or slipping in bits of pre-planned script, they are actually making it up as they go along.

Although improvised performances and performers can seem astounding, in fact, impro is a skill anyone can learn to do by following a deceptively simple set of guidelines.

Accepting ideas is the golden rule of improvisation - every idea (or 'offer') must be acknowledged and then developed. From this basic beginning, we can then learn to shape and build upon this principle creating improvised games or scenes or even an entire improvised play.

Becoming a good improviser takes practice. As in any skill, from playing a sport of a musical instrument, to touch-typing or using a word processor, practice and repetition are the ingredients for success - impro is no different. Anyone can learn to improvise - it's then up to bractice to refine and develop the skill set we use.

A very brief history of improvisation

Improvisation is part of the staple diet of the modern actor. As well as the improvised performance, more often actors use impro games or techniques to help themselves get into character. Typically in rehearsal an actor might improvise what happened before or after teh actual scripted scenes.

But improvisation has existed as a performance for centuries - going trough phases, like any genre, or popularity and obscurity.

In the 16th century Commedia Dell ‘Arte performers improvised on the streets of Italy. The actors had basic frames within which they could improvise their own action and dialogue.

In the 19th century Stanislavski and Jacque Copeau both drew heavily on impro within their acting theories and practices - which still form important parts of modern acting.

When the age of the cinema was born improvisation often found its way onto the screen. During the filming of the Marx Brothers classic “Monkey Business” the director Norman McLeod quickly learned that when the brothers started to ad lib, he should just let the cameras roll until they got tired. Often, he thought they came up with better material than what had been scripted. Also Charlie Chaplin developed his early comedies by improvisation and rehearsal rather than by writing scripts.

In the theatre improvisation continued to be forwarded by Viola Spolin & Keith Johnstone, who produced the essential texts “Impro” and "Improvisation for the Theater" respectively. Viola Spolin created a set of impro games to develop acting ability organically. Keith Johnstone expanded on the improvised game and created “TheatreSports” – a performance in which the improvisers “compete” against each other in a series of games or challenges. TheatreSports was the direct forerunner of shows like “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” Johnstone’s work was also the first to examine of the notion of status. (How dominance and submission affect performances).

We continue to see improvisation in various forms on our TVs – most obviously in shows like “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” and “Thank God You’re Here” which have been huge TV hits around the world. But also shows like “Curb Your Enthusiasm" draw heavily on improvisation - Larry David's comedy hit relies on talented actors to improvise their scenes from sketchy plot outlines. And the films of Mike Leigh are created through the use lengthy improvisations in rehearsals to develop his ideas.