The Improvisation School

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Games / Exercises

games and lessons

Games / Exercises Performing Shawn Technical

TALK TO THE HAND

TALK TO THE HAND “Raise your hand and give that character a voice. The “two” of you are going to have a little fun.” I was directing an improvised show many years ago and there was only one person who hadn’t been on stage. I called her up and saw Read more…

By ShawnKinley, 1 yearOctober 28, 2021 ago
Games / Exercises Psychology Teaching Theory

TREAT THEM LIKE CATS

TREAT THEM LIKE CATS THE UNTEACHABLE STUDENTAs a teacher, I’ve always been interested in the “UNTEACHABLE” student. In schools where the staff say a child is impossible, or a boss in a corporate workshop says the employee is difficult, I want to meet those students. Cats are considered by many Read more…

By ShawnKinley, 1 yearSeptember 29, 2021 ago
Games / Exercises Teaching

Keith’s Comic Panels

KEITH’S COMIC PANELS A practice with endings Keith Johnstone has a great little exercise for practising the art of ending scenes.  He would hand out stacks of “comic panels” in workshops. Each panel contained 3 or 4 drawings, creating tiny completed stories from  Charles Schultz’s, Peanuts or Berkeley Breathed’s, Bloom Read more…

By ShawnKinley, 1 yearSeptember 29, 2021 ago
The End text
Games / Exercises Theory

END AGAIN

END AGAIN An Exercise to Practice Possibilities Ending your story CAN be easy. The first thing you have to do is stop trying to make it great. Pressure to make a great ending will stop you from seeing obvious endings. It will make you hesitant so that even if you Read more…

By ShawnKinley, 1 yearSeptember 28, 2021 ago
mother gorilla with her baby
Games / Exercises Psychology Teaching Theory

Treat them like GORILLAS!

Treat them like GORILLAS! One exceptional difference between humans and the rest of the animal kingdom is how much we hide and mask of ourselves compared to these other earthlings. By 9 months, we have already learned to ‘present’ our emotions in a way to manipulate others. By Adulthood, we’ve Read more…

By ShawnKinley, 2 yearsAugust 30, 2021 ago
group of multiethnic people gathering around female speaker in studio
Games / Exercises

BEEP BEEP BEEP

BEEP BEEP BEEP Why is it that some people seem to look into our souls while others feel like they are on another planet even though their eyes appear to be looking at ours?  The idea of presence is a foggy thing. We’ve all had the experience where we talk Read more…

By ShawnKinley, 2 yearsAugust 30, 2021 ago
Games / Exercises Theory

It’s all Gibberish

IT’S ALL GIBBERISH TO ME “A different language is a different vision of life.” – Federico Fellini GIBBERISH – also known as Gromolo in parts of Europe, is hated by some, feared by others. It’s loved by those who do it well and it’s done poorly by many. GIBBERISH is Read more…

By ShawnKinley, 2 yearsAugust 26, 2021 ago
boy wearing gray vest and pink dress shirt holding book
Games / Exercises Teaching

Treat them like…

Treat Them Like… How is a STUDENT like a MONKEY?How is a BUSINESSMAN like a DANCER? How can the inspiration to teach an IMPROVISER come from DOLPHINS? If you can imagine the answers to these questions, you will be a better teacher.   TREAT THEM LIKE… is a new section in Read more…

By ShawnKinley, 2 yearsJuly 30, 2021 ago
old man
Games / Exercises

Christmas Balls

CHRISTMAS BALLS! Here’s a character exercise for moving like an old person. I’ve heard this nugget of character development repeated countless times from Dennis Cahill of the Loose Moose theatre. He learned it from Keith Johnstone and it’s easy to understand why it sticks in the memory. Many people play Read more…

By ShawnKinley, 2 yearsJune 26, 2021 ago
person reaching out on painting
Games / Exercises Performing Teaching Theory

Everything In One Moment

EVERYTHING IN ONE MOMENT “The Dragon flew with fierce intent towards the castle on Mount Lyre” You read that line and you’re pretty certain of what kind of story you are getting into. You have a fairly clear image in your head. You see the clouds in the sky. You Read more…

By ShawnKinley, 2 yearsMay 25, 2021 ago

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