Improvisation / communication workshop

Improvisation theatre is unscripted. When there is no script, other aspects of interaction - such as making and keeping agreements - become more important. Rather like in the workplace, in fact! Improvising on stage is simply a matter of communicating and collaborating in an effective, positive way. Workshop participants learn the basic behavioural rules of improvisation theatre: cooperating; accepting and adding; observing and listening to what is being said (and to what is not being said); being in the here and now; making your colleagues look good; taking risks and enjoying failures. At the same time the group discovers how these relate to daily work. Participants enjoy themselves actively and energetically and get to know each other in new ways. The ultimate aim of the workshop determines its principal content; if desired, we can explore issues such as non-verbal communications, teambuilding and presentation techniques.

We start with a general warm-up to shake off the day's issues and to get into the here and now, using a few simple exercises for the whole group. We then demonstrate the basic principles of improv theatre, using various simple exercises involving the whole group or subgroups. When everyone is ready we start with short improvised scenes, making particular use of various 'theatresports forms' which make such scenes immediately presentable. We end the session by playing a number of scenes for each other.

'Theatresports' is a form of improvisation theatre in which two teams of players compete against each other to play the best scene. The audience supply scene suggestions, an expert jury judges the results, and a presenter ties the whole thing together. The audience is encouraged to throw wet sponges at the jury if they disagree with the verdict, and red roses at the players as a reward and encouragement for good scenes. During this performance the workshop trainers take on the roles of presenter and 'jury member' to ensure that everything goes well.

Duration: 90 -120 mins.

A theatresports performance lasts from an hour to an hour and a half. Where this option is included it is a good idea to take a break between the workshop and the performance. During this break the space is transformed into a 'theatre' and when the participants return for the second half of the workshop they have a surprise in store: they're giving their own performance!

Application

We use this workshop in a number of ways, both as a vehicle for a learning process, as a great way to have fun, and both:

· as the kick-off for a Troje skills development training course

· as part of a training course supplied by a third party

· as part of a 'collaboration and cooperation' program

· as the kick-off or as part of a working conference

· as an enjoyable and useful team activity

Number of participants

Depending on the purpose of the event, this is limited to a maximum of 15 participants per trainer.