<aside> 💡 I’m back to answering questions from other improvisers (send your questions to [email protected] please).
This week, I’m still thinking about Tanja’s question: Has there been something not-improv related literature/courses/ideologies, that has affected greatly your thinking of improv? What was it?
So, here are answers from other improvisers…
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Anthropology (& archaeology at degree level must somehow contribute to how I experience improv) - accepting different realities with a sense of discovery. These people don’t have the word for anything over 5, or the concept of day after tomorrow; is the landscape modelled after the human body, or vice versa; this thing that looks like a pot isn’t a pot, it’s a spoon because this is how they eat; etc etc.
Reading everything is incredibly helpful to improv. Look at all of it as fertile soil for your imagination. Not only does it spur creativity, it also expands your vocabulary and understanding of topics you may end up using in a scene. I'll never forgot reading an article about munitionettes in World War II (Rosie the Riveter in the US). A few weeks later, that character became the antagonist in one of our improvised plays.
I'm lucky enough to have been involved with a lot of productions at South London Theatre. I have acted, designed and built sets, assistant directed and am now directing. With other members I have formed a company and written and produced a show, taking it from a blank page to a successful week-long run at an independent venue.
Being able to parse a script, doing the Table Work of understanding a character, seeing their super objective/objective/motivation, "Actioning" your script, seeing how the character serves the plot, understanding what a writer wants you know, think or feel. Characterisation, commedia, light and shadow, editing a scene to find out why it's in there, killing my darlings, trying things in rehearsal rooms and learning from a wealth of different people. LISTENING ON STAGE. Having realisations mid-run. Blocking, projection, acting off-stage (coming from somewhere, going to somewhere). Listening to the audiences and seeing what hits. It's everything.
If warm-up games are isolating and doing reps of a skill, making scripted theatre is full-body improv physiotherapy.
(SLT does 20+ shows a year and welcomes new members: find out more or follow our instagram)
Things that video games have taught me that apply to improv.
If in doubt about where you are going, check the map.
It’s ok to ask your team for help. Ask the other characters what’s going on, or even better, clarify out loud what is happening. If I’m confused, then other people might be too, and saying the thing out loud will help.
Don’t hold on to too much crap, you’ll fill up your inventory.
Sometimes I find myself juggling too many things on stage, and my scene partner has just come in and offered me something else. Let go of the things that don’t serve the scene.
The best content is sometimes in the side quests.
Those little things that happen that weren’t part of the bigger narrative are the ones that I love being picked up on. Don’t ignore them.
It’s great to be the hero, but it’s also cool to be an NPC.
Support your team, duh.