The Ampersand: An Update Back in January, we thought we would be in the Ampersand* by the end of the summer term. On course pages, we wrote that we would start at BHASVIC** but expected to run end-of-term showcases in our new space. How foolish we were is…
How to Handle Improv Audition Rejection Hello! I’m Heather, and I make my living through improv. I perform in shows, teach classes, facilitate applied improv, and occasionally do things like this; writing and thinking about improv. One thing I am not particularly good at, though, is auditions.
There is much talk at the moment around workers returning to the office. Some people love it, some people hate it, and a whole lot of people just don’t know what to make of it. The McKinsey article “Returning to the Office? Focus More on Practices and Less on…
Psychological Safety in Teams & Improvisation Training On the face of it, improvisation might seem like it’s all about recklessness and risk-taking. Yes, we practice getting comfortable with failure, celebrate mistakes, and embrace uncertainty, but lately, I’ve been reflecting on what safety and improvisation have in common. This idea first…
The holiday period can mean lots of different things. Time with the family, twinkly lights and snow, two weeks drunk, a race to get this year’s work finished, ice skating, the birth of mankind’s saviour, duvet time, Stollen, Die Hard. And of course, presents. Improvisers can be hard…
Bringing Your Whole Self to Work: Lessons from a Portfolio Career In recent years, I’ve noticed a recurring theme in the organizations I work with: the idea of bringing your whole self to work. It’s the notion that all the glorious, weird, and vulnerable aspects of who you are outside…
Improv Training for Executive Teams: The Secret to High-Performing Leadership Several years ago, my comedy troupe, The Maydays, were asked to perform in a ‘high-performing teams’ showcase for a large corporate event. The lineup of high-performing teams included us, a shadow gymnastics group, a jazz trio, and Britain’s Got…
Improv Acting Techniques: Exploring Motivation in Improv I’ve been working lately with the idea of motivation in improv to get the fire lit in a scene. Motivation in acting is the reason why a character acts or reacts in the way they do. Many times, I will make a strong…
Improv Games for Beginners: Fun and Easy Ways to Get Started If you’ve never done improv, you might be wondering what on earth it’s all about and how you can jump in and get going right away. The good news is that improv is suitable for absolutely anyone,…
The History of Improv The History of improv is hard to pin down. Like folk music, improv is often passed down through generations by oral tradition rather than through written or recorded formats. Games in particular can vary wildly between how they are played and what they are…
How to Do Improv for Free: A Guide to Unleashing Your Inner Improviser Without Breaking the Bank Over the years, I’ve introduced enough people to the world of improv to recognize that unmistakable sparkle in their eyes when they experience the magic for the first time—just like I…
How to Prepare for your first improv class People often ask us what they need to do to prepare for their first improv class. The genuine truth is nothing. You just turn up, as you, and experience it. This should be a reassuring thing, but I…
