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.
Why Embarrassment Feels So Awful—And How Improv Helps I once did an improv show at the Edinburgh Festival with Jim Bowen from Bullseye as a guest. I was so awful that I couldn’t leave the dressing room for over an hour afterwards for fear of seeing anyone that…
The AndAlso List of Improv Edits An edit in improv is a way to end a scene and begin another. We talk a lot about why this is important in our podcast on edits, but this article is your practical, handy list of improv edits so…
This week marks Neurodiversity Celebration Week. It’s a time to celebrate the amazing diversity of minds that make up our world, from those who have ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and other neurodiverse conditions. At AndAlso Improv, we’re especially proud…
International Women’s Day is always a time for reflection, celebration, and renewed commitment to gender equality. This year, I had the privilege of attending a thought-provoking panel discussion at Brighton University on Women in Leadership. The event brought together an inspiring group of women…
Navigating Chaos with Improv: VUCA and BANI in Business What do Improv, VUCA and BANI have in common? You’ve heard of VUCA, but have you heard of BANI? In fact, first of all, have you heard of VUCA? What is VUCA? VUCA stands for Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity. It…
by Jules Munns, Director of Studies I like telling this story to new improvisers because it often surprises them: I started doing improv because I hated improv. Well, not quite hated it. Friday mornings at drama school, we had improv classes with a gentle…
Does Improv Help with Pitching? Short answer: YES. This week, I’ve found myself in one of the most surreal situations. I’m currently working on a pitch for AndAlso at the Create South East Showcase while simultaneously running a high-level training program for a company whose staff needs…
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…
Stay positive, don’t argue, be nice to each other. If you have ever been to an improv class, you will have heard some version of that. Justifications vary, but the stay-positive instruction is so often repeated, it is worth examining. And when I say ‘examining’, I…
How to MC an Improv Show: A Guide to Hosting with Confidence It is often said that the tech crew are the most underappreciated people involved in an improv show. Don’t get me wrong, I worship my lights, sound, and musical directors, but I’ve come to the conclusion lately that…
