Naming Characters in Improv: Why It Matters Names are so important, as I was gently reminded while writing this blog. Naming my kids might be the highest-pressure job I’ve ever had! But naming characters in improv, while lower stakes, can have a surprisingly big impact on your…
‘The freedom of improv is one of the things that draws people to it. When you step onto the stage, anything could happen. You turn off the conscious mind, take a holiday from the everyday, and let creativity happen to you. Surely letting your instincts take…
‘Improvisation’ is doing something without a plan. And ‘improv’ is the practice of doing it in theatre or comedy. Or is it ‘impro’? At AndAlso, we mostly use ‘Improv’’, but our good friends at Hoopla say ‘Impro’. So does the ‘v’ matter? Or rather, why and how much…
The Harold, when you first approach it, can seem intimidating. Sure, it’s only an opening, nine scenes, and two group games, but how it all links together is a lot. A lot to remember and a lot to get right*. But here’s the thing: it’s all there for…
Brighton Showcases 2025 – some thoughts Last week was showcase week in Brighton, when our students share what they have been doing with an audience of friends, family, and other students. And we have a lot of classes now. Five full nights worth. So, for probably the last…
Reflections on injury, resilience, community, family & the art of saying “Yes.” A year ago last month, I broke my back. Not metaphorically—on holiday in Croatia. We were at the end of a gorgeous tour, and the lovely guide said ‘one more surprise’, the…
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…
