Improvisation can be many things. It can be self-development, active meditation, confidence building, communication training, or a gym for your creativity. It can be two of these at the same time, or all of them on different days. Part of the delight of improv is in its flexibility. It can even just be a load of dumb messing about. 

But for this weekend, improv is one thing and one thing only: entertainment. A night at the theatre, in front of an expectant audience. For this weekend, we will examine improv as a performance. You will work on how improv can be both process and the product at the same time. Delightful for the players, and glorious for those watching.

Heather and Jules were both actors in a previous life, and during this intensive, they will share the parts of their training that have been most useful to their improvisation. No mysteries or gurus, just applicable techniques to create shows that normal people (you know, non-improvisers) will want to watch and come back to.

The syllabus includes:

• Never serious and never joking: Being professional and foolish at the same time
• Pretty pictures that mean something: Blocking, staging, and the human body in space
• Do better acting: what being a character means and how to get out of your own way
• The smell of the crowd: working with the audience to create a live experience

NB: We will be concentrating on scenework (and song) not narrative. 

This retreat has musical and non-musical streams. The musical stream is taught by Heather Urquhart with music from Joe Samuel and the non-musical stream by Jules Munns. This retreat is aimed at improvisers with two or more years of regular practice, or level 3 on the AndAlso pathway. Email jules@andalsoimprov.com to talk about if it is the right choice for you. 

Charney Manor is a 13th-century manor house in Oxfordshire. It is a grade 1 listed building run as a conference and retreat centre by the Society of Friends (Quakers). It is a beautiful building with well-tended grounds. Quaint rooms and excellent food make this a luxurious weekend in the country. With improv. 

You are invited to arrive between 4pm and 5pm on Friday for dinner at 5pm and to begin working together at 6pm. Classes run until 4pm on Sunday afternoon with optional evening activities. For those coming by train, transport can be arranged to and from Didcot Parkway, just 37 mins from London Paddington. Plenty of parking is available on site.

A Solo room is £635, a shared room is £515 per person. Classes are capped at 12 for longform and 14 for music and meals are included from Friday dinner to Sunday lunch. Your place is secured with a non-refundable deposit of £100. The balance will be payable by invoice six weeks before the event (mid-February). Deposits are transferrable up to this point.

Book before the end of November for an AndAlso hoody or sweatshirt!

Cancellation Policy