Improv fundamentals is our core, introductory improv course.
Experience a content packed six-week course that equips you with the essential tools to perform comedic improv for fun or on stage.
Come and learn about improv in a relaxed, welcoming and supportive environment, devised by the former artistic director of Prague’s Script for Brains team and led by an experienced coach.
You’ll cover an array of concepts, games, and techniques that form a robust foundation for performing funny, impressive, and absorbing improv scenes, all while having shedloads of fun. (Fun is so important to us that we put it in the name.)
We believe that the best form of learning is doing, so the majority of our time is spent playing games that reinforce the new ideas. We strive to make sure you get as many hours of practical experience and “stage time” as possible. It also happens to be a lot more enjoyable than spending hours dissecting theory! Each session is a generous-but-not-exhausting 2.5h with a break.
After the six week course, we have one more bonus for you – a fabulous graduate showcase performance where the cohort are the stars. This is where you can enjoy showing off your skills to friends, family, and the public in a performance environment. You’ll have the support of your cohort and a veteran host, but there is absolutely no pressure to participate in this if you don’t feel comfortable or are simply not interested in performing improv publicly. If you’d rather come and watch, we’d be delighted to see you.
Who can do this course?
There are no entry requirements to this course, and anyone is welcome, whether you’re a total newcomer, have tried improv at our “Taste” sessions, or have experience from elsewhere. Although this is a course that aims to be inclusive for complete beginners, those with prior experience are encouraged to consider it. We teach techniques way beyond the basics of yes-anding and its peers, and we address topics closely related to improv but often omitted from courses, such as stage presence.
Different improv organisations use very different terminology (often to refer to the same things) and have different aims and philosophies, so it can always be valuable to expand your experience. The course is focused on “short form”, comedic improv, but storytelling is one of the fundamental topics we cover. If you’re more experienced and interested in doing longer forms of improv with us – watch this space!
When and where?
Dates and times
We are still finalising dates for our next Improv Fundamentals course. To register your interest with no commitment, please fill out the form linked here or get in touch.
Venue
0 Baker Street, Middlesbrough, TS1 2LF
There is free street parking in the evening on Baker and nearby Bedford Street.
Please try and arrive a few minutes before 6.30PM. We need to observe a prompt start to make sure everyone gets plenty of time improvising. We will be in the upstairs room above the bar – just take the stairs or ask at the bar if you’re not sure how to find us.
The nature of this course means participants will not be required to wear masks unless it is a legal requirement at the time of the event.
Costs
The course cost is £70 (£50 conc.), but we want every participant to be confident it is worth their time and money, so the first session is “try before you buy“; we’ll only ask for payment to be made on or before the second session. If you don’t think it’s for you, or you can no longer attend the full course, that’s absolutely fine – there’s no pressure to come back!
If the cost is a barrier to you for whatever reason, please get in touch.