The curtain is just about to go up. The actors are calming their nerves as the excitement in the audience builds. Just another “normal” day at the theatre. Except there’s no script: anything goes. This is improvisational theatre, and spontaneity is the name of the game.
Improv actors need to be constantly on their toes, ready to pivot and respond to ever-evolving situations. Working together, they juggle ideas, developing the scene as they go along. If one idea falls flat, they move on to a new one without any break in the flow of action.
The skills used by improv actors seem to align closely with what’s expected of a lot of teams in today’s world. In both cases, it’s about navigating uncertainty, constantly adapting to new challenges, trusting in one’s teammates, and working together spontaneously.
Another key aspect of improv theatre is that it sheds light on things that would otherwise remain hidden. Improvisation makes intangible things real. That’s why it can also be used as a tool for reflection. Improvised roleplays bring into the open things that are normally difficult to explore, such as communication, conflict, feelings and interpersonal relationships.
During this session, we will take you through certain techniques used in improv theatre and show you how you can use them as tools for feedback with your students and/or student team.