Initiations
How can we initiate well in scenes? And how much do initiations really matter to an improv scene? Getting started is important, and yet I really didn’t get started on this episode until later than I ought to have done. However, I lucked out by messaging my Canadian friend Rob Norman, who I love to nerd-out about improv with. Rob is co-host of The Backline Podcast and our conversation was so engaging that I felt it would genuinely be better as one piece. Which is pretty lucky, because I had left it late to get guests this fortnight! Take a listen and let me know what you think is important when initiating.
Can You Be In Almost Any Show?
While talking to Rob Norman for the latest podcast, I mentioned Bill Arnett, a Chicago improviser who has written a book called “The Complete Improviser”. It’s such a good read and I often come back to it. I like it for a variety of reasons, but the main one is that it talks about using the right tools for the show. Improv often teaches ‘rules’ and I’m not keen on that, because some techniques are more useful to some shows than others.
Some improv theatres and schools like to teach “the way” to do improv, or “the way” to do long form. I still can’t work out why. Chicago long form has so many variants, let alone long form as a whole. Why would we box ourselves in? I love the idea of collecting enough tools that I could go from place to place and show to show and be able to take part (if they’d have me!).
There’s another good thing about collecting improv tools - it promotes curiosity, and that curiosity is good in scenes, it’s good in life but I believe it can also help push our art form forwards. When we retreat into “the way” I feel like we lose some curiosity and are less likely to develop exciting new things. Our art form is new. I like the idea that we can elevate it and continue to make new, inspiring things.
What Else Is Happening
The Robin Hood International Improv Festival has now opened applications for people who’d like to teach. I’m Co-Artistic Director along with my good friend Liam Webber - plus we are about to take on another Guest Curator to challenge us and to make sure there are more perspectives during the decision making process. Interesting in coming this year? Check out more here: robinhoodimprov.co.uk
I always enjoy it when a journalist goes to an improv class and has a really good time. I enjoyed reading this short article
Have a great week,
Lloydie