Improvisation Classes for Beginners

Learn the basics of improvisation with our acting short courses in Sydney!

Think on your feet! Have fun and learn the fundamental skills and principles of improvisation, as seen on shows like “TheatreSports”, “Whose Line Is It Anyway?”, and “Thank God You're Here”.

We always seek to create a playful and supportive, you-can-do-no-wrong environment in our classes. Our aim is always to coach our students to success.

This is a fantastic course to build confidence, improve your presentation and audition skills, learn basic theatrical concepts, listen to and connect with other people, as well as spark your imagination and expression in an entertaining and interactive atmosphere.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this improvisation course, you should be able to:

• Understand improvisation terminology
• Understand how verbal or physical offers are used in improvisation
• Understand how scene narrative is used in improvisation
• Create an environment for a scene
• Accept, extend and deal with offers in improvisation
• Name characters, objects and locations in an improvised scene
• Combine physical and verbal offers in an improvised scene
• Understand character status
• Find the focus of an improvised scene
• Understand character objectives
• Identify scene objectives in improvisation
• Understand the basics of stage technique and stagecraft

Course content

What will be covered in this improvisation course?

• Techniques for actively listening and paying attention to others in a scene, as well as being aware of the environment.
• Naming characters, objects, and locations, and understanding how to use them to create a believable and realistic scene.
• Creating an environment, character, objectives, and character status for a scene, and understanding how to use these elements to drive the story forward.
• Techniques for endowing characters with physical and emotional characteristics, and understanding how to use these characteristics to create believable and relatable characters.
• Understanding the basics of narrative and how to establish a narrative within an improvisation scene.
• Techniques for advancing and extending ideas within a scene, and understanding how to use these techniques to create a cohesive and engaging story.
• Basic stage techniques and stagecraft, including how to use the stage space, movement, and vocal delivery to enhance the improvisation scene.

This improvisation course may be adapted to benefit the needs and interests of the class.

Intended audience

Who is this improvisation course for?

This course is for people with all levels of experience, no previous improv or drama experience is required.

Course venue

Darlo Drama

Level 1, 16-18 Oxford Square, Darlinghurst NSW 2010

Course materials

What to bring to class

• Casual clothes with covered shoes
• A water bottle