stagecraft course
A selection of the most helpful bits from drama school, squished into a weekend intensive for improvisers.
In improv we learn about listening, yes and, spontaneity and more, but there is a whole world of other skills from professional acting that are also helpful for improvisers and often missing from the improv scene.
You might not be able to do an entire full-time drama school program, so instead we’ve asked one of our favourite actors to teach the highlights that they feel will be most helpful to the improv scene. The best tools from drama school, applied to improv.
The intensive will include a selection of exercises on stagecraft, theatricality, how to warm up and use your voice, physicality and use of the body, stage presence, intimacy, connecting with one and other on stage and actually feeling things on stage instead of presenting.
The aim will be enable improvisers to have a truthful connection on stage and to be open and vulnerable, while keeping the dexterity and skill needed to put on a professional looking show.
This intensive is in our advanced level section so if you haven’t got any previous experience of performing improv comedy on stage it’s best to start with our Level 1 Beginners Improv Course or Level 2 improv courses first.
dates, time, location
Dates (2 day intensive): Saturday 9th November – Sunday 10th November 2019.
Time: 11:30am – 4pm each day.
Price: £90.
Teacher: Jonah Fazel.
Venue: Theatre Delicatessen Studios, 1st Floor, 2 Finsbury Avenue, off Whitecross Place, London, EC2M 2PP.
Tube: Liverpool Street or Moorgate.
Please note that this course is for people with previous improv experience, it isn’t for beginners.
topics
We will be doing a selection of these topics over the weekend, based on the needs and requirements of the group.
- Using the stage in theatrical and creative ways
- Acting skills for improv
- Stagecraft
- Truthful emotional connection between improvisers
- Opening yourself up and being vulnerable
- Being human on stage
- Feeling real emotions rather than presenting
- Find a subtlety to your performance yet retain the clarity of purpose
- Touch
- Intimacy
- Vocal warm ups
- Using your voice well
- Physicality and use of the body
- Theatricality
- Using the whole stage
- Creating believable space work
- Stage pictures
- Stage presence, how to own your own body and the space
Jonah Fazel
Jonah is a veteran improviser, Character Comedian, and Children’s TV presenter. He performs in the BAFTA award winning online comedy series History Bombs, and tours nationally in ‘Bumper Blyton: The Improvised Adventure’.
He has created work at The Battersea Arts Centre, Royal Court and The National Theatre as well as many site-specific venues and toured the UK as a performer, director and workshop leader.
Jonah trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and the Webber Douglas Academy. He has studied clowning under Philippe Gaulier, stand-up comedy under Logan Murray and improvisation under Keith Johnstone.
He specialises in character comedy, improvisation & immersive work and teaches improvisation at the Actors Centre London, Hoopla Impro and The Nursery Theatre.
faqs
Is there a show at the end?
No. We felt that a show would distract from learning the core skills, so this intensives focuses on acting and stagecraft skills for improvisers without a show format to worry about.
What previous experience do I need?
You should have at least done our Level 1: Beginners Improv Course and Level 2: Performance Improv Course or similar amount of improv or acting somewhere else.
Do I need to have done your Level 3 Long-Form Course first?
No. You are welcome to hop straight into this course after our Level 1 and 2.
How often do you plan to do this course?
Probably about once a year.
What’s the class size?
The group size is going to be limited to 15 people - small enough that you get lots and lots of practice and stage time, but big enough that there’s still a lively atmosphere in the workshop. It’ll be fun as we get to know each other and build a team together.
How is this course different from your other courses?
More focus on stagecraft, acting for improvisers, emotional connection, vocal work.
Is it similar to your previous Improvised Theatre Course and Lee Simpson?
Yes it is similar and complimentary to our improvised theatre course and Lee Simpson. The main difference is with this course we aren't focussing on story, or formats or how to make an improv show, we are instead focussing on acting and stagecraft skills in their raw form.
Can I do the course if I have a disability or use a wheelchair?
Yes. We are always happy to work with people to find a solution they can play with for each exercise. We have had many wheelchair users on our other courses and have always been able to work out something with the teacher. So please contact us if you have any concerns or requirements.