Viola Spolin , improv teacher (US)
IMPROV CLASSES. COLLABORATION. IMPROVISED LEARNING. PUBLIC SPEAKING. NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION. READING THE ROOM. MASTERING LISTENING.
As you can see from the list above, the study and practice of improvisation goes by many names. But, there are only two, main categories of improvising:
“End-product Improvising” is what actors and performers train to do on stage. We practice until we’re good enough to take random suggestions from an audience and then, while that audience watches, spontaneously create entertaining stories for them. It’s incredibly fun, but… it’s not the most popular kind of improv.
“Process Improvisation” involves no actors and no audiences: only participants who re-learn valuable skills like how to play, communicate, and collaborate with one another. Process improvising is a meditative, joyous, and educational process that, science tells us, relieves stress, improves brain functioning, improves relationships, and boosts creativity.
We teach in-person improv classes in Ennis, Clare to people from ALL walks of life. While actors and performers are welcome, you do not need to be an actor to join us and you certainly don’t need to perform on stage if you don’t wish to. All it takes to learn is a willingness to have fun and jump into the unknown. Learn more by exploring the links below.
Learning how to improvise can be joyous, engaging, and very rewarding. You’ll meet new friends! You’ll laugh more than you ever have! You’ll giggle while you’re falling asleep as you relive your class!
But improvising in front of others can also be scary. Suddenly, you’re not in control anymore! Maybe you won’t know what to say! Who knows if you’ll say or do something that’s dorky and weird?!?!
Don’t worry:
WE GOT YOUR BACK!
Part of learning how to improvise is getting comfortable with unknowing and uncertainty. That’s why we use a variety of joyous and playful games and exercises that teach our art form.
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LEVEL ONE: FOUNDATIONS
For those who’ve not taken an improv class, we offer our Foundations series. Here, students learn experientially, through games that teach an introduction to listening, eye contact, and understanding of verbal & non-verbal communication. Our Foundations level improv classes are FUN and are designed for the general public, ages roughly 16+.
You do not need to be an actor or artists to understand, learn from, or love these improv classes.
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LEVEL TWO: COMMUNITY PLAY
This improv class series is designed to bring people together to playfully explore character scene work. Teachers will help students develop characters, learn the basics of story structure, and understand how to enter, exit, or edit a scene. Students can expect to improvise entire scenes that introduce or explore a story! These improv classes are two hours long each.
LEVEL THREE: THE ADVANCED WORKSHOP
This improv class series is for those seeking to practice and/or perform as a team, exploring one or more long-form improvised formats. The first half of each class focuses on exploring different advanced skills such as callbacks, games, story development, and character psychologies. The second half is used for improvising one or two 15-20 minute long sets. We’ll continue practicing story structure, creating compelling characters, and mastering when and how to edit scenes. These improv classes are two-and-a-half hours long each to accommodate the stronger skills required.
Wild Atlantic Theatre never requires that you perform. Just show up, have a blast with your fellow improvisers, and then go home, smiling. This approach to improvisation suits many of our students. No pressure, no limelight, no audiences: just participants. Brilliant!
But what if you WANT to get on stage and practice performing? We understand that, 💯. Performing can be a crucial part of the learning process. We’re here to help you get to a performance skill level and offer opportunities to perform. We can also recommend and connect you with places to improvise in Ireland and around the world with supportive audiences.
Either way, we’ll make a home for you and ensure that you’re always comfortable participating in our most joyful and collaborative art form.