Improv
Fri, 20 Nov 2009, 08:48 amjmuzz23 posts in thread
Improv
Fri, 20 Nov 2009, 08:48 amWent along to the recent auditions for The Big Hoo Haa which was an eye opener. For someone who sees themselves as a reasonably confident performer I had trouble in maintaining eye contact with anything but the sides of the stage and what's worse - I blanked. Totally. Nothing there. Panicked. Blanked some more. Half-arsed finish and retired to my seat a chastened man.
It's all good - it's a learning experience, right?
Trouble is I'm really interested in developing improv skills.
It seems somewhat amazing that as a group, Perth community theatre does not run workshops or (dare I use the word) theatresport nights to skill up their budding performers in what can be a fairly handy skill up there on stage.
I know that Kalgoorlie (whether it be Kal Rep or Stage Left) has run nights of that nature for years now. Why do we shy away from it here in Perth? Or do we? Is there some secret gathering of would-be improv performers meeting here in Perth in some dark room somewhere spinning tales out of nothing?
Surely these are skills worth having as they can boost performer confidence and deal with the issue of people running "dry" onstage. I'd like to re-audition for something like the Hoo-Haa at some stage but I'd like the benefit of getting some practice in improv environments before doing so.
Anyone got suggestions other than "watch Curb Your Enthusiasm" a lot?
Oh yeah...
Fri, 20 Nov 2009, 10:18 am....some 40 people turned up in groups of 20 each and some of us learned a lesson in humility :)
Some of the auditionees were exceptional and I was speaking with two of them Sunday and they'd been accepted which didn't surprise me 'cos they were really good.
Jeff - appreciate your feedback but my posting states I was auditioning for the Hoo-Haa. I'm not aware of the Hoo-Haa actually running courses or participatory sessions for interested parties (although Jimmy James Eaton mentioned something about a secondary improv show starting in the near future)so I'm not sure that solves the problem.
The Aragon workshop is interesting and Luc is an excellent actor and improvisor but it's one session - skills run rusty if not practised often.
Don't get me wrong - I do appreciate your suggestions but they don't involve ongoing participatory improv.
So, I come back to my original post - where does one learn the craft of improv in an environment where you can participate on a reasonably regular basis?
Any theatre groups out there interested in the idea of starting improv nights between seasons along the lines of what Hoo-Haa/Thank God You're Here/Whose Line Is It Anyway? does?
I'm sure we'd find some actors in Perth theatre who were interested (I can think of a number right off hand), charge a small door fee, open the bar - it could be a giggle.
I think it would find an audience amongst a theatres regular patronage. It wouldn't threaten the Hoo-Haa (those guys are REALLY good) and in fact could point people interested in that sort of theatre in that direction.
Anyone?...........................anyone?