Improvisation, Level 1

• Spaces are limited so early booking is encouraged.
• Bookings will close at 5pm on Friday 20 September 2024 or when the course reaches full capacity.
• For our Terms and Conditions, please click here.

Ages 18+

Course Dates & Times

Tuesday evenings on 24 September, 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 October 2024 
7pm–9pm

About Improvisation, Level 1 

Join this exciting six-week evening course for fun and enjoyable evenings of comedy and drama improvisation. Meet and learn with like-minded individuals and brighten up your week while enhancing your skills in creative thinking, teamwork and storytelling.

Who is the course for?

• Anyone aged 18 and over with a passion for comedy, or anyone wanting to try something new and stimulating.
• There is no upper age limit on this course. We encourage and welcome participants from all ages 18 and over.

What can I expect?

In addition to enhancing your wellbeing, improvisation can help improve your professional and interpersonal skills. The sessions will build your confidence in communication, active listening and teamwork - all whilst having fun, in a safe and supportive environment.

The course includes sessions on:

• Play, spontaneity and freedom
• Cooperation
• Making brave choices
• Developing confidence
• Storytelling
• Embodying character and communicating emotions

At the end of this course you will have gained an overview of the main principles, uses and benefits of improvisation and how to apply them both in performance and your day-to-day life.

Course Fee

£275

• Spaces are limited so early booking is encouraged.
• Bookings will close at 5pm on Friday 20 September 2024 or when the course reaches full capacity.
• For our Terms and Conditions, please click here.

Eligibility

• For everyone aged 18+. There is no upper age limit on this course. We encourage and welcome participants from all ages 18 and over.
• Participants must have sufficient English language skills to cope with course demands.

About the Course Tutor

The course is taught by Tom Machell and Fred Lancaster.  

Tom Machell is an actor, improvisor and writer. Trained at The New York Film Academy and National Youth Theatre, he is currently a series regular on Comedy Central’s sketch show Every Blank Ever. Notable TV and film credits  include Emmerdale (ITV), Hullraisers (Channel 4), Sparks (Channel 4), Babs (BBC), Jerk (BBC), Doctors (BBC) and The Keeper.

He writes and performs with his comedy group zazU who have had five successful Edinburgh Fringe and Soho Theatre runs and currently developing their work for TV and audio. 

He is an award-winning writer, winning the UK Film Festival Best and Los Angeles Motion Picture Festival 2021 'best short script'. He is part of the prestigious current cohort of BAFTA crew for 2021/22. 

Fred Lancaster trained as an actor at Guildhall School of Music & Drama. He worked in the industry for over a decade before obtaining a PGCE in Drama from Goldsmiths College. He has worked extensively as a director, teacher and workshop facilitator in the UK, US and Europe.

His work as an actor includes This House (National Theatre), Henry V (West End), The Silver Tassie (National Theatre), Rope (Theatre Royal Ipswich).

Film and TV credits include Inside the Titanic (Discovery Channel), Secret Diary of a Call Girl (ITV), No Shade (British Urban Film Festival).

He has taught at Guildhall on the Acting Summer School, the Preliminary Acting Course, and the Improvisation short courses Levels 1 & 2.