Description
This package includes two 3 hour workshops exploring two key areas of Viola Spolin’s methods, often not taught in “improv” classes. Presented by international guest and master improvisation teacher Gary Schwartz.
2pm to 5pm on Saturday 7 April, and
10am to 1pm on Sunday 8 April.
Space: Building the Where
The environment and objects in a scene are the foundations of great improv, and this space work is the most ignored element in improv practice. Where you are can be seen and not just referred to. What you have in your hand or come in contact with is not pretend. It’s space. If you pay attention to space, it becomes a strong focus that helps create the magic of improvisation. It presents you with options not apparent without it and can take your work into new areas. Viola Spolin once said her work was an effort to make the invisible, visible. Come and find out how. This is a unique workshop for Sydney, based on techniques that make Viola Spolin so exceptional and unique in improvisation.
What’s Beyond
What’s happened off stage? Where did you come from? Where are you going? These questions aren’t usually considered on stage. Building them into your work will colour your scene, relationships and interactions, keeping you more in the moment and letting the scene simply unfold before you.
Requirements: You must have some previous improvisation training experience, such as a levels improvisation or acting classes or on stage experience. Our Spontaneity & Transformation: An introduction to the work of Viola Spolin workshop will also suffice.
The exact location will be confirmed closer to the workshop, but it will be in the inner west of Sydney.
Viola Spolin’s work includes her ground breaking 1963 book Improvisation for the Theater, and many others on acting, directing and improvisation over the following 30 years. If you’re an actor or improvisor, then you would have used her exercises in acting, improv or team building workshops or played her games on stage or with Theatresports. She made a huge contribution to acting and directing techniques that are used and taught in most acting schools around the world, and many schools even have curriculums based purely on her teachings.
This workshop is presented by Gary Schwartz, who began working with Spolin in 1977, is one of the few remaining people who have worked extensively with her, and is the only teacher endorsed by both Viola Spolin, and her son Paul Sills, founder of the legendary Compass Players and The Second City.
This is Gary’s second visit to Sydney, after his sold our series of workshops two years ago.
