Improv WorkshopsContact me for coaching, bespoke classes, or to book one of my touring workshops below.
See also drop-in classes, intensives, The Maydays retreats and Hoopla evening classes. Jump on my mailing list.
Katy is just about the most positive, enthusiastic teacher, with insightful notes, a collaborative mindset (she shares so many improv tools), and is so very giving of herself. You can tell that Katy loves improv and wants that for the rest of us." - Sacha Ryder, Hoopla student
You can book one of the following,
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Play Like BrenéBrené Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston who rose to fame from her Ted talk on The Power of Vulnerability. She’s spent the past two decades studying courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy. We'll be playing with her wisdom - gamified through improvisation - and taking the time to talk about what we notice in ourselves as well as our work.
Length: 3hr / 6hr / two days People: 10-14 Level: Any Platform: Live or online Time TravelTake a look at the timeline of your show and learn smart ways of making it clear if you're flashing back or forward. Mess around with Back to the Future scenarios; how different would this character/moment be if something had been different in their past?
Length: 3hr People: 10-16 Level: Intermediate and above Platform: Live or online Silence and SubtextWe will be looking at how to pick up on subtle cues from your co-performer, from their physicality, their tone and chosen words to find and play with subtext. We'll use improvised scene work, games and Chicago-style 'slow comedy' using more than one layer of understanding to create realistic and truthful moments with depth and subtlety.
Length: 3hr / 6hr / two days People: 10-16 Level: Intermediate and above Platform: Live or online Two Person ImprovWith only two performers, how can you move fluidly from one scene to another, how do you hold more than two characters in one scene, what can you do with object and environment and what is your show's dynamic? Working on techniques for rehearsing and performing two-person improvisation, this workshop builds your trust and skills around that one other person. You can bring a duo partner if you wish, but you do not need one to attend.
Length: 3hr / 6hr / two days People: 10-16 (even numbers) Level: Any Platform: Live or online Magical Team PlayPhysicality is the building block of dynamic and engaging ensemble scenes. Whether you’re a newcomer to improvisation or a veteran of the art, getting back into your body and being hyper aware of the physical choices made around you allow for incredible group work. With everyone playing almost the whole time, this class gets you back into your body; creating powerful, beautiful stage images. Tell your onstage stories through safe, magical team play.
Length: 3hr / 6hr / two days / more People: 12-20 Level: Any Platform: Live *This class can be catered to musical staging too. |
Never Walk Through a Mime Table AgainFly a jet, drive a mega-robot, stroll through verdant gardens or throw a can of beer to your flatmate. Learn how to create environments and objects that the audience will really see and remember as if your blank stage was a film! Use imagined surroundings to find out about your character. Discover the secrets to recalling where you and the rest of your team 'put' everything and never walk through a mime table again.
Length: 3hr / 6hr People: 10-16 Level: Intermediate and above Platform: Live Introduction to Science Fiction
Science Fiction is about building worlds and seeing the human perspective alongside visions of the future, different universes or new technology. Science Fiction can be a huge and sprawling genre, so we learn to find out which strand we are playing in and hone in on the style at play.
Length: 3hr / 6hr People: 10-16 Level: Intermediate and above Platform: Live or online Group ScenesGroup scenes can sometimes seem busy and daunting, but a good group scene can be both easy to play and a total delight for the audience. Learn a whole cache of tools and tactics to keep your group scenes patient, funny and grounded no matter the style or setting. Learn when a show needs a group scene and how to initiate and support in a group.
Length: 3hr / 6hr People: 10-16 Level: Any Platform: Live or online Break Your Patterns, Shake It UpThis workshop allows you to try out different styles of improvisation. Get away from comfortable patterns you fall into in every show, break the rules, try something new. Perhaps your characters are strong, but you find game difficult, maybe you are amazing at story, but you never have an emotional reaction. We all have go-to choices and playing in the same group can sometimes leave you as 'the one that does that'. Not any more! Let's shake it up.
Length: 3hr People: 10-16 Level: Intermediate and above Platform: Live I took two of Katy's workshops at Neverending Improv Festival in Bucharest: Ensemble Bodies and Game of the Show. |
Improv Formats
I create bespoke and original forms; just tell me what you need.
TilesMy original format using various techniques to make improv in Zoom look cool! We work hard on agreement with images and themes being shown visually. It teaches similar skills to a Harold (characters returning, group games, heightening, etc.)
Length: 6hr / two days / intensive People: 6-12 Level: Advanced Platform: Online Groundhog PlayMy original format, based on films and TV series which repeat the same day in a lesson-learning time-loop; Groundhog Day, Russian Doll, Happy Death Day and more. We look at the form itself, plus narrative storytelling, specific editing and character/point of view.
Length: 6hr / two days / intensive People: 6-12 Level: Advanced Platform: Live Game of the ShowGet away from rules and structure, learn to follow your instincts and fail, fail, fail until you find something totally new and magical. Learn how to clearly communicate what you want to happen, even if it’s something we’ve never seen before. Mess with time, space, story and character in a whole new way. This workshop is particularly useful for improvisers that have worked exclusively with linear, narrative improv and want to try a new approach.
Length: 3hr / 6hr / two days People: 10-16 Level: Advanced Platform: Live or online |
Flicker
My original format which alternates light and dark/camera on and off scenes then speeds up towards the end. We work on skills for cool visuals as well as good radio play world-creation and clarity.
Length: 3hr / 6hr People: 6-12 Level: Intermediate and above Platform: Live or online Parent/Teacher Night
My original format that does just what it says on the tin. A simple structure with lots of character work and cause and effect. A fairly non-narrative show that can be played fast and funny or slow and realistic.
Length: 3hr / 6hr People: 6-10 Level: Intermediate and above Platform: Live or online The Living Room
There is a sofa on one side of the stage and an open playing space on the other with a couple of chairs. The form starts with an audience suggestion, the players chat, the players do one scene, the players chat, they do one scene and so forth until the time runs out. The Living Room is a fast, funny and revealing form where we alternately get to know the players and watch improvised sketch comedy. This form originates from the Family at IO Chicago.
Length: 3hr / 6hr People: 10-16 Level: Intermediate and above Platform: Live or online |
Genre
Learn to create a template for any genre you care to play in; using tropes more than structure, we can quickly help the audience feel like they're watching a Western, a Murder Mystery, a Stephen King, a Romantic Comedy, an Action movie or anything else.
Length: 3hr / 6hr
People: 10-16
Level: Intermediate and above
Platform: Live or online
Length: 3hr / 6hr
People: 10-16
Level: Intermediate and above
Platform: Live or online
Musical Improv
Musical Improv for BeginnersLearn how to create melody, lyrics and song structure in the moment. Through games and scenework we will learn techniques for rhyming, emoting, finding the right time to sing, identifying and creating choruses, bridges and verses plus a whole lot of silly stuff. Ideally students will have done some improvisation before, but there is no prerequisite to be a good singer!
Length: 3hr / 6hr / two days People: 10-16 Level: Any Platform: Live
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Here’s a name check of some of my inspirational directors and teachers from iO, The Annoyance, Second City, UCB, Groundlings and elsewhere:
Charna Halpern, Susan Messing, Rich & Rebecca Sohn, Bill Arnett, Brandon Gardner, Lee White, Jay Rhoderick, Tim Sniffen, Jet Eveleth, Shad Kunkle, Dylan Emery, Chris Johnston, Nancy Howland Walker, John Cremer, Marshall Stern, Alex Fendrich, Brian Posen, Mary Scruggs, Bina Martin, Claudia Wallace, Adam Whit, Al Samuels, Alex Tindal, Tara DeFrancisco, Jason Chin, Shannon O'Neill, TJ Jagodowski, Dave Pasquesi, Kevin McDonald, Anthony Atamanuik, Michael Orton-Toliver, Jill Bernard, Mel Cowan, Craig Cackowski, Julie Brister, Rich Talarico, Joe Bill, Michael J. Gellman, Jorin Garguilo, Mick Napier, Adal Rifai, Farrell Walsh, Kristen Schier, Brian James O'Connell, Kevin Scott, Shenoah Allen, Jon Bolden, Armando Diaz, Will Luera, Douglas Widick, James Robilotta, Mark Martin, Anna Renzenbrink, Patti Stiles, Felipe Ortiz, Erin McGathy, Amy Moule, Laura Doorneweerd, Dan Seyfried, J.R. Zambrano, Carla Cackowski, Holly Mandel.
Charna Halpern, Susan Messing, Rich & Rebecca Sohn, Bill Arnett, Brandon Gardner, Lee White, Jay Rhoderick, Tim Sniffen, Jet Eveleth, Shad Kunkle, Dylan Emery, Chris Johnston, Nancy Howland Walker, John Cremer, Marshall Stern, Alex Fendrich, Brian Posen, Mary Scruggs, Bina Martin, Claudia Wallace, Adam Whit, Al Samuels, Alex Tindal, Tara DeFrancisco, Jason Chin, Shannon O'Neill, TJ Jagodowski, Dave Pasquesi, Kevin McDonald, Anthony Atamanuik, Michael Orton-Toliver, Jill Bernard, Mel Cowan, Craig Cackowski, Julie Brister, Rich Talarico, Joe Bill, Michael J. Gellman, Jorin Garguilo, Mick Napier, Adal Rifai, Farrell Walsh, Kristen Schier, Brian James O'Connell, Kevin Scott, Shenoah Allen, Jon Bolden, Armando Diaz, Will Luera, Douglas Widick, James Robilotta, Mark Martin, Anna Renzenbrink, Patti Stiles, Felipe Ortiz, Erin McGathy, Amy Moule, Laura Doorneweerd, Dan Seyfried, J.R. Zambrano, Carla Cackowski, Holly Mandel.