Educational Workshops
All of the educational workshops offered by CiS have been developed along side experienced educational professionals. These programmes have been tried and tested over the past 10 years with great success and are continually updated to ensure that they are current and relevant. To date the troupe has visited just under 400 schools across Ontario in almost every school board, including public schools, Catholic schools, Christian schools and private institutions.
If you would like to read letters of reference from teachers across the province, visit our Testimonials page where you can view them by clicking on individual links at the bottom of the page.
Elementary Workshops
These programmes have been designed for grades 4 through 8. They meet a variety of Ontario Ministry of Education Curriculum expectations and help students learn a broad range of skills including:
• Self Confidence • Drama & Dance
• Team Building • Visual Arts
• Listening Skills • Language Arts
• Respect for Self & Others • Health & Physical Education
• Concentration & Focus
• Risk Taking
• Creative Thinking
• Problem Solving
• Enhanced Presentation & Public Speaking Skills
• Leadership
Introduction to Improvisation:
This programme allows students to learn basic improv skills in a safe, non-judgmental environment. The workshop starts off with an review of stage basics as well as an introduction as to what improvisation is. This brief intro allows for our instructors to discover the level of understanding and experience the students have so that they can tailor the workshop accordingly. From there students explore the world of improvisation with our professional actors by taking part in an array of different scenes designed to challenge and entertain them. At the end of the session students and teachers are encouraged to ask questions to further their learning.
Improv Level 1 ~ Certificate Programme:
This certificate programme is geared towards students who have a solid knowledge of improv and drama. At level 1 the students are divided into smaller groups who each have an instructor who will work on a variety of exercises designed to expose students to all the different elements of improv and drama. This will allow for the instructors to view the participants on a more individual basis and help them improve their individual skills as well as their group work. At the end of the workshop participants will be awarded with a certificate of completion.
Improv Level 2 ~ Certificate Programme:
At this level students will again be divided into small groups for instruction and evaluation, but at the end of the workshop each team will be given the opportunity to perform in front of the whole group. This will give students not only the chance to improve individually, but also to show how their team work skills have flourished and expose them to the thrill of performing in front of a live audience. Completion of this level is rewarded with a level 2 certificate.
Improv Level 3 ~ Certificate Programme:
Once students get to level 3, things get more specific. Students are still divided into small groups for instruction, but now the groups will rotate and spend a patch of time with each instructor who will be focusing on specific disciplines like stage presence, scene integrity, movement and other areas that will be determined with the help of the teachers. At the end of the session students will perform, but not necessarily in their own groups, different members from each team will interact and perform with one another to see how successful they are at various team work aspects. A certificate signifying the completion of the entire programme is awarded at the end of the workshop.
NEW! Character Matters Workshop - click here!
Secondary Workshops
Intro to Improvisation:
This programme covers the basics of improvisation and reinforces what students should have already learned in drama. The focus is on the 'rules of improv' as well as scene integrity, team work and doing more than just 'going for the joke.' After a brief introduction, designed to give our instructors an idea of the experience level of the participants, the students will explore improv through what we call the 'show and tell' method, where our professional actors do a scene and then students do the same activity followed by constructive comparison between the two. At the end of the workshop students and teachers alike are given the opportunity to ask questions.
Improv Intensive:
The improv intensive programme is designed to give secondary school drama students, and/or teams, a safe outlet for improvement by allowing them to work with industry professionals. The workshop is structured in such away that students and professionals will interact in an open and creative forum. The workshop starts out by going over the unwritten rules of improv as well as examining the experience level of the students and finding out as much as possible about what they want to learn, what their past problems and issues on stage have been and any other pertinent information. From there, following a brief warm-up, the workshop is broken down into short segments addressing those issues and problems. The students are given the opportunity to perform for the actors and then the actors get a chance to make suggestions and offer assistance. The actors then do a similar scene and allow students the opportunity to voice their opinions. Constructive criticism is key to growth and this programme does just that by not only telling students how to improve and solve problems, but by also showing them how and hopefully expanding their horizons along the way. Overall the workshop is about give and take, an integral part of any form of theatre but especially the unscripted world of improvisation.
Musical Improvisation:
Once students have learned the art of improvisation and are itching to challenge themselves, the next logical step is to explore the world of musical improvisation. This form of improv challenges participants not only to create a scene without preparation but to also include the world of music in either the form of accompaniment for the actors to sing along with, or in the form of setting the mood using background music for the actors to respond to accordingly. Either form takes a great deal of practice and the professional actors that make up the Canadian Improv Showcase offer a fantastic workshop to explore this world in a constructive and encouraging format. This programme can be presented separately or as part of another programme, just ask for details.
Improv Shakespeare:
The famous words of William Shakespeare can be a joy and a burden. For students who do not understand the language, Shakespeare can turn them away from literature all together. For actors trying to learn their craft, Shakespeare can be an exercise in frustration while trying to depict the proper emotion and delivering a long lost language. The Improv Shakespeare workshop offered by the Canadian Improv Showcase is designed to help alleviate any stresses the Bard may have inadvertently created by making meaning of the language and familiarizing the setting.
This programme can be done for an advanced drama group or ANY English class. This is a great way for students of any grade to really grasp the work of William Shakespeare.
The workshop starts with an open discussion assessing the group's comfort with the Bard as well as what works they are familiar with. Problems and issues with the text are also explored and then a group warm-up is conducted. From there each workshop is different as every group's experience with the Bard is different, but common elements of the Improv Shakespeare workshop are as follows:
• Exploration of archetypes & adaptations to connect real life with Shakespeare and build confidence.
• Relate Shakespeare to everyday life: social observation.
• Relate archetypes to current day characters.
• Performance of everyday situations in Shakespearian language.
• Performance of Shakespearian situation in modern language.
• Performance of simple scene utilizing archetypes in modern language.
• Perform same scene using Shakespearian language.
• Exploration of text: iambic pentameter, thesis & anti-thesis.
And much more!
All elements of the Improv Shakespeare workshop are conducted with understanding and wit as frustration is common place and the desired result is enjoyment of this classic literature.
P. A. Day Programme:
Why should students have all the fun? Teachers, administrators and support staff are some of the hardest working people on the planet and they deserve a fantastic workshop too! And this session is the perfect way to reward your staff for their hard work, for their dedication to the education system and for all their efforts to help make society a better place for the youth of today and tomorrow. This workshop will help your staff de-stress, decompress and build healthy associations to the workplace.
The foundation for this workshop is based on our Healing Power of Laughter workshop. Feel free to check it out for more details. This session can be conducted on-site or at another location, it is up to you. Either way a hilarious and uplifting time will be had by all! The actors conducting the workshop will provide a safe, fun environment for staff, teachers and administration to vent, unburden themselves and release the albatross that may be hanging around their neck after dealing with the tremendous responsibility of working in the field of education.
The programme is not only available during P. A. days, but all year round. However, you should book your event well in advance as the group can only do so many bookings per day and many schools and school boards have the same schedule.
Pricing:
The Canadian Improv Showcase offers the most competitive rates available. However, to keep the edge over the competition, they cannot list their rates online. Please inquire for specific rates. Pricing is dependent upon the size of group or audience and the length of event. It is best to have a few date options in mind when making contact as the group does book up fast and they do not wish to turn anyone away.
If you would like to read letters of reference from teachers across the province, visit our Testimonials page where you can view them by clicking on individual links at the bottom of the page.
Elementary Workshops
These programmes have been designed for grades 4 through 8. They meet a variety of Ontario Ministry of Education Curriculum expectations and help students learn a broad range of skills including:
• Self Confidence • Drama & Dance
• Team Building • Visual Arts
• Listening Skills • Language Arts
• Respect for Self & Others • Health & Physical Education
• Concentration & Focus
• Risk Taking
• Creative Thinking
• Problem Solving
• Enhanced Presentation & Public Speaking Skills
• Leadership
Introduction to Improvisation:
This programme allows students to learn basic improv skills in a safe, non-judgmental environment. The workshop starts off with an review of stage basics as well as an introduction as to what improvisation is. This brief intro allows for our instructors to discover the level of understanding and experience the students have so that they can tailor the workshop accordingly. From there students explore the world of improvisation with our professional actors by taking part in an array of different scenes designed to challenge and entertain them. At the end of the session students and teachers are encouraged to ask questions to further their learning.
Improv Level 1 ~ Certificate Programme:
This certificate programme is geared towards students who have a solid knowledge of improv and drama. At level 1 the students are divided into smaller groups who each have an instructor who will work on a variety of exercises designed to expose students to all the different elements of improv and drama. This will allow for the instructors to view the participants on a more individual basis and help them improve their individual skills as well as their group work. At the end of the workshop participants will be awarded with a certificate of completion.
Improv Level 2 ~ Certificate Programme:
At this level students will again be divided into small groups for instruction and evaluation, but at the end of the workshop each team will be given the opportunity to perform in front of the whole group. This will give students not only the chance to improve individually, but also to show how their team work skills have flourished and expose them to the thrill of performing in front of a live audience. Completion of this level is rewarded with a level 2 certificate.
Improv Level 3 ~ Certificate Programme:
Once students get to level 3, things get more specific. Students are still divided into small groups for instruction, but now the groups will rotate and spend a patch of time with each instructor who will be focusing on specific disciplines like stage presence, scene integrity, movement and other areas that will be determined with the help of the teachers. At the end of the session students will perform, but not necessarily in their own groups, different members from each team will interact and perform with one another to see how successful they are at various team work aspects. A certificate signifying the completion of the entire programme is awarded at the end of the workshop.
NEW! Character Matters Workshop - click here!
Secondary Workshops
Intro to Improvisation:
This programme covers the basics of improvisation and reinforces what students should have already learned in drama. The focus is on the 'rules of improv' as well as scene integrity, team work and doing more than just 'going for the joke.' After a brief introduction, designed to give our instructors an idea of the experience level of the participants, the students will explore improv through what we call the 'show and tell' method, where our professional actors do a scene and then students do the same activity followed by constructive comparison between the two. At the end of the workshop students and teachers alike are given the opportunity to ask questions.
Improv Intensive:
The improv intensive programme is designed to give secondary school drama students, and/or teams, a safe outlet for improvement by allowing them to work with industry professionals. The workshop is structured in such away that students and professionals will interact in an open and creative forum. The workshop starts out by going over the unwritten rules of improv as well as examining the experience level of the students and finding out as much as possible about what they want to learn, what their past problems and issues on stage have been and any other pertinent information. From there, following a brief warm-up, the workshop is broken down into short segments addressing those issues and problems. The students are given the opportunity to perform for the actors and then the actors get a chance to make suggestions and offer assistance. The actors then do a similar scene and allow students the opportunity to voice their opinions. Constructive criticism is key to growth and this programme does just that by not only telling students how to improve and solve problems, but by also showing them how and hopefully expanding their horizons along the way. Overall the workshop is about give and take, an integral part of any form of theatre but especially the unscripted world of improvisation.
Musical Improvisation:
Once students have learned the art of improvisation and are itching to challenge themselves, the next logical step is to explore the world of musical improvisation. This form of improv challenges participants not only to create a scene without preparation but to also include the world of music in either the form of accompaniment for the actors to sing along with, or in the form of setting the mood using background music for the actors to respond to accordingly. Either form takes a great deal of practice and the professional actors that make up the Canadian Improv Showcase offer a fantastic workshop to explore this world in a constructive and encouraging format. This programme can be presented separately or as part of another programme, just ask for details.
Improv Shakespeare:
The famous words of William Shakespeare can be a joy and a burden. For students who do not understand the language, Shakespeare can turn them away from literature all together. For actors trying to learn their craft, Shakespeare can be an exercise in frustration while trying to depict the proper emotion and delivering a long lost language. The Improv Shakespeare workshop offered by the Canadian Improv Showcase is designed to help alleviate any stresses the Bard may have inadvertently created by making meaning of the language and familiarizing the setting.
This programme can be done for an advanced drama group or ANY English class. This is a great way for students of any grade to really grasp the work of William Shakespeare.
The workshop starts with an open discussion assessing the group's comfort with the Bard as well as what works they are familiar with. Problems and issues with the text are also explored and then a group warm-up is conducted. From there each workshop is different as every group's experience with the Bard is different, but common elements of the Improv Shakespeare workshop are as follows:
• Exploration of archetypes & adaptations to connect real life with Shakespeare and build confidence.
• Relate Shakespeare to everyday life: social observation.
• Relate archetypes to current day characters.
• Performance of everyday situations in Shakespearian language.
• Performance of Shakespearian situation in modern language.
• Performance of simple scene utilizing archetypes in modern language.
• Perform same scene using Shakespearian language.
• Exploration of text: iambic pentameter, thesis & anti-thesis.
And much more!
All elements of the Improv Shakespeare workshop are conducted with understanding and wit as frustration is common place and the desired result is enjoyment of this classic literature.
P. A. Day Programme:
Why should students have all the fun? Teachers, administrators and support staff are some of the hardest working people on the planet and they deserve a fantastic workshop too! And this session is the perfect way to reward your staff for their hard work, for their dedication to the education system and for all their efforts to help make society a better place for the youth of today and tomorrow. This workshop will help your staff de-stress, decompress and build healthy associations to the workplace.
The foundation for this workshop is based on our Healing Power of Laughter workshop. Feel free to check it out for more details. This session can be conducted on-site or at another location, it is up to you. Either way a hilarious and uplifting time will be had by all! The actors conducting the workshop will provide a safe, fun environment for staff, teachers and administration to vent, unburden themselves and release the albatross that may be hanging around their neck after dealing with the tremendous responsibility of working in the field of education.
The programme is not only available during P. A. days, but all year round. However, you should book your event well in advance as the group can only do so many bookings per day and many schools and school boards have the same schedule.
Pricing:
The Canadian Improv Showcase offers the most competitive rates available. However, to keep the edge over the competition, they cannot list their rates online. Please inquire for specific rates. Pricing is dependent upon the size of group or audience and the length of event. It is best to have a few date options in mind when making contact as the group does book up fast and they do not wish to turn anyone away.
