Secondary Level Programmes

Introduction to Improvisation:

This is the programme that started it all! It allows students to learn or reinforce basic improv skills. The workshop starts off with an introduction as to the 'rules of improv', engaging students and finding out their level of understanding and experience. From there students get to act as the audience as the cast performs, providing the various suggestions. Then the students get a chance to perform with the cast. Following the workshop a Q & A session is offered.

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. All members of the Canadian Improv Showcase are professional actors with their own unique skills and training. Your students will have the privilege of learning from this blend of talent and experience.

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 improv warm-up, the workshop is broken down into short segments addressing those issues and problems. The students would be given the opportunity to perform for the actors and then the actors would get a chance to make suggestions and offer assistance. The actors would 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.

The workshop does not have a set length and can be done for large or small groups. It can be combined with other programmes to create a full day of theatre, perhaps combining a workshop in the morning followed by a performance in the afternoon and even an evening fundraiser - the sky is the limit!

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 with little 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.

This workshop is done in an improv intensive format, offering the participants to first see musical improv while acting as the audience and then being given the opportunity to try themselves. Throughout the workshop constructive critiquing and advice is provided allowing the participants to learn while not feeling harshly judged or singled out.

Improv Shakespeare:

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 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.

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.

This workshop can be implemented as part of another programme or by itself and can be customized like all the other programmes offered. If you have any questions or comments please do not hesitate to contact us.

If you are looking for an improv based workshop, but are not an organized educational institution please contact us directly, we would be happy to customize a programme for your specific needs.