As we continue talking about the move towards getting back to improv in real life, what will happen to online improv? To begin with it was a stop-gap for most, but one year in, it’s fostered an international community that isn’t going to go away. So when we are back doing shows in real life, where does online improv fit? Love this podcast? Help it keep going here: https://supporter.acast.com/the-improv-chronicle-podcast This episode features: Jason Geis: CSZN Comedy...

As the vaccine rollouts happen around the world, announcements are beginning to be made about when theatres might be able to open later in the year.  This episode you’re going to hear from improvisers who, after a year of doing no live performance, have been considering not going back to the art form.  CONTENT WARNING: This episode features conversations about grief and suicidal thoughts. If you are impacted by these topics or need help, please follow these links. There are people and...

Go to a lot of improv theatre websites and alongside the classes in improv, you’ll often see classes in sketch comedy too. Why are improv and sketch such regular bedfellows and how can being an improviser help you be a better sketch writer? Love this podcast? Help it keep going here: https://supporter.acast.com/the-improv-chronicle-podcast This episode features: Shantira Jackson Find out more about Shantira here: https://www.shantira.com Armando Diaz Take a sketch or improv class online at...

Show notes: The words improv and comedy are so regularly used together, but comedy doesn’t have to be the goal. How do we define what ‘dramatic improv’ is and how is the audience experience different? Love this podcast? Help it keep going here: https://supporter.acast.com/the-improv-chronicle-podcast This show features: Chris Locke  Check out Chris’ podcast here: https://www.roughsketch.online/  Kathy Rinaldi Check out Kathy’s team, Impromptu, here: https://impromptuimprov.com/  Tony...

Just as our art form adapted by going online, online shows have adapted with the technology. As people realise that online improv is going to stay with us in some form how is technology is being used and adapted by teams to make the experience better for performers and audiences and the improv community as a whole? Love this podcast? Help it keep going here: https://supporter.acast.com/the-improv-chronicle-podcast This episode features: Stephanie Rae from The Black Improv Alliance:...

It's nearly ten months since most live improv shows around the world paused. Some improvisers have taken their short form shows online and adapted them, other improvisers have decided to move from long form to short form as they feel it suits the medium. Is short-form better suited to our new online improv world? Love this podcast? Help it keep going here: https://supporter.acast.com/the-improv-chronicle-podcast This episode features: Kayla Parker from ACT Improv, Dallas, USA See ACT's...

Extended interview material from 2020's Improv Chronicle recordings plus some words of wisdom worth repeating. Love this podcast? Help it keep going here: https://supporter.acast.com/the-improv-chronicle-podcast This episode features: Susan Messing Rachael Mason David Pasquesi Louis Kornfeld and Rick Andrews Michelle Gilliam Improvisers from Off Key Improv, Vancouver Mara Joy The Improv Chronicle Podcast is produced and hosted by Nottingham improviser Lloydie James Lloyd Theme music - Sam...

What do improvisers hope 2021 brings to our artform and to their own projects? Improvisers from across the world have sent messages to The Improv Chronicle and some of improv's next generation reflect on what they want the new year to look like. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-improv-chronicle-podcast The Improv Chronicle Podcast is produced and hosted by Nottingham improviser Lloydie James Lloyd Theme music - Sam Plummer Logo design - Hélène Dollie Support this show...

Object work - is it just a necessary evil or is the creation and continuity of imaginary objects in scenes vital. What power does object work have when it comes to affecting us, our scene partners and our audiences and where does it fit in the hierarchy of improv techniques and tools? Love this podcast? Help it keep going here: https://supporter.acast.com/the-improv-chronicle-podcast Find out about this episodes contributors here: David Raitt: https://improvillusionist.com/ Carly Smith:...

The phrase ‘take care of your scene partner’ is used so many times in improv but what do we really mean by it? What is it we need to do to make sure our scene partner is ‘taken care of’? This episode, you hear different perspectives on this common phrase from improvisers across the world. Love this podcast? Help it keep going here: https://supporter.acast.com/the-improv-chronicle-podcast This episode features: Daniel Pitts from Sheffield UK. He is connected to and would like to promote Little...

Many people advise that to be a good improviser, you need to have an interesting life… so what are the things have people done, what hobbies have they taken up or professions have they worked in or life habits they’ve taken on - that have helped them in their improv. Love this podcast? Help it keep going here: https://supporter.acast.com/the-improv-chronicle-podcast This episode’s guests: Jodi Pfleghar - find out more about the groups Jodi is part of...

Any art form is subjective and can lead practitioners to question themselves, but how do experienced improvisers and improv teachers deal with the phenomenon of imposter syndrome?  Love this podcast? Help it keep going here: https://supporter.acast.com/the-improv-chronicle-podcast Check out this episode’s guests: Rhiannon Vivian: https://rhiannonvivian.com/about/  Sunny Dhap’s team Jumprov: https://jumprov.com Ryan Miller: https://www.ryanmillar.com  Support this show...

Status - some schools of thought talk about status in improv a lot - but what do we mean when we ask someone to play high or low status and how much do we need it to build characters and on stage dynamics? Love this podcast? Help it keep going here: https://supporter.acast.com/the-improv-chronicle-podcast This podcast features: Will Hines: Will has set up the "World's Greatest Improv School" - check out their classes http://www.wgimprovschool.com/ He is the author of the book "How To Be The...

If you have been in a show where everyone else came out on stage doing a great accent and you’re there thinking “oh boy, I can’t do that” this episode is for you. So how useful are accents and impressions in improv and how can we use them respectfully? Love this podcast? Help it keep going here: https://supporter.acast.com/the-improv-chronicle-podcast In this episode you hear from: Tai Campbell: Check out his work here -  https://www.facebook.com/taicampbellworld  John...

As a form, the Harold is lauded by some and treated less reverentially by others… there’s no doubting that it’s had a huge impact on improv but, all these years since it was first invented, how relevant - and how watchable - is it now? Check out this episode's guests, their teams, their shows and the workshops they are teaching! Kim “Howard” Johnson Take a class with Howard at https://thecomedylab.net  Michelle Gilliam Take a class or workshop with Michelle by clicking here:...

Physicality in improv - usually a rich topic but how do we address it when we are improvising online in little boxes? Love this podcast? Help it keep going here: https://supporter.acast.com/the-improv-chronicle-podcast This episode features: Ramita Menon: https://menononthemove.wordpress.com/  Instagram - @ramitamenon  Currently Ramita is offering online one to one yoga and creative movement sessions . And facilitating improv sessions with Kaivalya Plays who have an upcoming Harold long-form...

Love this podcast? Help it keep going here: https://supporter.acast.com/the-improv-chronicle-podcast Last episode you heard from improvisers who weren’t improvising right now due to the current pandemic. Today, more voices and more reflections on what breaks can give improvisers and also if their views about improv as an art form have changed at all - and if so… how do they feel about the art form now? Please check out the pages and projects from this episode’s guests Rahel Otsa Personal...

Love this podcast? Help it keep going here: https://supporter.acast.com/the-improv-chronicle-podcast Online improv has become a big thing during the pandemic but not everyone wants to take their improv online or teach online… some people have taken a complete break. This episode features: Atalanti Tzouliadaki from Denise's 50th in Nottingham - https://www.facebook.com/denises50th/ Pete Bergen from Washington Improv Theater in Washington DC - https://witdc.org/ Mara Joy from The Spontaneous...

Love this podcast? Help it keep going here: https://supporter.acast.com/the-improv-chronicle-podcast As the world struggles to find connection during a pandemic, does being part of an improv community give you a head start on connection - and is there a difference to the sort of friendships we make through improv? In this podcast you will hear from: Steven Morgan who improvises with Easylaughs in Amsterdam. Details on their shows and workshops here: https://www.easylaughs.nl Elise Rodriguez...

Very gradually, one or two the improv venues are tentatively opening up their doors again. As some countries feel they have flattened the curve on the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic ,steps are being taken to open venues while trying to keep people safe. So what sort of journey are improv groups and venues undergoing in order to perform again? Guests: Will Luera - check out shows at Florida Studio Theatre here: https://www.floridastudiotheatre.org/ Stacey Smith - see the Boom Chicago...

Love this podcast? Help it keep going here: https://supporter.acast.com/the-improv-chronicle-podcast While improv has made huge efforts to get online during the global pandemic in either Zoom or podcast form, musical improv has extra barriers to overcome with the technology. And yet, musical improv classes and podcasts are still running. How? Technical solutions and using the skills they have as musical improvisers have meant musical improv may be hampered by Covid 19, but it’s finding ways...

Two person shows have been a growing trend in improv and with the release of a three part Netflix special from improvisers Thomas Middleditch and Ben Schwartz, there is a now a mainstream spotlight on improvised duos. Despite theatres being closed right now, people around the world are talking about and forming opinions on what an improvised two person show can be. This is the second of two episodes looking at what is special about having just two people performing the whole show. Check out...

Two person shows have been a growing trend in improv and with the release of a three part Netflix special from improvisers Thomas Middleditch and Ben Schwartz, there is a now a mainstream spotlight on improvised duos. Despite theatres being closed right now, people around the world are talking about and forming opinions on what an improvised two person show can be. This is the first of two episodes looking at what is special about having just two people performing the whole show. Check out...

In the past couple of episodes you’ve heard from people who have moved their improv online using Zoom - all the improv that you’ve heard covered in this podcast has been visually led. But what about podcasts? Unlike Zoom, improv in podcast form was here before Covid-19 led to the doors shutting on improv theatres and performance spaces. Given the medium already existed as a home for improv, what does it have to offer? This episode you hear from: Tony Harris and Katy Schutte from Destination -...

In the second part of this series on online improv, we re-visit some of the voices you heard last episode - improv practitioners who have taken their work onto visual online platforms like Zoom in order to still teach and perform. As the global improv community continues to wrestle with its current inability to do in-person public performances, we hear about the discoveries, the moments of joy and the future of online improv. Will something that has become necessary may end up leading our art...