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Around the World: “DO YOU LOVE THE COMMUNITY AS MUCH AS YOU LOVE ART FORM?” by Menelaos Prokos

When I asked Menelaos if he’d like to write something for me, he knew right away, what would that be about. Community. How surpiresed I was, when I got the complete text not after a month, but the next day. But then I thought – why was I even surprised? When you’re a person, who brings improv to your country, build it from scratch, and after only five years has own company, venue and second edition of international Mt.Olymprov festival in Athens… you know the value of the community. I’m glad I could be a part of that festival, to feel the Vibe, to learn, and to perform with this inspiring Greek – and I can say, it was the best community atmosphere I’ve ever experienced at the festival. I couldn’t agree more with Menelaos and I’m really glad, I can publish his article now, just before starting the new season – and I hope that Polish community will pay attention and make plans together for next year, and grow stronger!

“DO YOU LOVE THE COMMUNITY AS MUCH AS YOU LOVE THE ART FORM?”

Menelaos Prokos

Have you given any thought to how important community is for the growth and evolution of the art of improvised theatre? Being part of the core team that has been trying to create a community in Greece from the ground up, I have become a firm believer that it has the power to make or break Improv as it grows, both for me and as a whole.

Creature , improv

3 faces of your worst enemy – You.

There are days, when you feel worse than anyone? Or just a bad version of yourself? Or you wanted to try something new, but the voice inside was blocking you? I’ll tell you, what is the problem.

You.

improv , Improv practice

Improv practice # 4 – what do you have to say?

“Think, who should you be to have the right to speak to the people from stage?” – I’ve read in a magazine, lying on the beach, during my non-improv-vacations. I sighed heavily, because what kind of vacation is this, when the idea came to my blanket and I now is sending me kisses.

This sentence was recalled by the actress, in an interview. She heard it from the professor, while studying in acting school. And that is the first question I would like you to think about.

I warn you. In this text there’ll be more questions than answers. And it’s your job to answer. To yourself.

Around The World , improv

Around The World: “THE SANDWICH THEORY” by Jacob Banigan

I always say, don’t stay in your backyard, open to the world. But I know it may not be easy. That’s why I’m bringing a little world to your backyard. From today and now on, here on my blog, I’ll be publishing guest articles written by great improvisers and teachers from all over the world. The first goes amazing Jacob Banigan from Canada/Austria, who I had the pleasure to work with in Barcelona. Articles will be available in English and, what is the point, translated to Polish. Are you happy? 🙂 Have fun. And learn. Feel free to discuss and share your own ideas!

THE SANDWICH THEORY
Jacob Banigan

Let’s consider an Impro Show to be a Sandwich.
Picture any sandwich you like.
Food is layered between bread on a plate in front of you. OK?
That’s the show. Each impro show is made up of LAYERS, whether we are aware of them or not. If we are aware of the layers, we can better play with them to enhance our experience.
And although each layer is tasty in it’s own way, you can’t separate them and consume them one after the other, like a weirdo. They really must all be experienced together in each bite. That’s how we do it.
Moment to Moment, Bite for Bite.

You have arranged your life, your time and money with a plan to consume this experience. But before we eat it, let’s look at what it’s made of.

improv

Love. Life. Improv

You’re a Single improviser. Just broke up after long relationship. It hurts when your ex starts new project before you. You feel free, but you don’t know what to do. You meet exciting new people and start some affairs, projects, maybe one night stand, maybe something more. You are very excited, following the adventures. You’re blooming, you’re on fire, creative, sexy, intelligent. Sometimes your experiments are disappointing, but you can forget about them quickly. If you want, you can have different affair in every city, like a sailor.

But it can be exhausting. You travel, you bring all the experience back, and suddenly you feel, that you have no one to share it with. Of course, you have your kids, your students, that you are taking care of, and they are always waiting for you to come home, and teach what you’ve learned. But you have your kids in your school. And you get back to your empty house, and you feel lonely.

improv , Improv practice , Ohana

Most important rule of improv. Ohana.

As you may know, I’m lucky to be in Ohana, the international “Family” of improvisers. During our meetings and workshops I always have with me my Improv Notebook, in which I gather questions and answers about many improv topics. During our week in Slovenia, in september, we were talking about thing like, how to deal with the bad show, about the strangest and most horrible shows, about most common styles of improv in our countries, and much more.

We were also talking about improv rules. There are many, but if you had to choose just one, the most important for you, what would that be? I chose to write about this topic first, because I believe, and I always say, that there is no One And The Only Truth, and One True Improv. If you want to create, and not just re-create, you must search for your own way, and your own sensitivity. And only you decide, what’s most important to you. Of course, all of the below are great improvisers, learning all the time, and developing all of the skills. Take a look, in how many ways you can see basicly the same things.

improv , Improv practice

Improv practice #3 – How to start

“I will not jump into the water, until I learn to swim,” – said the fool. / Julian Tuwim

You decided. You want to jump in and do improv FOR REAL. If you feel like it, don’t hesitate, it’s one of the best things you can do for yourself.

Suppose you are at the beginning of your journey – you made a decision, but you still don’t know how to organize the group. Now I’ll tell you what you should focus on, before calling the local comedy clubs. I know that enthusiasm is power, but hold your horses until you answer yourself a few questions. It is better to start a little later, and work together for 10 years, than to go with the flow and drop it after few months.

improv , Ohana

Ohana means (improv) family.

I came back from the best improv week of my life. A few days after returning from Slovenia, I’m still thinking about it, and celebrating this fire in my heart. People ask me – what exactly is Ohana? And I think, and see images and feelings, trying to answer in one sentence. And you know what? It’s not that easy.

improv , Improv practice

Improv practice #2 – Crisis.

Improv is a great adventure. When you commit to it, you get satisfation, fun and developement. You egage with your emotions, in some way you fall in love. Everything is going smoothly, untill… right. Here comes the crisis. You write to me about it with fear. Keep calm. Do you break up after first fight?

improv , Improv practice

Improv practice #1 – Abuse.

This is the first article of a series IMPROV PRACTICE. It’s a result of my conversations with my improv students. We talk a lot, and they have many questions, doubts, ideas that they want to share. It doesn’t matter if they are improv nerds, or you just joined the class, the questions touch technical aspects, philosophy and art. I’m very glad, that they share them with me. And what I can do in return, is to share my thoughts. It’s not The Truth. It’s my truth, that I’ve been working on, and discovering, and it’s a process – in some time I may tell you something different. Because it evolves. Take whatever you find important. Share what you find important and exciting. There are lots of questions, but yesterday something very important appeared, and I cannot postpone it, so it will be the number one.