MUSIC AND THE PERFORMING ARTS
young people out of their shells and increases their social skills immensely, as well as giving them more confidence to truly be themselves and feel less fearful of getting things wrong in their day- to-day lives. Being a performance art, there is also a lot to be gained from learning about stage presence and generally becoming more connected with their own bodies. Self-image can be a huge barrier and source of negative emotions for teenagers, and the physical elements of improv (stage presence, mime, becoming the ‘set’ etc.) can really boost body confidence.” While the personal benefits can be immediately apparent, the skills acquired through improv are useful further into life and future careers, such as public speaking, presentations, teamwork and the confidence to approach changes and new experiences with greater ease. It makes sense, then, that some of the top companies in the UK (including the likes of Google) have used improv as part of their corporate training and teambuilding programmes, bringing the open, supportive environment improv offers into the workplace to increase idea generation and help develop relationships within teams. “The main thing that has caused my own addiction to improv has been the supportive nature of everyone involved. Everyone I’ve met from the improv community has been incredibly open and supportive, allowing failure to feel less scary and encouraging me to improve, grow and take risks,” says Jordan of the benefits of improv
for all ages. “I know my fellow improvisers have my back and will not judge my choices. In a world that is trying to segregate people on a daily basis, this basic element, which is at the core of all improv training, creates a sense of connection, empathy and support which is important throughout our lives, but very much needed for young people. Instead of feeling competitive and divided, improv promotes and encourages genuine connection and a sense of unity – of all working together towards the same goals.” In a bid to reach as many teenagers as possible, the LITTL project is offering both free one- to two- hour taster sessions in schools, where they will introduce the core principals of improvisation to students, and an eight-week Saturday course, in which young people can develop their skills as a group, make friends, and have a lot of fun in the process. The Saturday class culminates in an optional showcase at a professional theatre in central London, where students can share what they’ve learned with friends and family. The classes are open to all and offer as much benefit to students interested in acting and drama as those who have no interest in the theatre or performing at all. “Working with a team, communication, social interaction and physical awareness are all core improv skills. These are also valuable life skills, even if you don’t plan step on a stage. LITTL also gives students an opportunity to interact with other students they normally wouldn’t get a chance to socialise with,” explains
facilitator Molly Merwin. “We are working with school teachers and administrators to bring one- to two-hour taster sessions to sixth form and school students (aged 15-17). These sessions allow students and teachers to get an idea of what improv is, reassure them that it’s not scary and let students know what they can expect from the Saturday LITTL course, should they choose to take their improv journey further.” The core syllabus of the Saturday LITTL course includes:
• An introduction to the basic principles of improv (listening, accepting ideas, being bold and clear) • Learning to trust creative instincts and not to judge ideas
• Creating interesting and fun imagined environments for scenes
• Creating a variety of unique characters • Working as an ensemble and supporting each other’s scenes
• Putting scenes together to make a whole show “For two hours every Saturday over eight weeks students will work with other students from all over London and play with the core principles of improv through fun games and exercises,” says Merwin. “Each week students will build on skills and games learned from the previous weeks. The course ends in an optional showcase at The Nursery Theatre.” The next course runs from 13 January and takes place from 11am-1pm every Saturday at the Nursery Training Centre, London Bridge, culminating in a showcase at The Nursery Theatre, Broadgate. The cost for the eight weeks is £250 (or £200 for early bird bookings). Both LITTL and The Nursery are dedicated to diversity and accessibility and offer both payment programs and scholarships to allow as many students to take part as possible.
“Since the core of improv is teamwork and partnerships we hope students will learn to trust themselves and their fellow students, listen to and support each other and celebrate choices and fun,” concludes Merwin of the LITTL project. Both the in-school taster sessions and the eight-week Saturday class are run by the London Improv Theatre Training League in conjunction with The Nursery.
For further information or to book a taster session or class, visit
http://thenurserytheatre.com/littl-program/ or email the team on
youth@thenurserytheatre.com 32
www.education-today.co.uk November 2017
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