Workshop: Impro Theatre

Abstract

This workshop introduces basic rules, strategies and concepts that are useful for improvisers. The covered topics include (a) rules and strategies of traditional Impro theatre, such as preparations, concepts of how to solve problems on stage, and consequences for modern interactive storytelling, as well as (b) insights into the development of a storyline through a concrete Impro theatre play performed by the Erfurt group ‘ImproVision’. The workshop consists of the following four parts: (1) Introduction: Background information on Impro theatre is provided in general, and particularly on the technique of an "Autorenspiel" (author play). (2) Performance: During the performance of an "Autorenspiel", the audience becomes author of the play/story, and workshop participants experience how their ideas are transformed into this unique play. (3) Basics and Techniques: Based on the outcome of the performance, the resulting story is analysed, in terms of its development and underlying structures, the techniques and possibilities of interaction, as well as limitations and problems on stage. (4) Meta-Discussion: The overlapping aspects of digital and non-digital interactive storytelling are discussed.