COMMON MONSTERS
Sunday, May 31st
14h - 17h30ish - Open to Beginners also!
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Learn to conquer your fears about the areas of improv you think are difficult, by breaking them down into small achievable pieces, and discovering they were not difficult at all. Learn to improvise in a relaxed mindset, to allow you access all that stuff you’re learning, that you know you know, but sometimes don’t produce under the pressure of performing.
There’s an improv expression that goes, “Run towards the monster”, meaning that we might run away from certain things in life, but if we encounter a monster in improv, it’s going to be good for the scene.
Are there areas of improvisation that you consider more difficult than others? Do you sometimes avoid choosing these types of scenes, games, long-forms? Maybe you just fear really being in the moment? Did you imagine you needed a special talent or skill set to perform musical or Shakespearean improv, or another specialised style? Who told you that? Maybe it was yourself? Well, you can do it! You can do it, now! Do it, easily, in this workshop, and walk away amazed at yourself.
In the workshop, we’ll conquer several common monsters for improvisers, that turn out to be quite friendly in the end. We may have time to visit your own specific monster, too, but the simple principles are easily adapted whenever you meet a new one.
Whatever your experience level, leave this workshop believing that there is no area of improv that you cannot enjoy and be competent in. -
Nick Byrne is Artistic Director and the creator of Improvention; Australia’s original and largest international festival and convention of unscripted theatre. He is also Artistic Director of Impro ACT, the major improvisational theatre company in Australia’s capital, Canberra.
Nick works as an actor, director, producer, and musician, in all realms of theatre and film, and has been a delegate to the Australian Theatre Forum, but improvisation is his ruling passion. He has worked in 40 countries throughout Europe, Asia, and Australasia, as an individual guest, or in festivals, including; Moment16 & Moment18 in Vienna, both Mt Olymprov and Ithaca festivals in Athens, FIIF in Tampere, Improfest in Gothenburg, Salento Improv Festival, Sofia Improv Festival, RIIF in St Petersburg, TILT in Tallinn, Bengaluru (India), Jo Festival in Poland, Improvember in Munich, Vietnam and Singapore Improv Festivals.
Nick returns to Belgium, after two previous visits, and falls in love with the place more and more every time. He’s the social type, and always willing to spend time to chat more, if you have any follow-up questions that occur after the workshops.
He teaches and directs all styles of the craft, and has done so for 20 years, producing groundbreaking shows, “The Displaced” (refugee issues), “Crescendo” (a rock band with dramas), “Drivers” (about your internal monologues), “In Person 8” (improvised impersonations), “Parallel” (three physical stories at once), his popular vulnerable solo show, “Inspired”, and huge recent hit “All At Once” (stories from different dimensions all at once).
Nick tries to make the areas of improvisation that seem difficult, easier for performers, and reduce their worry, so that they can play at their peak. He also conducts workplace sessions, helping Olympians deal with adversity, and United Nations Peacekeepers to remain culturally aware. He likes to explore.
Nick is fascinated by people, and always aims to meet as many as possible, at festivals and arranged workshop visits.
How to book:
Select your workshop. You can choose between three options:
Dimensions (Saturday only, 50€)
Common Monsters (Sunday only, 50€)
Or get both for 80€
Rue du Conseil 59
14h - 17h30
Sat, May 30th: All At Once
Sun, May 31st: Common Monsters