Online Genre Improvisation Course

Level: Advanced

Not just a dry list of static forms to be learnt, genres can be a powerful way to delight your audience and unite your team. Whether you are mocking or celebrating them, genres can give you a set of conventions and expectations that make your performance more than just a collection of scenes, but a show.

In this course, you will look at several genres in detail including one from a non-European culture. You will learn to break down and understand genres in general, think about what the conventions are, what your show is saying and how to change and subvert expectations in a playful and inspiring way.

Whether you prefer to play in quick and fun short-form scenes or more detailed long-form and narrative pieces, you’ll have the tools not just to play in genre, but play with it and even create it.

(NB as our school and teachers are UK-based, our knowledge of genres is centred on those traditions. We hope that the skills and tools that we teach here can be used to understand and play outside of our own cultural context, but we do not pretend to teach what we do not know!)

Syllabus includes:

Different approaches to genre. How to use parody, homage and pastiche.

Genre and worldview. The worldviews associated with genres and how to use them

Dialogue How the way in which you speak can create characters and provide a framework for your choices

World Building how to create rich recognisable worlds.

Tropes and characters How to use, but not be restricted by, the classic ingredients of a genre.

Min. participants 6, max. participants 12.

If we have to cancel the event due to low numbers, we will do this with 24hours notice (and you will receive a warning 48 hours before the course if this looks likely).

This advanced course runs every Sunday afternoon from 10th January to 4th April (with a break on the 21st February), 4pm – 6pm GMT

Advanced (3 years +)  This is our highest level of class. These classes are recommended for improvisers who are regularly rehearsing and performing with a team. 

Whatever the level of ability required, all of our classes are safe, supportive environments led by our experienced teachers. Please email us if you are unsure whether a class is suitable for you. If you sign up for a class inappropriate to your level the Nursery/Maydays reserved the right to remove you from the class without refund.