Leicester's Excellent Improvised Comedy Scene (LEICS)

Organized by Tom Y.

and 1 other

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What we're about

Welcome to the delightfully friendly world of Leicester's improvised comedy scene!

WHAT IS IMPROVISED COMEDY?

Improvisational theatre, often called "improv" or "impro", is a form of theatre where most - or all - of what is performed is created at the moment it is performed. In its purest form, the dialogue, action, story, and characters are created collaboratively by the players as the improvisation unfolds in present time, without use of an already prepared, written script.

Modern improvisational comedy, as it is practiced in the West, falls generally into two categories: shortform (which this group primarily focuses on) and longform.

Shortform improv consists of short scenes usually constructed from a predetermined game, structure, or idea and driven by an audience suggestion. Many shortform exercises were first created by Viola Spolin, who called them theatre games, influenced by her training from recreational games expert Neva Boyd (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neva_Boyd). The shortform improv comedy television series Whose Line Is It Anyway? (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whose_Line_Is_It_Anyway%3F_(disambiguation)) has familiarised American and British viewers with shortform.

MISSION STATEMENT FOR THIS MEETUP

This group aims to build a community of Leicester-based people with a passion for improvised comedy.

HOW DO WE DO THIS?

For those who wish to take part, there is a weekly workshop where we can all meet up and develop our improv skills (useful for actors, public speakers, comedians, and anyone else who has a lot of face-to-face interactions in their job/life). For those who wish to watch only, we'll arrange a pre-show meetup to have drinks/pizza/etc before going to watch any improv gigs that come through Leicester - including our own resident group, The Same Faces, who perform monthly.

WHO ARE THE SAME FACES?

https://secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/1/c/f/8/600_449527416.jpeg

The Same Faces (http://www.TheSameFaces.co.uk) were founded by Tom Young (bottom right, and lead organiser for this group) in 2013, and features three other regular players: Allan Smith (top right), Mike Brown (top left), and Dave Gotheridge (bottom left). Every show features five improvisers, and so the team is filled out by either guest players from around the country, or able members of Tom's workshops. The team run monthly shows in both Leicester & Northampton, as well as Tom's weekly workshops in each town.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT IF I GO TO A SHOW?

Everything is made up on the spot, often based on initial suggestions from the audience. That leads to scenes such as these:

http://youtu.be/kBPQen2WMUY

THE FUNDAMENTAL RULES OF IMPROV

• Listen: easier said than done, and that's exactly the point

• Agreement: say yes and add something, don't reject ideas

• Team Work: have a group mind, think of others

• Don't Block: stealing jokes / not listening / changing topic

• Relationship: focus on connection between characters, not just subject of scene

• Initiation: who, what, when to set the scene

• Point of View, Opinion and Intention: have them, these help express and build your character

• Be in Character: maintain character throughout the scene

• Don't Ask Questions: too many questions can make your partner do all the work

• Make Active Choices: Do something; don't be talking heads

APPLYING IMPROV PRINCIPLES IN LIFE

Many people who have studied improv have noted that its guiding principles are useful, not just on stage, but in everyday life. For example, Stephen Colbert said, in a commencement address:

"You are about to start the greatest improvisation of all. With no script. No idea what's going to happen, often with people and places you have never seen before. And you are not in control. So say "yes." And if you're lucky, you'll find people who will say "yes" back."

Tina Fey in her book Bossypants (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bossypants) lists several rules of improv that apply in the workplace. There has been much interest in bringing lessons from improv into the corporate world. In a New York Times article titled "Can Executives Learn to Ignore the Script?" (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/02/business/02unbox.html), Stanford professor and author, Patricia Ryan Madson notes, "executives and engineers and people in transition are looking for support in saying yes to their own voice. Often, the systems we put in place to keep us secure are keeping us from our more creative selves." Madson explores the application of thirteen "maxims of improvisational theatre" to real-life in the book Improv Wisdom: Don't Prepare, Just Show Up (http://www.improvwisdom.com/).

WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE?

The Same Faces:

• Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/TheSameFaces)

• Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/TheSameFaces)

• Instagram (http://www.instagram.com/TheSameFaces)

• YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/SameFaces1000)

• Northampton Shows/Workshops Info (https://www.meetup.com/Northampton-Comedy-Meetup/)

Improv Around The UK:

• UK Improv Network (http://www.facebook.com/groups/195950623912595/)

• UK Improv Co-Op Weekend Retreats (https://www.facebook.com/groups/ukimprovweekendsandevents/)

• Hoopla: Improvised Comedy Club (http://www.hooplaimpro.com/), London

• The Nursery Theatre (http://thenurserytheatre.com/), London

• The Crunchy Frog Website (http://www.thecrunchyfrogcollective.com/index.php) (UK Improv News)

Upcoming events (4+)

See all
Improv Drop-In Workshop! Meetup & improvise!

Improv Drop-In Workshop! Meetup & improvise!

The Little Theatre

£10.00

Tom's weekly drop-in improv workshop meet up! An always fun session where I teach you how to perform through improvisation.
All ability levels are welcome - if you're brand new and have never done it before, have no fear - we're a very nice group, and we make it very easy for beginners to get into! We do however also encourage you to join the group via one of our "Improv For Beginners" courses, which typically run twice a year, starting in March/April & September/October.

All levels welcome.

We're in the Haywood Studio

It's £10 to attend each workshop. Book here:
http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tsf-drop-in-workshop-leicester-tickets-167530772049

FYI, this group often won't look busy, as our long term members have a facebook group, but even if it says no-one is attending, if this event is still online, then we are meeting! Any doubts, don't hesitate to message us.

Please aim to be there 10 minutes before the start time (6:50pm), so we can start at 7pm sharp.

ABOUT TOM
Tom started improvising in 2008, and has performed across the UK, most notably with The Same Faces (which he founded, and has led to consecutive award nominations from Leicester Comedy Festival in 2018 & 2019). He's also the co-founder of the British Improv Project, and has been teaching since 2013. He remains happily motivated by bringing the skills and joy of improv to as many people as he can.

  • Tom Y.Tom Y.
  • 1 attendee
Improv Drop-In Workshop! Meetup & improvise!

Improv Drop-In Workshop! Meetup & improvise!

The Little Theatre

£10.00

Tom's weekly drop-in improv workshop meet up! An always fun session where I teach you how to perform through improvisation.
All ability levels are welcome - if you're brand new and have never done it before, have no fear - we're a very nice group, and we make it very easy for beginners to get into! We do however also encourage you to join the group via one of our "Improv For Beginners" courses, which typically run twice a year, starting in March/April & September/October.

All levels welcome.

We're in the Haywood Studio

It's £10 to attend each workshop. Book here:
http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tsf-drop-in-workshop-leicester-tickets-167530772049

FYI, this group often won't look busy, as our long term members have a facebook group, but even if it says no-one is attending, if this event is still online, then we are meeting! Any doubts, don't hesitate to message us.

Please aim to be there 10 minutes before the start time (6:50pm), so we can start at 7pm sharp.

ABOUT TOM
Tom started improvising in 2008, and has performed across the UK, most notably with The Same Faces (which he founded, and has led to consecutive award nominations from Leicester Comedy Festival in 2018 & 2019). He's also the co-founder of the British Improv Project, and has been teaching since 2013. He remains happily motivated by bringing the skills and joy of improv to as many people as he can.

  • Tom Y.Tom Y.
  • 1 attendee
Improv Drop-In Workshop! Meetup & improvise!

Improv Drop-In Workshop! Meetup & improvise!

The Little Theatre

£10.00

Tom's weekly drop-in improv workshop meet up! An always fun session where I teach you how to perform through improvisation.
All ability levels are welcome - if you're brand new and have never done it before, have no fear - we're a very nice group, and we make it very easy for beginners to get into! We do however also encourage you to join the group via one of our "Improv For Beginners" courses, which typically run twice a year, starting in March/April & September/October.

All levels welcome.

We're in the Haywood Studio

It's £10 to attend each workshop. Book here:
http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tsf-drop-in-workshop-leicester-tickets-167530772049

FYI, this group often won't look busy, as our long term members have a facebook group, but even if it says no-one is attending, if this event is still online, then we are meeting! Any doubts, don't hesitate to message us.

Please aim to be there 10 minutes before the start time (6:50pm), so we can start at 7pm sharp.

ABOUT TOM
Tom started improvising in 2008, and has performed across the UK, most notably with The Same Faces (which he founded, and has led to consecutive award nominations from Leicester Comedy Festival in 2018 & 2019). He's also the co-founder of the British Improv Project, and has been teaching since 2013. He remains happily motivated by bringing the skills and joy of improv to as many people as he can.

The Same Faces: Improvised Comedy Show

The Same Faces: Improvised Comedy Show

International Arts Centre

The Same Faces perform at Leicester's International Arts Centre.

WHAT TIME DOES THE SHOW START?

The actual gig starts at 8pm (doors officially open at 7:30pm).

DO I NEED TO BOOK MY SEATS?

Entry is £7 on the door, or £5 (plus booking fee) if you book your seats in advance. You can do that by clicking the following link and making a reservation:
http://www.tinyurl.com/TSFLeicester

WHAT CAN I EXPECT?

All the suggestions come from the audience, and then everything is made up on the spot, leading to scenes like this:

http://youtu.be/Pdz8bht7QjE

Past events (586)

See all
Improv Drop-In Workshop! Meetup & improvise!

Improv Drop-In Workshop! Meetup & improvise!

The Little Theatre

£10.00
  • Tom Y.Tom Y.
  • 1 attendee

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Tom Y.Tom Y.
Tom Y.

and 1 other

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ComedySelf-Help & Self-ImprovementStand-up ComedyPersonal DevelopmentPerforming ArtsCourses and WorkshopsConfidenceSelf-EmpowermentComedy ClubImprovConfidence and Self-Esteem