London Improvisation Meetup

I felt really supported and safe even though I was really scared on my first lesson.' Zita Konyari, Hospitality Executive

Thu 26 to Sun 29 June 2025, residential, at Le Moulin de Canole, 24540 Capdrot, France (google map) (what3words). 12 participants max.

21 hours + of improv, all meals, lodging, swimming pool and sauna included.

Full details and to book:
https://imprology.com/G201443/c4.shtml

A weekend improvisation workshop that invites participants to step out of their comfort zones and embrace the present moment.

We often think about the future—what we will do, achieve, or become—but this workshop challenges us to ask: how about now? Improvisation teaches us to connect fully to the present, bringing whatever we need to address into it, and finding freedom in simply being.

Improvising in the moment is a different way of experiencing the world. It’s risky, requiring trust, vulnerability, and courage. But the rewards are immense: self-discovery, deeper connections, and the joy of allowing playfulness back into our lives. It’s an opportunity to explore new ways of being and create something extraordinary—together.

This workshop reminds us that if we want something we’ve never had, we need to do something we’ve never done. Through improvisation, participants learn to embrace the unpredictable and find beauty and possibility in each unfolding moment. "How About Now?" is a call to action, a chance to rediscover yourself in the present.

This retreat is about relaxed, bold and physically engaged improvisation. Throughout the day, some activities will facilitate deep relaxation and self-reflexion while others will encourage playful physicality, with non-verbal and verbal games, drills, scenes, and stories, as well as great food, downtimes, socials, gong baths and walks in nature. Everything is designed to help you rest, break free from anxiety, and dive into self and collaborative expression.

See all courses and meetups: http://www.imprology.com/courses/bookings.shtml

Your teacher, Remy Bertrand, is in the small club of improvisation facilitators with more than 10,000 hours of teaching experience. Currently based in London, UK, he has been teaching improvisation internationally since 2006 with imprology, in Drama Schools, universities, charities and other institutions. He has directed several large scale improvised performances with Zootrophic, a multi-discipline ensemble, co-directed improvised short films with Peter Snowdon and is hosting Love Explosion, an improvised open-stage show currently online.

Remy has trained most recently with John Write (Impro, Clown) Kate Hilder and Sten Rudstrom (Action Theatre) Mary Overlie (Six Viewpoints), Lee Simpson (Open Space, Impro), Lucy Hopkins (Clown) and Punch Drunk (Immersive Theatre).

He has learned most from his students and teaches improvisation as a transformational process focusing on pleasure, curiosity and courage.

'I felt really supported and safe even though I was really scared on my first lesson.' Zita Konyari, Hospitality Executive

'A great mix of silliness and discovery, whatever your aims. There are skills here for daily life and on stage.' Niall Hill, VR Producer at BBC
'The most liberating fun I have had in years!' Emma Callow, Creative Lab Manager

'I felt really supported and safe even though I was really scared on my first lesson.' Zita Konyari, Hospitality Executive

Monday 25 to Sunday 31 Aug 2025, residential, at Le Moulin de Canole, 24540 Capdrot, France. 12 participants max.

35 hours + of improv, all meals, lodging, swimming pool and sauna included.

Bookings: https://imprology.com/G201446/we.shtml

Dive into the lush serenity of the countryside for a week-long improvisation retreat dedicated to the art of narrative stream of consciousness and serendipity. Join like-minded improvisers in a rural haven where spontaneous storytelling unfolds in tune with nature.

Under the guidance of an experienced facilitator, this retreat will explore how narratives emerge effortlessly when we embrace the unpredictable and trust the flow of our sensations, thoughts, intuition, and surroundings.

You'll work with original techniques and input inspired by View Points, Action Theatre and Playback Theatre, blending the power of presence, breath, and creative awareness to craft improvised stories that are both novel and deeply personal.

Each day offers a dynamic mix of exercises, including:

Stream of Consciousness: Explore how free-flowing thoughts can guide the creation of rich and surprising stories.

Serendipitous Play: Engage with unexpected prompts, natural elements, and chance encounters to inform your storytelling.

Group Improvisation: Collaborate with others to weave collective tales that combine shared experiences with unique perspectives.

Solo Discovery: Step into moments of stillness and solitude, allowing personal stories to emerge from within.

Set against the backdrop of beautiful rural landscapes, this retreat invites you to connect with the environment as a stage and a source of inspiration. Whether walking in open fields or in a Mediaeval village, sitting by a campfire or simply breathing in the quiet beauty of nature, you'll discover how internal and external stimuli can spark and shape improvised narratives.

Who is it for

This retreat is open to improvisers of all levels, from eager and committed beginners to seasoned performers looking to deepen their practice in a new setting.

What to expect:

Daily group sessions for exercises and story-building.
Guided nature walks to foster mindfulness and inspiration.
Evening improvisation jams to celebrate the day's discoveries.
Ample free time to relax, reflect, and connect with fellow participants.
Leave with a renewed sense of creativity, a deeper connection to the art of storytelling, and memories of a week filled with shared laughter,
introspection, connections, and surprises.

Monday: Arrival and Intentions

3:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Check-in and welcome
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM: Checking group intentions and exploring the themes of narrative and serendipity.
7:00 PM – 8:30 PM: Dinner.
9:00 PM – 10:30 PM: Improv Lab: Warm-up exercises to ease into storytelling and connect with fellow participants.

Tuesday: Narrative Flow

8:30 AM – 9:30 AM: Silent walk in Nature.
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM: Breakfast.
10:30 AM – 12:30 PM: Workshop: Stream of Consciousness Narratives - Learn techniques for unlocking stories.
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Lunch.
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Serendipitous Exploration - Using environmental cues to inspire and influence improvised narratives.
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM: Group reflection and feedback..
7:00 PM – 8:30 PM: Dinner.
9:00 PM – 10:30 PM: Evening Improvisation Jam: Collaborative stories sparked by serendipitous prompts.

Wednesday: Trusting Serendipity

8:30 AM – 9:30 AM: Gong bath and movement warm-up.
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM: Breakfast.
10:30 AM – 12:30 PM: Workshop: The Role of Serendipity in improvised Storytelling - Embrace unexpected inputs and use them as opportunities for narrative discovery.
12:30 PM – 1:00 PM: Lunch.
3:00 PM – 4:30 PM: Solo Discovery: Quiet personal time to observe, reflect, and improvise solo narratives in nature.
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM: Group Sharing and feedback.
7:00 PM – 8:30 PM: Dinner.
8:30 PM – 9:30 PM: Evening Improvisation Jam: Group narratives guided by inputs from the day’s journey.

Thursday: Collaborative Creativity

9:00 AM – 9:30 AM: Silent walk in Nature.
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM: Breakfast.
10:30 AM – 12:30 PM: Workshop: Group Improvisation - Techniques for weaving collective stories and building connections through shared narratives.
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM: Lunch.
2:30 PM – 4:30 PM: Partner Story Building: Participants work in pairs and groups to create and perform improvised stories, focusing on active listening and collaboration.
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM: Group reflection and feedback.
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Dinner.
8:30 PM – 10:00 PM: Evening Improvisation Jam: Playful group exercises and improvised performances.

Friday: Deepening the Practice

8:30 AM – 9:30 AM: Gong bath and movement warm-up.
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM: Breakfast. 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM: Workshop: Transforming Serendipity into Narrative Structure - Use chance discoveries to create cohesive and impactful stories.
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM: Lunch.
2:30 PM – 4:30 PM: Story Layers: Explore multi-layered narratives by incorporating scale, range, and perspective shifts.
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM: Reflection and feedback.
7:00 PM – 8:30 PM: Dinner.
9:00 PM – 10:30 PM: Evening Improvisation Jam: Ensemble-led stories with layered inputs.

Saturday: Creating with Confidence

8:30 AM – 9:30 AM: Silent walk in Nature.
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM: Breakfast.
10:30 AM – 12:30 PM: Workshop: Refining Spontaneity - Techniques for confident and authentic storytelling.
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM: Lunch.
2:30 PM – 4:30 PM: Rehearsed Improvisation: Collaborate on semi-structured improvised pieces, blending serendipity with deliberate choices.
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM: Group reflections and story sharing.
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Dinner.
8:30 PM – 10:30 PM: Evening Celebration Jam: A festive storytelling session to celebrate the week’s creativity.
Sunday: Departure and Integration
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM: Farewell breakfast and closing circle: Sharing insights, intentions for the future, and group goodbyes.
11:00 AM: Check-out and departures.

Level

After years of practice, we abolished levels in our impro classes. Improvisation isn't a linear process, so why should it be taught linearly? Moreover, levels say nothing about an individual's capacity to work with others, and people can learn a lot from each other regardless of their history. What is required to take our classes is not experience but courage, consideration and curiosity. We've replaced levels with three approaches, open to everyone:

Informal

Exploring connections and togetherness.

Essential

Exploring spontaneity and self-expression.

Ensemble

Exploring storytelling and collective expression.

We employ aspects of both approaches in everything we do, but each learning event will emphasise one or the other.

Your teacher, Remy Bertrand, is in the small club of improvisation facilitators with more than 10,000 hours of teaching experience.

Currently based in London, UK, he has been teaching improvisation internationally since 2006 with imprology, in Drama Schools, universities, charities and other institutions. He has directed several large scales improvised performances with Zootrophic, a multidiscipline ensemble, co-directed improvised short films with Peter Snowdon and is hosting Love Explosion, an improvised open-stage show currently online.

Remy has trained most recently with John Write (Impro, Clown) Kate Hilder and Sten Rudstrom (Action Theatre) Mary Overlie (Six Viewpoints), Lee Simpson (Open Space, Impro), Lucy Hopkins (Clown) and Punch Drunk (Immersive Theatre).

He has learned most from his students and teaches improvisation as a transformational process focusing on pleasure, curiosity and courage.

'I'm a full time stand up comedian these days and your course helped me massively.' Jonny Awsum, Comedian

'I felt really supported and safe even though I was really scared on my first lesson.' Zita Konyari, Hospitality Executive

'Social anxiety was my main concern. Your course helped me much beyond my expectations.' Xavier P, Risk Management

'A great mix of silliness and discovery, whatever your aims. There are skills here for daily life and on stage.' Niall Hill, VR Producer at BBC

'The most liberating fun I have had in years!' Emma Callow, Creative Lab Manager