The Quest: Transformational Improvisation

MEET THE QUEST!
Curious to learn more about improvisation and how it can be applied beyond the stage to life, work and play? Maybe you want to hone your existing improv skills or just learn something totally new? Then join The Quest, a 24-hour improvisational journey and get ready for an insight-filled adventure! Developed by the late, great improv guru Del Close, and described by participants as, “completely transformational,” The Quest can help you become a more engaged listener, be more present and attentive and more open to new experiences. It can help you understand the significance of the larger patterns that unfold on the stage or in your life. The skills learned during The Quest and the insights revealed as a result are truly powerful.

HOW DOES IT WORK?
The Quest is a thee-part workshop, intended to be a solo-exercise, it encourages participants to:
• Take the “right-brained” improvisational mindset normally reserved for the stage, out into the world,
• Maintain that way of thinking for a twenty-four hour period,
• Explore what happens as a result of that approach and
• Reflect on what was discovered during the experience and then gather to share the stories of their Quest. DETAILED WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION

Friday, April 17, 7:30-9:30 PM
The Initiation Ceremony
In a fun, interactive comfortable environment, participants will be introduced to The Quest, its history and recent reintroduction. Participants will then, through a series of exercises be introduced to some basic improv skills needed to complete The Quest, discover how to cultivate an improvisational mindset and understand the benefits of doing so. Then the lucky participants will be given their signs and symbols and be let loose on the world for part two, creating their own, twenty-four hour improvisational adventure. Tuesday, April 21, 7:00-9:30 PM
The Gathering
Following completion of The Quest, and reflecting upon it, participants will gather for a grand storytelling-insight-swapping-fun-filled extravaganza and as if that isn’t enough, completion medallions will be awarded. WORKSHOP BENEFITS

Participants of the Quest will:
• Explore the difference between presence and attention,
• Discover the concept of an improvisational mindset and
• Understand the construct of right/brain left brain thinking;
• Notice patterns and how they respond to them,
• Explore the nuances of agreement, and
• Learn how to apply what is learned during The Quest to the stage, work and life. You need not have experience with improvisation; all you need is an open-mind, a desire to learn, and a willingness to participate.

WORKSHOP DETAILS:
Class Size:
Class size is limited to 16 participants. Please register early!
Cost:
• Advance Payment by April 16: $200 RMB (PayPal or credit card) + transaction fees.

Location:
Café Lucca
390 Pan Yu Lu, Changning Qu, Shanghai Shi, China, 200052

What Should I Bring?
Bring writing materials and an open mind. Questions?
Contact the workshop organizer. WORKSHOP FAQ

Do I have to be an experienced improviser?
It certainly helps but it is not necessary. We will go over some of the basics of improvisation that will help you make the most of your journey.

I can’t do 24 hours can I do a shorter Quest?
We recommend doing the full twenty-four hours. Part of the challenge is keeping an improvisational mindset as you go about the business of everyday life. However, if for whatever reason, you can’t commit to 24 hours, we just ask you to pick an amount of time before the journey begins and commit to it. Can I do it alone?

Can I do it with a partner?
Yes, and yes. The exercise was initially intended to be a solo-exercise, however, if you would be more comfortable embarking on The Quest with a friend that is fine too. You will just both need to agree to the amount of time for your Quest before it begins.

Why should I do it?
It is a transformational exercise. It is a day about discovering things, paying attention, responding to that attention and seeing what insights you gained as a result of it. I'm not an improviser, should I attend?
Yes! Absolutely. All you need is a willingness to participate in the exercise. English isn’t my first language is that okay? Can I bring a friend?
Sure but they have to register. Only registered participants can attend. Can kids attend? Sorry, no one under 17.

Can I just register for the workshop and just watch the workshop and not participate?

Nope! Sorry!

The Backstory and World Wide Quest Day

In the early 1980s Del Close was spending weekends in New York City, working with the new cast of Saturday Night Live (SNL). Upon learning that Del would be in NYC, improviser and comic, Joey Novick, who had met Del though some early Improv Olympics performances (a precursor to Improv Olympic and later iO). Del agreed and said that as long as Joey organized the workshops, Del would be there to teach and people could attend for free. And so began the creation and unveiling of a series of exercises or “structures” as Del called them, one of which was “The Quest.”

In 2014, Novick presented a mini-version of the Quest at the Applied Improvisation Network Conference in Austin, Texas. Participants, Joelle Sarrailh, Akshay Sateesh and Jeanne Lambin were so enthused by the exercise that they decided to work with Joey Novick towards creating Quest days around the globe and, in 2016 celebrating, the first ever The Quest: World Wide Edition on March 9 in honor of Del Close’s birthday. Thus far Quests have been held in Hong Kong, Philadelphia and now Shanghai!