Utrecht Improv Theatre & Comedy

Join us for a fun session of improv theatre in English! A great opportunity to meet new people in Utrecht and learn something new with Improv Utrecht. Everyone can partcipate, you don't need any experience in theatre nor fluency in English.

In this session you will:

• Meet fellow international and local players.
• Learn the basics of improvisation, a 21st-century skill that is useful in many aspects of life.
• Get out of your head.
• Enjoy failing.
• Play funny and moving theatre games.
• Laugh a lot, while surprising yourself and others.

Doors open: 19:50-20:00, come in with the others (SIDE entrance, at the Troelstralaan). After 20:01 the door may be closed, but you may find a participant who knows the door code.

Workshop: 20:00-22:00
Every Friday except in school holidays
Afterwards we have drinks at O'Leary's pub together

### How to sign up

Full details about how to sign up and any other questions you may have can be found on our website.

An RSVP in this Meetup event is not enough! We track attendance by counting the attendants in GrasshopperSignup. If you flag yourself as attending and can no longer make it, please delete your x in the sheet so that someone else can take your spot.

If you leave your contact details at the Signup form we will contact you if there is a problem with a drop-in you are scheduled to attend.

We also have a WhatsApp group with a variety of members from across Utrecht where we share events and updates.
You can find our courses and shows on our website.

Participation is pay-what-you-can, but we suggest a donation of €10-20 by cash or Tikkie to help cover costs (location, travel) and show your appreciation for our professional trainers who dedicate their Friday to promoting improv.

#### Level: Advanced

What really happens behind closed doors?

The Flat is an advanced long-form improv course inspired by Rear Window and the quiet drama of everyday lives lived side by side. Set in a shared apartment building, this format invites you to explore the unseen worlds of neighbours who observe each other from a distance, collide unexpectedly, and slowly reveal who they really are.

Across the course, you and your fellow players will build a living, breathing building filled with recognisable characters and intertwined storylines. Windows become frames. Hallways become crossroads. Small details grow into big consequences. Together, you will create a fully improvised performance of forty minutes or more that feels coherent, cinematic, and emotionally grounded.

Is there romance blossoming across balconies? A secret criminal operation hidden behind tidy curtains? Or simply a lonely man whose strongest relationship is with his cat? The Flat thrives on contrast, tension, and quiet observation, allowing humour and drama to sit side by side. The audience becomes a voyeur, peeking into private lives and watching stories unfold over time.

This course focuses on long-form improvisation as collective storytelling. You will work on sustaining narrative over a longer arc, making bold but consistent character choices, and trusting the ensemble to carry the story together. Editing is treated as a creative tool rather than an interruption, helping scenes flow smoothly and keeping the audience oriented and engaged.

Throughout the course, you will deepen your understanding of longform structure and develop the patience and confidence required to let stories emerge naturally. You will practise playing multiple scenes on stage, supporting parallel storylines, and staying true to your characters as they evolve. The emphasis is on emotional truth, recognisability, and commitment, allowing scenes to resonate long after the laugh has faded.
This is a course for players who enjoy subtlety as much as spectacle, and who want to challenge themselves to create something layered, restrained, and powerful.

#### Who this course is for

This course is intended for experienced improvisers who want to deepen their longform work. You should have completed at least four improv courses or have a solid foundation in character building, story spine, and editing. You are comfortable on stage, curious about narrative structure, and ready to invest in slower, more detailed scene work. This course is not suitable for beginners.

The Flat has previously been directed and taught by Matthijs and performed by groups such as Pure Chocolade at the Impro XL Longform Festival in Hoorn, and Liever Veul Bloemen in Wageningen.

#### About the teacher

Matthijs Meulblok studied Media Studies at Utrecht University and runs his own podcast studio at Wolvenplein, where he records podcasts and voice overs and coaches people in voice acting, podcasting, and media performance.

He has performed with multiple improv groups in different countries, trains a variety of ensembles, and regularly teaches specialised workshops. Since 2025, he has also been exploring stand-up comedy as part of his own performance practice. Matthijs is known for creating thoughtful, thematic lessons and for developing innovative formats in both short-form and long-form improvisation. His teaching combines clarity, creativity, and a strong sense of narrative play.

#### Course details

Location: ZIMIHC Wittevrouwen
Bouwstraat 55, Utrecht
Schedule: Mondays 20:00 to 22:00
Nine sessions in total, consisting of eight lessons and one show

##### Dates

19 January
26 January
2 February
9 February
23 February
No lesson during the school holiday unless agreed otherwise with the group
2 March
9 March
16 March
Show date to be confirmed
Price: €240 including 21 percent VAT
Group size: Minimum of seven participants, maximum of ten

Improv Utrecht offers one funded place per course with a twenty percent discount for people with limited financial means. You can contact Marieke van Laar to discuss this option.

Tickets are available via improv-utrecht.weticket.io

Are you ready to step fully into the spotlight and deepen your presence on stage? The Intermediate Plus course On Stage! is designed for improvisers who already feel at home performing and want to sharpen their theatrical instincts, storytelling skills, and connection with an audience.

In this course, you will move beyond simply playing games and focus on how scenes really work. You will explore how to build stronger characters, clearer relationships, and emotionally grounded moments that feel believable and engaging. Short form games are treated with more intention and depth, allowing you to discover how structure, commitment, and acting choices elevate even the simplest scenes.

Over the weeks, you will work with a wide range of formats, including open scenes with no fixed structure. You will learn how to trust yourself and your fellow players when there is no clear roadmap, and how to let stories emerge naturally. There is also strong attention on audience interaction, from confidently asking for suggestions to clearly presenting games and formats so the audience feels included and invested.

This course places extra emphasis on stage presence and performance readiness. You will receive more detailed feedback from the trainer, helping you fine-tune your choices and grow as a performer. Together as a group, you will prepare for a public show, with additional performance opportunities where possible.

This course is ideal if you want to go beyond quick laughs and create scenes that feel rich, human, and memorable.

#### Who should sign up for this?

This course is for intermediate and advanced players. Ideally, you have completed two beginner courses and at least one intermediate course, including performing in shows. You feel comfortable on stage and are motivated to challenge yourself further.

#### Course details

Course start: Tuesday 20 January to Tuesday 14 April 2026
No lesson on 17 February
Time: 19:30 to 21:30
Location: Buurtcentrum De Leeuw
After class drinks at Hygge or O’Leary’s
Thirteen lessons, including one show. Show date to be confirmed. We aim to organise additional performance opportunities where possible.
Price €325 including VAT

#### About the teacher

Rutger Pull specialises in short-form improv and Dutch Theatresports. He has a sharp eye for what a scene needs in order to work and excels at teaching players how to recognise and support that. His feedback style is positive, clear, and precise, helping players grow while staying playful and confident.

Rutger began improvising during his university years in Enschede and has been performing for many years with Iets Anders in Utrecht. His classes combine structure, insight, and enjoyment, creating a focused yet relaxed learning environment.