The Improv Book

Description

A smart, witty and accessible guide to the rewarding and joyful practice of improvisation.
Classic improv games and variations
Telling stories and creating characters
Using improv to make theatre and comedy, from monologues to full-scale productions
An asset to students and teachers of improvisation in schools, drama schools, higher education and theatre groups, both professional and amateur. It will also be of benefit to organisations and individual readers who want to discover how improv stimulates creativity and confidence in all areas of life. The Improv Book opens up this exciting discipline to a wider audience.

Alison Goldie is an actor, theatre director, facilitator, writer and broadcaster with a long career in making and performing theatre and comedy. She is a great believer in the power of improvisation for stimulating creativity, and developing theatre and life-skills, and is living proof that performing and teaching improv keeps you young and sexy (she says). As an improviser she performed in Theatresports™ and the legendary improv troupe Spontaneous Combustion. On the comedy circuit of the 1980s she was in the double-act The Wild Girls and a stand-up comic. On TV her credits include Newman and Baddiel in Pieces (BBC2), and presenting for The Travel Show (BBC2) and Dream Ticket (ITV) among others. She has toured internationally with her theatre company The Weird Sisters and recently toured the UK with her one-woman show Lady in Bed. She has directed for the Garrick Theatre, Unicorn Theatre, Vienna’s English Theatre and Youth Music Theatre amongst others. Alison has taught improv all over the world.

“Cheerful, chatty and very informative … A readable heedable role-book, a fine fools’ guide to improvisation, wherein lies plenty to plunder for those learning and teaching drama at all levels.” —John Hegley, poet and musician“A wondrous toolbox for the imagination.” —Jake Arnott, novelist“Fabulous book – humorous, instructive, informative – an absolute must-have for anyone interested in comedy and improvisation!” —Brenda Gilhooly, comedian and TV writer“In a world where imagination seems to be fighting a losing battle against technology, Alison Goldie has come up with a brilliant and easy to follow guide to putting people back in touch with this essential part of their creative minds … This book should be on the bloody national curriculum!” —Phill Jupitus“Her voice is convincing, experienced and friendly and endless reassuring, however wonderful or excruciating your past impro experiences. … Goldie’s book could be lighting up a shelf near you.” —National Drama Magazine“Packed with passion, imagination and enthusiasm, it has much to offer youth theatre companies looking for new ways to explore and create theatre.” —National Association of Youth Drama“It’s useful to be able to control yourself sometimes, and it’s dreadful when it becomes a habit. The Improv Book is a treasure chest of ways to bring more zest, surprise and depth back into your life-and into the lives of your students, your employees, your children, your parents and anyone else who might need it. It’s really very good. I just made that up. But it’s true.” —Guy Claxton, author of What’s the Point of School? and Building Learning Power“Goldie is an actor, director and facilitator who has taught improv all over the world – and not just to actors. Her book is full of practical exercises, lists and interesting ways of working. … Much of Goldie’s work is potentially applicable to almost any walk of life. She wants people to communicate and get past the barriers which often impede them. I’m inclined to agree with Phill Jupitus, quoted on the cover as saying “This book should be on the bloody national curriculum”.” —National Association of Youth Drama“The solid knowledge and experience of the actor, director, writer and broadcaster Alison Goldie is apparent throughout, as is her infectious enthusiasm. … Highly recommended for anyone exploring improvisation, wanting to spice up their rehearsals of existing material or wishing to devise their own work.” —Drama Resource

Additional information