Breaking the Improv Rules | Minder Kaur Athwal & Stephanie Rae
Event Information
About this Event
In part one of this two hour ‘Talkshop,’ participants will engage in a facilitated discussion with two experienced improv DEI experts. We’ll share our insights, break down the so-called ‘rules of improv’ and consider how we can update them to create better spaces for everyone (but especially for BIPOC improvisers).
In part two, we’ll workshop the techniques we’ve discussed - actively practicing the art of speaking up, getting comfortable interrupting moments of harm and breaking those rules!
Who is this Talkshop for?
- Improvisers who want to feel more empowered in setting and maintaining boundaries and want to support others to do the same.
- Improvisers who want to shake things up, break some of the stuffy rules and have fun annoying those teachers who want to keep us in a box.
- Teachers looking to create safer, more inclusive spaces.
- BIPOC improvisers who want to play confidently and gain the tools to stop onstage ‘isms’ in their tracks.
- White performers looking to be a better allies.
About Stephanie Rae
Stephanie Rae has been studying traditional and musical improv for eleven years. She’s directed a Boyz II Men themed show for UCB's Del Close Marathon, guest played with everyone from the Groundlings to ComedySportz, and taught classes and workshops for improvisers from Louisiana to Liverpool. She directs the Black Improv Alliance, performing with International Players Club and Wakanda vs. Everybody, and is passionate about amplifying diverse voices. She also has a law degree - but mostly uses it to win arguments online.
About Minder Kaur Athwal
Minder Kaur Athwal is a British applied improv facilitator, performer, speaker and consultant.
She has taken part in international panels, Q&As and conference talks mostly focused on diversity, community building and leadership skills. In 2019, she led a session at the Global Improvisation Symposium on challenges facing underrepresented racial groups in UK improv. In 2020, she worked on the UK’s first Race &Improv Online Summit for Different Women.
Some common threads in her work include designing positive experiences, building welcoming and inclusive environments,problem troubleshooting, and working to make organisations more effective in meeting the needs of their members.
