Online Improv Elective: Theme and thesis

The Nursery/Maydays longform electives are classes on specific aspects of longform improvisation Some of these classes focus on skills and some on forms, some on narrative ideas and some on Chicago-style longform. In these classes, students will have the opportunity to play side coached longform sets with particular focuses and feedback from the teacher.

Improv, like any form of art, is always about something, whether we consciously decide to. So what is your show really about tonight? What is it saying about the world, people and our place within it? This class will allow you to understand the ideas of subject matter, theme and thesis, how they differ and how they can be used as tools to create shows that mean something, while still maintaining all of the fun.

Class includes:

• Identifying theme and thesis and using them to inspire scenes
• Creating a variety of scenes which are still linked
• Being aware of and able to influence what a show is ‘saying’

Min. participants 6, max. 8. If we have to cancel the event due to low numbers, we will do this with 24 hours notice.

Jules Munns started improvising at the Guildhall School where he was a founder member of the Improsarios. After graduating, he co-founded the Nursery, where he is now Artistic Director. He performed with Music Box (5* FringeGuru and Remote Goat) and Friendly Fire before joining the Maydays in 2012. He directed the first run of Impromptu Shakespeare (5* Broadway Baby and Playstosee), which he now performs in and is one-half of Ten Thousand Million Love Stories and Sitting in a Tin Can. He has performed and taught at festivals across the UK and in countries including the US, Pakistan, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Finland. He also runs the Nursery blog and podcast and is working on a book on improvisation.

This intermediate elective runs Saturday 13th February, 4 - 6.30 pm GMT

Intermediate (3/6 months+) These classes will be opportunities to add tools to your growing toolbox. Normally these classes will expect players to be confident playing scenes. These classes will provide practice and specific new skills.

NB: Our electives frequently sell out, but do not despair if this class has. You have not missed your shot. If enough people join the waiting list, we are often able to put the same class on a few days after or in parallel. So if you were excited, join up and we will be in touch.