Musicality for Non-Musical Scenes
in Howden with Stuart Moses
We’ll explore the ways non-musical scenes have a musicality, from rhythm and tempo to phrasing, repetition, emotional crescendos, and silence. Through group exercises, we’ll play with collective rhythm and shared tempo, learning to listen and respond to the energy of the ensemble. In pairs and small-group scene work, we’ll experiment with musical ideas to see how subtle shifts can create interest, tension, and clarity. If your scene work is leaving you feeling flat, this workshop is for you.
Repeats session 5
Ensemble: Blind Date
in Meet 3 with Barnish & Carmichael
We all know the short form game Blind Date, but have you ever wondered what happened on the date? This ensemble show will give the audience the full TV show experience!
Note: the Ensemble cast will be selected by lottery on Friday night. Spaces are reserved for those who aren’t already performing in another slot at BIP.
One-off, not repeated
Clown Court & The Art of Getting Absurd!
in Meet 4 with Jet Burnett
Go bigger, bolder, and clownier on stage as we turn petty grievances into full courtroom chaos. Learn Jet Burnett’s Clown court format and work on narrative driven by character, commitment, and big swings. Explore heightening, crafting memorable characters, and the mischievous power of improv’s evil sibling, “no, but.”
Physical movement is entirely at the improviser’s comfort level. Best suited to those confident in improv basics and are ready to push into bolder, more playful territory.
Repeats session 1
Jam: The Armando
in Meet 5 with Charly Murgatroyd
The Armando is a montage, inspired by an improvised monologue. One player takes a one-word prompt and recounts a story from their life about whatever that word inspires. The cast create a series of premise-based scenes inspired by that story.
One-off, not repeated
Outside Improv OR Props and Prompts
in Meet 7 with Cathy Towers
Weather dependent, this workshop will either be “Outside Improv” or “Props and Prompts”.
Outside Improv
For beginners. Or teachers who would like have an easy entrypoint class to take to local (non-improv) festivals or to do with groups unfamiliar with improv. We’ll follow a route outside and on the way we stop and play with a variety of tale-telling games to create our own stories inspired by our surroundings and senses. The group members will be improvising and creating in cumulative ways as we go.
Props and Prompts
As an alternative to audience suggestions, this workshop demonstrates the use of a number of creative methods to ease yourself into a character and scene. Particularly good for realistic style scenes, though I am sure we will include a bit of madness too.
Repeats session 4
Customise your Shortform Games
in Maple with Matt Watson-Jones
There is never just one “correct” way to play any shortform show game - that’s why there are so many different names for almost identical games the world over.
This workshop will run you through a bunch of different ways to spice up shortform games so that your cast and audience have a better time. We can also collectively figure out what it is you don’t like about your least favourite games, and work out ways to make them better.
Let’s unlock a spirit of creativity in game design, and hopefully create some new versions to share!
Repeats session 2