Improvisational theater - improv for short - is a form of theater where what is performed is being created at that moment, a story unfolding right before your eyes. The characters and their story are completely improvised right then and there, with no script, no sketch and no predetermined ideas.
What makes improv so much fun to watch is the fact that nobody in the room knows what is going to happen next. The performers are challenged with the task of inventing their character and their lines in real time, and the results are often hilariously funny.
In order to be a successful improv actor, you must adopt a set of guiding principles, or the fundamental rules of improv: Listen, accept and nurture your partner's ideas, commit fully to your character and your decisions, and be present in the moment. While these are just a handful of the skills associated with improv performance, without just one of them, your chance of success is slim.
What is interesting about the core concepts of improv is their relevance in our daily lives. Many people who have studied improv have noted that the guiding principles are not merely skills for the stage, but skills for life. The core concepts of improv have been adopted by business organizations and corporations as a set of social commandments that with practice can increase productivity and creativity. As we search for guidance on how to improve our personal lives, the core concepts of improv prevail as key ingredients to a happy life.
Kenny Laurie, improv performer and member of the Istanbul-based improv group The Clap, reflected on how improv has carried over into his personal life. "When performing an improv show, you have to let go of your inhibitions before you step onto the stage; you must trust yourself and be present in the moment. It becomes addicting, actually, and then you see your self-confidence improve off-stage."
Can the core principles of improv really improve our lives and positively impact our interaction and communication? Let's explore a few ways improv can carry over to our lives off-stage.
Listening; easier said than done, right? On stage, your performing partner is the most important person in the world, to you, in that moment. Their words influence your words; your response is completely dependent on what they have to say. Listening carefully is therefore absolutely necessary for success in communication, on stage. In real life, how often do we develop our response before our partner is finished talking? And how much information have we missed because we were not fully listening? If we listen more attentively to our friends and colleagues, we can develop a more appropriate response, and really be involved in the conversation. Not to mention, how important and valued you can make a person feel when they know you are listening to them.
Accepting and nurturing others' ideas is key to improvisation. This is commonly referred to as the "Yes, and" approach; your immediate reaction to your partner's dialogue is acceptance of their situation, and then you add to that with support or new ideas. In order to work in harmony with your partner on stage, you must support each other and reciprocate ideas. In real life, it goes something like this: Your friend wants to run the Istanbul Marathon in a few weeks. Instead of using judgment to assess the situation, or responding negatively - which, unfortunately, might seem like the natural response for some of us - accept the idea, and offer support. Consider the difference between: "That's a great idea! When do you start training?" and "What? You want to run 26 miles? Why!?"
When performing improv, there is no room for doubt. There is no time to be self-conscious. Commitment to your character and the scene is actually the most important and helpful action you can take because it allows you to settle into your character as well as be present in the moment, automatically improving your listening and response.
Tyler Denison, one half of the two-man improv group Ephemerata, suggests retreating to the mindset of a child, "When the stakes are low, and you're not worried about the outcome, your performance is at its best."
It's a widely accepted position that worrying is a waste of time and energy, so why not commit fully to your next project or activity so you can reap the benefits of self-confidence and an energized focus?
The best way to start incorporating improv into your life is to visit one of the English-language improv shows in Istanbul performed every other Friday - and soon, every Friday - by the two groups, The Clap and Ephemerata. Beginning in January, the groups will come together to host their regular shows on the first and third Friday of the month, with some special new shows and more opportunities to get involved on the second and last Friday of each month.
On the second and last Fridays, you can expect to see more of Leeds Lads, a group of two performers, Kenny Laurie and Ben Weeks, who had their debut show last week. Kenny and Ben emulate two lads from the northern English city of Leeds in a short-form, improvised, never-before-seen performance.
A typical first and third Friday show begins with a 35-minute performance by The Clap, a self-described group of permanent travelers, who have been performing in Istanbul since 2013. The group of seven-to-10 performs a short-form style known as La Ronde, a completely improvised play that consists of a series of two-person scenes that eventually incorporate all actors playing a different character. The show begins with a one-word suggestion from the audience, and from there the group creates and develops a hilarious and entertaining storyline of intertwined and overlapping characters.
Ephemerata is an improvised play in one act, performed by two men, Curtis Erhart and Tyler Denison. This time, no suggestions from the audience are requested, and the story begins with a flick of the lights. Both players take their time to develop the first line that will shape their story. As much fun as watching the dialogue evolve into an interesting story is, watching the talent and technique in the way the characters respond to one another is even more impressive.
Between acts, The Clap and Ephemerata come together to perform a Day in the Life for a very enthusiastic audience. They first ask for a volunteer from the audience. After the volunteer is chosen, he or she describes their day in detail and the group reenacts their interpretation in a wildly entertaining and hilarious 15-minute act. This group can turn even the most normal and boring of days into a compelling comedy.
But don't think that your only role in attending an improv show will be as a silent audience member, occasionally spouting off suggestive words or phrases upon request. Your own creative imagination will begin to race and attempt to match those of the players in front of your very eyes. Once you've attended a live show, you can take the next step and participate in a rehearsal; the groups are not exclusive and welcome anyone who is interested in improv performance.
Rehearsals are held Monday night at 8:00 p.m. Shows are held on Fridays at 8:30 p.m. Both are at YOTA Doğaçlama (Improvisation) Theater off İstiklal Avenue in Beyoğlu.
