Short description (scroll down for longer version):
Learn to improvise with our founder and artistic director, Robert Rodgers. We’re excited to open one of our popular Intro to Improvised Theater cohorts—no experience is necessary (really, none). So come and meet some new people, move around and get out of your head! If you’ve got a bit of experience and want a refresher, that’s also great. What matters is that you’re open-minded, excited about storytelling, and wanna have lots of fun in a safe space with like-minded friends. If so, this course is for you!
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Quick Details:
Intro to Improvisational Theater • 8 weeks • Monday evenings from September 11th, 2023 – November 6th, 2023 • 19:00 (7PM) - 21:30 (9:30PM) • Franz-Mehring Platz 1 • English fluency (or near) is required • 15 spots available • Cost = 190 EUR earlybird or 215 EUR starting September 4th (plz let us know if you’re a student or asylum seeker and we can discuss a discount) • Instructor: Robert Rodgers
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To secure your spot now, please do TWO things: email scratchtheater@gmail.com to let us know you're signing up AND pay the appropriate fee to the following account:
Robert Rodgers
Berliner Sparkasse
IBAN: DE13 1005 0000 1068 0212 30
BIC: BELADEBEXXX
Finanzamt & Steuernummer: Pankow 31, 495/00 232
Note: "Intro course September 2023"
Your spot is secure once your payment is visible in the bank account. Send a screenshot if you want us to be sure we know you’ve paid in time, since sometimes banks in other countries can take more time than those in Germany to make the transfer. Note that if we are forced to cancel any classes due to a government-enforced lockdown, we will retain your payment on record to ensure you get make-up classes once we re-open. By signing up, you agree to our school policies.
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Long description
This course will reignite your sense of discovery. It's time to jump in and play in a safe environment with a few special people as open-minded as you, eager, and willing to get silly and emotional without fear of judgement. It's a fun introduction to impro whether you're an artist, public speaker, storyteller, or none of those fancy things. You’ll learn to use impro in scenes and in your everyday life.
We start with impro games and slowly begin diving into emotions and storytelling. There is no emphasis on being funny in this course. We believe humour derives from the moment, vulnerable and real. In this safe environment we will celebrate failing, empowering you to find your voice.
Over 8 weeks you'll work together with others to create something never done before – you’ll learn to be an improviser.
Trust, collaboration, and honesty between players is the biggest strength a group of improvisers has. We really believe this. Everyone will get loads of time to play and try things out. And of course, we strive to create a space everyone can feel safe to explore in.
You’ll learn the basics of:
* Failing with confidence and excitement
* Looking after your fellow players and dropping any ego
* Moving forward by saying “yes, and…” to others’ ideas
* Creating original and believable characters
* Building real relationships using the complexity of everyday life
* Striving towards a clear objective with your characters
* Imagining and really seeing where you are and what is there
* Working with high and low status to create contrast in relationships
* Using emotions to add colour and believability to scenes
… and much more!
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We’re humbled to have had some students say nice things:
“I enjoyed just having a safe space to be a kid again and to give into imagination and impulses.”
“I liked that we started slowly… learning to build characters and stories by first focusing on body language, tone of voice, mirroring emotions and then putting it all together.”
“I learned not only about improv, but about myself. I gained some skills for everyday life.”
“Everyone was a noob, so didn't feel like I was on the spot.”
"Starting with Scratch was one of my highlights of the year!"
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We’re looking forward to it! If you have questions, please message Robert: scratchtheater@gmail.com.
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About the instructor:
A veteran acrobat and clown who toured with Cirque du Soleil, on standup circuits and in feature films, Robert Rodgers originally founded Scratch Theater in San Francisco in 1995 to explore long-form (i.e. stories of 20 minutes or more) improvisation and take it beyond what audiences have come to expect. Robert trained at B.A.T.S in San Francisco as well as L.A.T.S in Los Angeles. He also trained under many other world-renowned improvisors, including Keith Johnstone. Since those days, he has developed a style and teaching method for storytelling-based improvisation that is unique in Berlin. He has performed across multiple continents and is a sought-after instructor.