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Learn to improvise at the SCRATCH SCHOOL OF IMPRO with the one and only Robert Rodgers. We know that during these times it has been difficult and frustrating not being able to socialize. We’re excited to open one of our popular Intro to Improvised Theater cohorts—no experience is necessary. So come and meet some new people and get out of your head.
It will be one of our one-of-a-kind courses for beginning improvisers. Absolutely no impro or acting experience is needed – come as you are! 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 April 4, 2022 – May 23, 2022 • 19:00 (7PM) - 21:30 (9:30PM) • Friedrichshain (exact location shared after payment) • English fluency (or near) required • No experience necessary • Only 12 spots available • Cost = 190 EUR until Apr 30, or 210 EUR after (plz let us know if you’re a student or refugee) • Instructor: Robert Rodgers
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To secure your spot now, please do TWO things: email info@scratchtheater.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 • Note: "Impro course April 2022"
Your spot is secure once your payment is visible in the bank account (an email alone is not enough).
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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.
We're keeping this course small because trust, collaboration, and honesty between players is the biggest strength a group of improvisers has. We really believe this. We want everyone to get loads of time to play and try things out. And of course, we want the space to be safe during these special times.
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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Note that if we are forced to cancel any classes due to another government enforced lockdown, we will retain your payment on record to ensure you get make-up classes once we re-open. If you would rather be refunded for scheduling issues with any replacement classes, that's fine. We will retain a 5% administrative fee.
We’re looking forward to it! If you have questions, please message us.
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About the instructor
Robert is the founder and artistic director of the Scratch Impro School in Berlin and has trained players in a new way of performing, some new to impro and some looking for something different. A method based on emotion, rich characters, and narration that provokes the audience.
Scratch Theater was created in 1995 to explore long-form (i.e. stories of 20 minutes or more) impro and to take it beyond what audiences have come to expect. Robert Rodgers trained at B.A.T.S in San Francisco as well as L.A.T.S in Los Angeles. He also trained under Rafe Chase from “3 For All” for years in the Bay Area and was part of the advanced training under “True Fiction Magazine” where he was guided under Barbara Scott, Regina Saisi, Tim Orr, Steven Kearin, and Rafe Chase. He has also trained under Keith Johnstone.
Taking his knowledge from impro theater, Robert also applied his knowledge of acting skills from where he was trained at A.C.T in San Francisco and also the S.F. Circus School where he studied movement, clowning and acrobatics. Robert has performed in repertory theaters, and a variety of circuses around the world, including Cirque Du Soleil. In 2005 Robert was asked to join L.A.T.S to perform and teach at the Amsterdam Improv Festival, which led him to return to teach both in Amsterdam and Paris numerous times. He then went on to direct many shows around the world where he used his impro skills, circus training and acting ability to actually create shows that inspire audiences to think differently about theater. His main focus has always been on how to bring forth the voice of each actor to rise above their own ego and lead everyone into stories that are imprinted in the audience’s memory.