Commedia: Improvise as the Romans do! with Emilia Higgs

THE WORKSHOP

Want to bring more physicality in to your improvisation? Why not draw from one of the oldest forms of physical characterisation??? It’s pretty much where Shakespeare stole all of his character ideas from so why not you, too! By the end of the class you’ll have a greater understanding of Commedia dell’Arte both theoretically and in practice, and take a physical warm up home with you to get you in the mood to put not only your best foot but your best whole body forward!

THE Teacher
Emilia Higgs is passionate about stories and enjoys finding new ways to share them. A few highlights of her career have been performing commedia dell’arte in a Florentine Square, riding off into the sunset on a “rhinoceros” in a Jetpack Theare production of Eugene Ionesco’s play by the same title, playing a Medieval knight who falls in love with a witch, and living in Venice for 3 months studying art curation at the Peggy Guggenheim Museum. In her spare time she loves rock climbing, training for handstands, watching K dramas and painting sunsets.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the commedia workshop and “putting on” the different stock characters. Emilia is very knowledgeable and experienced in teaching this class, and her passion and excellence for the craft shines through!”

“Millie is an utter delight, she presents with both playfulness and confidence, and you can tell she has a wealth of experience.”

Experience level

Students should be comfortable performing in scenes and have completed at least levels 1 & 2 at ITS. Also, this workshop is all about connecting with your physicality and thus a level of curiosity and enthusiasm to pursue that is required. Whilst physical restrictions and injuries can be catered for and we will have breaks, we still will be moving in and out of characters for three hours.

Tue 10 Nov, 6pm – 9pm at Improv Theatre Sydney

This workshop is part of the ITS Comedy Festival 2026. Check out the full program here.