Let’s Get Political!

THE WORKSHOP

WE ARE OFTEN TAUGHT TO AVOID POLITICAL CONTENT AND PLAY IT SAFE. BUT SOMETIMES, LEANING INTO OUR POLITICAL EXPERIENCE CAN RAISE THE STAKES IN A WAY THAT’S DEEPLY RELATABLE AND MORE ENGAGING.

DRAWING FROM THE CONCEPT OF “THE PERSONAL IS POLITICAL,” THIS WORKSHOP WILL TEACH PARTICIPANTS HOW TO SEAMLESSLY INTEGRATE AND EXPLORE THEIR OWN POLITICAL TRUTHS INTO IMPROV SCENES THAT TOUCH ON POLITICAL THEMES WITHOUT IT BEING PREACHY OR INACCESSIBLE.

DURING THE WORKSHOP, WE’LL FOCUS ON FINDING SOCIAL ISSUES AND TOPICS WE CAN PLAYFULLY AND COMFORTABLY DISCUSS TOGETHER. LEARN HOW TO USE FAMILIAR POWER STRUCTURES TO INSPIRE CHARACTERS AND BRING A FRESH NEW PERSPECTIVE TO YOUR PLAYING.

MINIMUM RECOMMENDED EXPERIENCE:

INTERMEDIATE – ITS LEVEL 3 OR EQUIVALENT. MATURITY AND CULTURAL COMPETENCE IS EXPECTED OF ALL PARTICIPANTS.

THE TEACHERS

HAPPY FERAREN IS AN IMPROVISER, PLAYWRIGHT, AND TEACHER WITH OVER 18 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE PERFORMING AND TEACHING IMPROV AT INTERNATIONAL FESTIVALS ACROSS ASIA, EUROPE, NORTH AMERICA AND OCEANIA. SHE ACTIVELY DEVISES SHOWS BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND THE PHILIPPINES AS THE FOUNDING MEMBER OF FILLOW TALK AND A LONG TIME PERFORMER WITH SPIT MANILA. HER DEBUT PLAY SAVIOR WILL HAVE ITS WORLD PREMIERE AT THE 2026 MAINSTAGE SEASON OF GRIFFIN THEATRE.

FROM PERFORMING IMPROV IN A PROTEST TO LARGE SCALE SOLD OUT ARENA SHOWS, SHE WILL SHARE WHAT SHE’S LEARNED ABOUT READING THE ROOM WHEN IT COMES TO GETTING POLITICAL. WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS WILL GAIN AN INSIGHT INTO HER PERSPECTIVE ON THE ARTFORM, INFORMED BY HER BROAD INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE, CULTURAL FLUENCY AND TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE.

Find them on Instagram, @limhappylipina, @fillowtalk_comedy

FRIDAY 14th November, 10:00Am – 1:00pm At Improv TheAtre Sydney.

This workshop is part of the ITS Comedy Festival 2025. Check out the full program here!