Narrative Improv with Jim Fishwick

What comes next?

This course offers a grounding in the principles, skills and techniques of narrative improvisation. We’ll explore how to build story platforms, find a protagonist, be changed, raise the stakes, and tie things together at the end. Starting from simple story exercises, we’ll work towards being able to improvise a one-hour play by the end of the term.

Experience: Participants should already be comfortable playing in scenes by themselves. We suggest ITS Level 3 or equivalent experience at the teacher’s discretion. No narrative improv experience is required.

This class is eight weeks long and runs from 1 Feb – 29 Mar, with a week break 22 March. Class meets once a week for 2.5 hours, with an optional performance on Sat 29 March, the weekend after the last class.

Registration is $470 / $440 concession. Price includes a 7.8% non-refundable booking fee.

Full and partial scholarships are available — please email info@improvtheatresydney.com.au to discuss.

Jim Fishwick (they/them) is an award-winning director, improviser, teacher and writer. They began improvising at seventeen with Impro Australia in Sydney, and went on to perform and teach improvisation at the University of Sydney, Impro Melbourne, and Academy of Improvisation, and are now a regular teacher and performer at Improv Theatre Sydney. They have been in demand as a freelance theatremaker and consultant around Australia and Aotearoa for over a decade. They are the current artistic co-director of the New Zealand Improv Festival, and the general manager of Jetpack Theatre, who have been creating experiential, interactive, improvised and immersive theatre since 2015. Jim regularly performs with Maddie Parker and Emilia Higgs as The Joy Riders, devised the award-winning, internationally touring show The Saboteur, and writes questions for the BBC2 quiz show Only Connect.

Testimonials

“If you want a workshop that not only reinforces the improv teachings of the ITS levels but makes you understand improv from a completely different perspective, look no further than Jim’s Narrative Improv course. This course builds upon foundational improv techniques and shows you how to deploy them in scenes to create rich, emotional characters which naturally develop compelling improvised narrative.” – Former Student

“Jim is a great teacher with a wealth of knowledge and insight. They were always warm, open and compassionately guiding. Any chance to learn from them is worth your time.” – Former Student

“Jim’s teaching style is warm and empowering. They strike a perfect balance of learning through listening and through doing.” — NZ Improv Festival Participant

“Jim is a very gentle teacher, focused on getting the best out of their team. THEY ARE AWESOME!!” — NZ Improv Festival Participant