IMPROV: FUN AND GAMES

*Update* This course is now closed. Please email blahblahblahimprov@gmail.com if you would like to go on the waiting list for the next improv course.

Think on your feet! Learn how to face your fears of being in front of an audience! Enhance your audition skills!

In this improvisation course by Blah Blah Blah Improv, you’ll have fun learning how to make up short comedy sketches on the spot. You’ll also get to play some of the hilarious Theatresports games made famous by the hit improv show ‘Whose Line Is It Anyway?’.

Over seven weeks, you’ll learn ways to:

• Embrace failure
• Be in the moment
• Be a better listener
• “Yes, and?”(work with other ideas)
• Run with your first instinct
• Create whole comedy scenes from a small suggestion
• Be a supportive team player
• Connect with others

It doesn’t matter if you have previously performed or not, because we create a supportive and inclusive community in our classroom that feels safe and is loads of fun! Some people learn improv to become better at auditions or stand up comedy, while others learn improv to apply the techniques socially or at work. Whatever your reason for learning improv, we can guarantee* you’ll learn techniques that will increase your awareness and skills that could enhance other areas of your life.

There’s no preplanning or scripts—so get out of your head, be in the moment, and have some fun with us!

*not a real guarantee; just come along and give it a go!

COURSE DATES

The seven-week course runs for two and a half hours every Sunday from 1pm to 3.30pm starting 23 July until 3 September 2023. If these dates don't suit you, email us at blahblahblahimprov@gmail.com to discuss catch-up classes or find out the dates for the next course.

LOCATION

The course takes place on the Queensland/NSW border at the CWA hall 169 Griffith St, Coolangatta. The venue is wheelchair friendly.

ABOUT YOUR TEACHERS

Your teachers, Ben and Mandy, are well versed in many improv forms and formats. They have collectively performed close to 300 improv shows to live audiences in Australia and internationally.

Mandy Plumb

In her late teens, Mandy made her professional stage debut in the musical HAIR while studying theatre at university. After a short five-year career on stage (Australia, Dubai, India, and New Caledonia), the odd television show appearance, commercials, film and tv body doubling, and an unsuccessful attempt to introduce theatresports to Thailand, Mandy segued into the corporate world and returned to the arts as a general manager for a company in residence at QPAC. She then went on to work as production crew for Disney’s international tour of The Lion King Musical, circus, and a big budget film. During this time, however, she continued to perform improv on the side at comedy festivals and theatres in Brisbane including the Brisbane Comedy Festival (2018), Anywhere Theatre Festival (2017 & 2021), Bris Funny Fest (2019), and Brisbane Improv Festival (2021 & 2022). She also runs brisbanestage.com, a blog about theatre, comedy, improv and live performance art shows.

As the former physicality director for Queensland’s only improvised comedy musical theatre troupe, she has trained other improvisers in various techniques as well as facilitated improv jams at Big Fork Theatre. Mandy also teaches improv to children and teenagers at ZigZag Theatre on the Gold Coast. She has been invited twice to join exclusive performing arts’ panellists to speak about the lack of diversity in the Queensland improvised comedy scene, and how it impacts the audience and performers’ experience.

“One of the things I love about improv is how it has helped me to accept and work with other people’s ideas at work.” — Mandy

Ben Keane

Ben Keane is an electronic engineer by day and improviser by night and weekend who has regularly graced the stage since 2017. Ben created and co-directed an award winning improvised sci-fi comedy at the Brisbane Planetarium in 2018, and created, directed and performed in Real Live Fake News at the Brisbane ABC studios in 2019 during the Anywhere Theatre Festival. Ben has performed in the Brisbane Comedy Festival with Big Fork Theatre's Cool Story Bro in 2018, ImproMafia’s Theatresports in 2019, Big Fork Theatre’s Sing-A-Long in 2020, and Chris Martin’s Stand-Up vs Improviser 2022. Ben has even performed in improv shows in Canberra and Wellington, New Zealand. Ben has run improv jams, taught improv classes in Brisbane with Big Fork Theatre, and taught a special one-off workshop in Wellington at the New Zealand Improv Festival. He is father to two cats, Gypsy and Sprocket, and likes putting milo on ice cream. His email address is bitumen@hotmail.com and password is password123.

“Improv has given me the creative outlet I was searching for and brings as much joy to my life as jumping in the ocean.” — Ben

**Please note, this seven-week course is not suitable for children. If your child is interested in learning improv, please email us at blahblahblahimprov@gmail to find out about an age-appropriate workshop.