Improvisation workshop from Emily Murphy

Emily is an improviser and teacher from Hitchin, where she lives with her young family and runs State of Play Improv. She trained in devised theatre at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and has studied improv at iO Chicago and with leading practitioners from all over the world. She currently teaches independently and for Hoopla, London’s biggest improv school, and performs in a duo with Jennifer Jordan. 

Emily says....

Improvising is not only brilliant fun, it's a way to exercise our imagination, build confidence and work in a team to create weird and wonderful worlds, all totally made up on the spot! When we improvise we have to be an actor, writer and director all rolled into one, so it's fantastic training for all kinds of performance. Learning to deal with the unexpected is also very useful in everyday life too.  

The day will be split into two sessions:

In the morning we will focus on some of the core skills of improvisation: active listening, making and supporting offers and spontaneity. We will play games and work in pairs and small groups to get silly, let our imaginations run wild and practice accepting and building on our friends' ideas. 

In the afternoon we will apply these skills to create improvised scenes and stories, creating new characters and discovering new worlds along the way. 

Musical Theatre workshop by Ellie Ann Lowe

Ellie Ann hails from Burton on Trent in the Midlands and trained professionally as an actress at the prestigious Guildford School of Acting. 
She now lives in Hitchin, Hertfordshire with her husband Jonathan, their son Asa and rescue dog Favour! 

Ellie has recently finished appearing in Les Miserables on the West End and was with the show for five years. 
She has worked extensively in theatre, as a professional singer across the globe and in television too.

Clowning and Mime Workshop from Viki Jackson from Playface 

Playface is a play and comedy school that uses clown, improvisation and mindfulness to help people grow and enjoy life. We’re professional comedians and workshop facilitators who believe in the power of play to foster connection and learn skills. We run both private and public workshops, shows and playful activities for adults and children. Our workshops are high energy and engaging, positive and playful and have something for every personality.

Viki says.....

Step into the world of clowning and discover the joy of play, silliness, and connection! This fun-packed workshop will explore the basics of clown comedy, focusing on movement, mime, and physicality. Through games and exercises, kids will learn how to recognise what’s fun for them and their audience, building confidence and creativity as they go. No experience is needed—just a sense of curiosity and a love of laughter!

Isabel is a writer and actor from Hertfordshire. She studied Drama and English at the University of Manchester, where she developed a love for scriptwriting and was awarded the Robert Bolt Prize for Screenwriting. Her previous writing credits include ‘Changing Tales’, written for and performed by Ickle Drama students, and ‘Formerly Big Fish’, which enjoyed a sold out run at the Hen & Chickens Theatre in Islington. She is currently working on another play, while also performing her writing at various scratch nights.