General Principles

A teambuilding day with The Spontaneity Shop is a crash course in comedy improvisation. The group will learn some of the skills that underpin what we do when we stand on stage in a theatre or comedy club and make up scenes, sketches and stories live in front of the audience. We know these techniques work - we rely on them night after night! At the end of the day, the group will stage a short informal performance and test out their new-found abilities.

Most people, confronted with this prospect will feel a certain amount of trepidation, maybe even terror! They believe (wrongly) that an ability to improvise and be funny is 100% innate talent. We know it can be taught. The journey they will take – from feeling that this is an impossible task, to beginning to understand the concepts, to enjoying the sensation of never knowing what is coming next and hearing the group roar with laughter – is incredibly empowering and very bonding.

Nothing brings a team together like a crisis - and this is a crisis we know we can resolve successfully.

Attendees also get to see each other in new lights and different contexts, and they play together, which is very important. Sometimes one really good "in-joke" can make more difference to team spirit than any number of exercises and acronyms!

Why Improvisation?

Improvisation is acting without a script, and improvisers learn to entertain an audience effortlessly without preplanning. Stage improvisers have developed a series of techniques that enable them to co-operate, communicate and solve problems extremely quickly.

These skills include...

Co-operation: When improvisers ignore their partner or are not sensitive to their ideas and wishes, the games and scenes don't work. Improvisers who don't build on their partner's concepts destroy the story that is being created. This philosophy of "accept and build" changes workplace dynamics dramatically.

Storytelling: Storytelling underlies every aspect of our culture. If you need to write descriptions, present reports, or just talk clearly to your colleagues, you will benefit from understanding how stories work.

Quick reactions: You don't have time to stop and think - you have to plunge in boldly and fearlessly. With us, improvisation actually becomes less frightening when you leap first and look later. This experience helps people deal with a changing work environment and fosters a positive attitude to risk.

People skills: A good improviser needs to be a "people expert". When your team learns about the subtle cues which dictate how people interact they will be able to identify and replicate them - in the workshop and back at work.

Specific Goals

The Teambuilding sessions we do for you will be tailored around your specific goals and we will pick exercises designed to draw out the behaviours which you want to encourage.

For more information, get in touch now or sign up for our next free taster day.