Level One • Level Two • Level Three

Level One

We suggest that everyone begins their work with The Spontaneity Shop by taking our eight-week, Level One class, even if you have some prior improvisation experience.

Although certain basic concepts are common to all improvisation teaching, the world over, we place a particular emphasis on narrative and complicity and the best way to discover our advanced techniques is to start by understanding our foundation.

The Level One workshop assumes no knowledge at all of improvisation, however. In fact, it assumes no performing experience and it attracts a very wide range of participants, from actors and comedians to people who haven't been on stage since their school nativity play (and possibly not even then). Regardless of experience, learning to improvise is challenging, and at the same time enormous fun. Our workshops are always filled with laughter as people discover just how funny they can be, once they stop trying so damn hard!

If you miss the beginning of the Level One programme and can't wait for the first class to roll around again, we offer an intensive weekend "Level 1A" which will catch you up on the first four weeks of the course in just two days. Following this, you can then continue with the second half of Level 1 by booking for the Level 1B when it is next offered.

Level Two

If you successfully complete Level One (students who miss more than two workshops out of eight may be asked to retake the Level) you will be eligible for our Level Two class.

Students take the eight week Level Two class at least twice, although no material is repeated, concluding each eight week session with a pair of public performances, usually using the popular Maestro Impro format. During these workshops, students move from being beginners to understanding what they can bring to improvisation and discovering the differences between improvising in a workshop and improvising in front of an audience.

Level Three

For advanced students who can't get enough Spontaneity Shop improvisation, Level Three offers more performance opportunities, mixing three shows with eight workshops so that students get individual feedback on how they are applying the skills they have learned.

Access to Level Three is by invitation only.