An expression of interest form will be released on our facebook groups and participants will be selected from there. 

While it's possible to do a great scene with no suggestion whatsoever, or one based on a single word or phrase, we often want to have our improv inspired by richer source material. Some of the most comedic improv formats in the world involve scenes based on rich source material like a monologist's story, an audience member's online dating profile, or a viral video projected for the cast and audience to watch.

Rich source material allows us to create comedic ideas that, while improvised, will immediately ring as familiar and accessible to the cast and audience. Improv that the general public can understand and enjoy? What a concept!

When we have a clear comedic idea that we want to explore in a scene, we typically initiate with a premise - a line or two of dialogue which includes all of the information requried to start the scene: our who/what/where and an unusual fact, detail or point of view that we wouldn't expect. By starting with a premise and building towards a game, we are able to find comedy quickly and efficiently, and have a great time in the process!

This 8-week workshop will be taught by Adam Kangas, creator of TIC's longest-running premise-based show, The Remix. The hope is to give players the tools necessary to understand and perform great premise-based improv, and to inspire participants to pitch new premise-based shows for the theatre's roster.

Topics covered: 

  • Show structures using monologues, world news articles and viral videos as source material
  • The three types of ways to pull ideas from source material
  • Slicing "thick" vs "thin"
  • Initiations with clear character and premise
  • Position Play recap - identify and play the 3 common comedic scene types
  • Character "why" - want, perspective and detail
  • "The Hand Thing" - visual metaphor for how game manifests in a scene
  • Heightening a game via side support

Features a class show on the 8th of December

  • Workshop Session #1
    Saturday, October 19, 2019
    11:00am–2:00pm
Instructor(s)
Venue(s)
Course Fees

$575 Full / $525 Concession

Plus online booking fee of $5

Prices include GST

Course Prerequisites
Please to determine eligibility
Bookings
This course has concluded

Important dates, venues & times

Course calendar

Workshop Sessions
MoTuWeThFrSaSu
MoTuWeThFrSaSu
MoTuWeThFrSaSu
  • Workshop Session #1
    Saturday, October 19, 2019
    11:00am–2:00pm
  • Workshop Session #2
    Saturday, October 26, 2019
    11:00am–2:00pm
  • Workshop Session #3
    Saturday, November 2, 2019
    11:00am–2:00pm
  • Workshop Session #4
    Saturday, November 9, 2019
    11:00am–2:00pm
  • Workshop Session #5
    Saturday, November 16, 2019
    11:00am–2:00pm
  • Workshop Session #6
    Saturday, November 23, 2019
    11:00am–2:00pm
  • Workshop Session #7
    Saturday, November 30, 2019
    11:00am–2:00pm
  • Workshop Session #8
    Saturday, December 7, 2019
    11:00am–2:00pm

Meet your teacher

Instructor Profile

Adam Kangas

Adam Kangas is the founder and Company Director of the Improv Conspiracy Theatre, with over 15 years of experience with improvisation. He is an alumnus of the iO West and Upright Citizens Brigade improv training centres in Los Angeles and has trained extensively with some of the world's best improvisers in Australia and the USA. Under his direction The Improv Conspiracy Theatre has become a Melbourne institution that has trained thousands of improvisers and entertained countless audience members.

You can catch him performing at the theatre most weeks in F#*k This, I Quit and/or The Remix

Our community watering hole

Enjoy some good times downstairs at Theory Bar

Fancy a beverage after your next show or class session? Our ground floor bar is open Wednesday–Sunday.

Community members and ticket-holders get 10% off*

(* Sundays and Public Holidays excepted)

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