From Chaos to Clarity: Strategies for Grounding Absurdity in Improv Scenes

This workshop is designed to help improvisers navigate the realm of absurdity by providing practical techniques to ground and focus scenes, allowing both performers and audiences to fully engage with the delightful chaos. In this workshop, we will dive into the art of creating comedic and meaningful scenes through the juxtaposition of the absurd and the relatable. We will cover topics such as playing talking animals and objects, engaging in alternate realities (e.g., scenes where we portray vampires), and embodying humans who engage in unconventional behaviors. Each participant will also receive detailed notes from the workshop along with multiple video examples to reinforce the key concepts covered.

Alfred Chow is an improviser based in Toronto who has performed internationally in over 20 cities, including places like Edinburgh (SCT), Lisbon (PRT), Chicago (USA), Uppsala (SWE), Oslo (NOR), Sydney (AUS), Los Angeles (USA), London (UK), and Bangkok (THA). He is the co-creator and producer of the shows All of Us Are Asian and All of Us Are Naughty, and has performed with Bad Dog Theatre in productions such as Maestro and Theatresports. He has also performed in and directed multiple Fringe Festival shows. In 2023, his duo Mahjong Mafia outlasted 90 other teams to win The World’s Biggest Improv Tournament. Alfred teaches at Bad Dog Theatre, leads corporate improv workshops for companies including Google, McKinsey, and Kraft, and coaches multiple indie teams. He has also taught workshops across four continents. Alfred has trained at world-renowned institutions such as UCB, iO, and The Groundlings, and has worked with more than 100 coaches throughout his improv career.

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