Guest Masterclass: Modern Noir & The Heart of the Scene
About this Event
Workshop Overview
Modernising Film Noir & Getting to the Heart of the Scene
Step into a weekend built for narrative depth, atmospheric storytelling, and profound emotional connection.
In this two-day intensive with international improv director and teacher Pierpaolo Buzza, you’ll elevate your craft past surface-level tropes and dive into the rich, cinematic world of genre play and grounded scene work.
Across two dynamic full-day sessions, you’ll explore techniques for modern genre adaptation, character secrets, emotional truth, and the kind of authentic presence that turns scenes into captivating theatrical moments.
🎨 Day 1 – Modernising Film Noir
Film Noir is a beloved improv classic, but it often defaults to the same familiar tropes: fedoras, smoky voices, detective offices, and heavy crime plots. While fun, there is so much more beneath the surface.
In this workshop, we’ll move beyond the vintage decorations to explore the core themes of noir: the dark side of the human condition, how good people succumb to temptation or desperation, emotional scars, past secrets, and the nuance of the anti-hero. We’ll transpose these classic elements into a modern setting, exploring themes, topics, and relationships that feel immediate and resonant to us today.
Fair Warning: Real noir gets into the grit. We’ll be exploring themes that may push you out of your comfort zone. While we prioritize a supportive, intentional environment, we won't shy away from challenging topics—that’s where the magic of the genre lives.
Appropriate for intermediate/experienced players
(suggested: completed Impro 201 or above).
🤝 Day 2 – The Heart of the Scene
Beneath every memorable improv scene lies a beating heart—the emotional truth, the quiet moment, the unexpected connection. In The Heart of the Scene, we’ll train our instincts to find it.
This workshop invites you to shift from head to heart: to discover rather than invent, to feel rather than fix, and to follow the pulse of what truly matters to the characters. Together, we’ll uncover the emotional core that often hides beneath surface-level banter or clever ideas, discovering how far a scene can go when feeling leads the way.
Appropriate for players with a foundation in improv
(suggested: completed Impro 101 + 102/103 or equivalent).
📅 Schedule
Saturday, Feb 6: Modernising Film Noir
- 10:00–13:00: Morning Session
- 13:00–14:00: Lunch Break*
- 14:00–17:00: Afternoon Session
Sunday, Feb 7: The Heart of the Scene
- 10:00–13:00: Morning Session
- 13:00–14:00: Lunch Break*
- 14:00–17:00: Afternoon Session
*You can bring your lunch or head out — the Summerhall café & pub are just upstairs!
🧘 How to Show Up
- Arrive early: please plan to arrive 10 minutes before class so we can start and end on time.
- Dress comfortably: wear movement-friendly clothes that cover you fully (we’ll be moving throughout the space).
- Bring water: a reusable water bottle is encouraged — hydration fuels creativity!
🎟️ Prerequisites
We recommend all participants to have completed the Improv 100 (introductory) series.
And for Modern Noir, have begun study in the Improv 200 (intermediate) series.
Ages 18 and up.
👩🏫 About Pierpaolo (he/him)
Pierpaolo Buzza is a professional improviser, director, author, and actor from Italy, currently based in Belgium. As the Artistic Director of Impro Brussels (Belgium’s largest English-speaking improv school) and founder of the Brussels Shuffle (Brussels’ first international English improv festival), Pierpaolo is a cornerstone of the European improv community.
With nearly two decades of full-time experience on stage and a rich background in scripted theatre and playwriting, Pierpaolo’s teaching blends narrative precision, deep character work, and genre improvisation. He has directed award-winning theatre, performed alongside world-class improvisers, and mentored players at every stage of their journey—from total beginners to seasoned instructors. Known for his warm, insightful, and story-focused approach, he has taught and performed across the globe.
"Pierpaolo is a real master of this craft. His acting is wholly natural, seamlessly moving from effortless comedy to deeply compelling, grounded moments on stage." — Ramona Depares, Arts Critic
Prices:
1 Day: Earlybird £60 (use code DAYFUN at checkout) / Regular: £72
2 Days: Earlybird £108 (use code WEEKENDFUN at checkout)/ Regular: £132
Earlybird discounts until 1 month prior to start
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Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
GBP 77.46 to GBP 141.42
