​A Wake - Intensive Long Form weekend

Dive into Spontaneous Theatre!

Unleash your creativity with our spontaneous play in two days, this is for improvisers with some experience seeking an intensive, fun, and transformative learning experience. This course delves into the practical and philosophical elements of Long-Form Improvised performance, equipping you with skills and confidence applicable to both your performance work and everyday life.

What You'll Explore

In this course, you'll learn how to perform "A Wake," a spontaneous theatrical production that explores memory—both real and imagined—through the unique lens of a funeral wake. You will undergo training which leads to a public showcase.

Through engaging, games-based exercises, you'll master how to effectively use:

• Characteristics & Relationships
• Authenticity (playing with honesty)
• Voice: Rhythm, tone, and delivery
• Story Structure: Incorporating narrative into scenes
• Transitioning: From Rehearsal to Performance

Who is this Course For?

• Improvisers: Deepen your skills and explore long-form improv, from rehearsal to performance.
• Actors: Sharpen your "in-the-moment" performance skills for stage and screen (including TV casting).
• Companies: Develop your own improvised performances or learn how to devise new spontaneous work.

Content Warning:

Please be aware that this training event explores themes of death and grief. While a Drama therapist (Su Jackson) will be on hand throughout the two days, if you believe these themes may be triggering for you, we advise against booking. Please consider your personal needs carefully.

Meet Your Facilitator: Mark Smith

Led by multi-award-winning director and improv facilitator Mark Smith. With over 30 years of experience and a PhD in the field, Mark brings a wealth of knowledge in improvisation and storytelling.

Mark's extensive performance background includes the weekly short-form show "Monkey Lab" (2001-2003) and the nationally and internationally touring long-form improv hit "Hoof!" (2004-2014), developed with legendary Burn Manhattan members Todd Stashwick and John Thies.

He's continued to innovate, creating numerous acclaimed long-form improvised shows such as Improvised Rubbish Shakespeare - The Incomplete Works, Talk to the Hand (puppet improv), The Fly, A Wake, the nationally touring The Story Forge: Make your own Myth and recently Taxi Tales for the Liverpool Improvisation Festival (LiF), which he also co-curates and runs.

Reviews for Mark's previous Work:

• "Improvised theatre at its very best" - At The Theatre ★★★★★
• "Talk to the Hand is great fun, highly skilled and very funny." - The Reviews Hub ★★★★
• "A Wake reminded me of Jim Cartwrights ‘Two’ and Caroline Aherne ‘The Royle Family’ – a slice of life made real amongst the buffet." - The Reviews Hub ★★★★

Host or Publisher Wing it - Impro & Stories