We recognise that every student develops at their own pace and has their own learning journey. Our class levels are simply a rough path through improv, with students only progressing to each new class level once they’re ready to do so. This approach to progression is designed to support steady skill improvement while ensuring each class remains a positive and effective learning environment for everyone.
Progression through our programme is based on readiness, rather than time or attendance. Teachers assess readiness on an ongoing basis and will recommend when a student is ready to move to the next level. If they’re not ready, then it’s perfectly normal to stay at their current level and to continue to improve and refine those skills and techniques.
We aim to balance two important priorities: supporting each individual student’s unique improv learning journey; and maintaining a class environment where all participants can engage fully with the class content because every student is at the same level of ability.
As a rough guide, the following indicates some of the skills we consider when assessing readiness for progression at each level.
Improv 1
- understand improvisation and how it works
- quieten the inner critic and improvise with others
- understand the language and theory of Keith Johnstone
- confidently play several theatre games and exercises
- understand simple story structure and tell an engaging improvised story
- mime clear and recognisable objects and activities
- improvise short scenes independently and without breaking
- good listening, justification and specificity skills
Improv 2
- recognise and play status games
- play rhythm and rhyming games
- improvise scenes with different emotions
- make active choices
- improvise characters distinctly different from themselves
- commitment to learning and wanting to get up and play
Improv 3 (when offered)
- play most improv theatre games when first introduced
- play scenes in several genres
Improv 4
- understand, initiate, play and edit scenes in the Chicago method
- understand and play Game
- pull scene ideas from source content
- tell truthful stories from their life inspired by only a single word
- play multi-character scenes with shifting focus
Improv 5
- confidently play strong characters distinctly different from themselves
- use a range of techniques to create new characters in the moment
- observe, point out and mimic the physical and vocal traits of characters and people
- improvise a La Ronde
Improv 6
Understand and play…
- position play
- long genre based performances
- heat & weight
- mapping scenes
- improvising a living room show format
Improv 7
- improvise long two player performances with multiple scenes and characters
- ghost multiple characters
- improvise a monoscene
- create new characters from a point of view
Improv 8
Improvise and analyse a Harold performance.
Improv 9
Perform a long solo improv performance using multiple characters, audience interaction and other solo assisting techniques.
Improv 10
This is a custom class level with guest teachers and content unique to each running of the class. Progression guidelines are set at the time the class is run.
Improv 11
- understand the process for creating new improv show formats
- co-devise a new improv show format as part of an ensemble
- understand a range of different show formats, their origins, attributes and uses
- work confidently and collaboratively as part of an improv ensemble