Back by popular demand, Black Swan’s Theatre Thrills & Skills Term Two course returns with Improvisation, presented by Sam Longley, occurring every Thursday from 22 April to 1 July. There are only 25 places available and this course fills up fast, so book early to avoid disappointment!

If you have ever dropped a line and found yourself blank, or been asked to go off script in an audition and panicked, or just realize that thinking on your feet is a good skill for life and acting, then improvisation is a tool you need.

Improvisation is the art of making stuff up. Actors often get bound to scripts and lost in text interpretation and they forget to create. Improvisation can unlock the actor and free them up to explore characters, narrative and connections. So learn to move beyond the script and immerse yourself in the art of improvisation.

Theatre Thrills & Skills is a program involving an intensive series of performance workshops for people over the age of 16. During the 10 week course, Sam Longley and participants will discover spontaneity, creativity, character generation, scene building, narrative structure and having a laugh.

Past participants have raved about the course and about Sam Longley, saying:

“A course that, with the assistance of Long-dude, let the foolishness crow and the confidence flow. (Do-do run, run, run. Do-do run run)” Harriet, 17

“Sam Longley delivered innovative, intriguing and inspirational classes on a weekly basis leaving me looking forward over the last 10 weeks, not to the weekend, but to Thursday nights. The two hours at the quaint Masonic Hall in Nedlands has been the highlight of my week with class seeming to finish too quickly, too early, too soon. I enjoyed classes so much I even arranged a recent overseas trip around Thursday nights!" Jennifer

Teachers are actors too! Improvisation is a fabulous teaching tool that will arm teachers with plenty of techniques to combat those students in class that like to steer the discussion away from topic. With the art of improvisation mastered, teachers can seamlessly guide their class back on track without the need to disrupt the lesson further.

“As a Drama teacher, it was very refreshing to switch roles and pick up some new improvisation skills, techniques and games that my students have since thoroughly enjoyed. The added bonus was Sam Longley's constant comedy, he kept us laughing every lesson!” - Shana

To secure your place in Improvisation – A Tool for Actors, log on to the Black Swan State Theatre Company website at http://bsstc.com.au/theatre-thrills-and-skills-term-two/ and download an enrolment form. Enrolements close 5pm Friday, April 20, 2010.

Or for further information contact Alena Tompkins on (08) 6389 0311 or email.