Unleashing Your Inner Character(s): Lessons from an Improv Workshop
I recently embarked on a standout experience—a character-building improv workshop. It was an absolute blast, pushing me far beyond my comfort zone. Not only was it a whirlwind of exhilaration, it left me with sore abs from hours of laughter. This experience served as a powerful reminder that we all need more unbridled fun, creativity and looseness in our lives. Why does adulting have to be so serious most of the time?
Unlocking the Magic: If you're familiar with improv classes, you know that warm-up activities are always a pivotal starting point to help us tap into our subconscious and shed our critical minds. These exercises lay the foundation for the magic that unfolds. We kicked off with a few rounds of "zip zop zap!" where energy is circulated through the group at lightning speed. Then, we dove into a word association game—one of my faves—allowing us to unleash our creativity and fearlessly say the silliest, most nonsensical things. Our teacher, with their warm encouragement, reminded us from the start: "everything you say is perfect and right". This mindset propelled us into a space where we could think less and be fully present in the moment. The beauty of improv emerges when there is a safe haven where we can play and shed the weight of self-judgment.
Characters that Captivate: While many improvisation techniques focus on storylines and inciting incidents, this workshop centred around characters to drive the scene. With a strong, committed character, even the most mundane story can captivate and engage a live audience. Reactions become funnier, more compelling, and for the performer, it alleviates the pressure and nervousness associated with being put on the spot. By embodying specific personality traits and character perspectives, you unlock a framework that helps to guide your responses.
Character and Power of Perspective: An optimistic character finds the silver lining in every situation, while a suspicious character scrutinises and judges every moment. Simply adopting a character's vantage point narrows down our choices of how we respond. A well-developed character becomes the foundation for an incredible scene and leaves a lasting impression on the audience.
Applying the Lessons to Real Life: It dawned on me that these character-building techniques hold immense value beyond scene creation—they can enhance our real lives. We can harness them to build confidence and navigate various situations. The skills and exercises I discovered in improv proved to be invaluable tools for real-life situations. So, what are these specific techniques? These are the valuable learnings I took during this workshop:
Embody Your Character: Let your physical body emulate the character you wish to portray. Taking inspiration from the intriguing realm of power poses, straightening your posture and occupying space can boost confidence, reduce nerves, and increase assertiveness. By consciously adjusting our physicality, we can become the characters we want to be in everyday life.
Play with Your Voice: Explore the different tones, inflections, volumes, and speeds of speech to create the desired outcome. Just as we experimented with repeating the phrase "What a wonderful day" in various emotional states, we can intentionally curate our voices to be more confident, outspoken, or impactful in our everyday interactions.
Embrace Emotion as a Lens: Channeling emotions as a lens through which we respond to events adds depth and richness to our experiences. By intentionally tapping into specific emotions, we can shape our reactions and navigate life's twists and turns with greater clarity and authenticity.
Be Authentic: Lastly, one of the core tenets of improv is embracing who your character is and playing with it. Sure, the situation may require you to grow and change, and that’s part of the flexibility and growth.
The transformative power of character-building in improv extends far beyond the classroom. It can enrich our lives, grant us the ability to embody confidence, speak with impact, and navigate our experiences through the lens of authentic emotions.
Wherever you are, however shy or reserved (or maybe extroverted!), an improv class is a great place to experiment with character, but applying these character building techniques in real life can be a great way to adapt to different situations.
