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Examples Of Improvisation In Drama

Decent Essays

What is improvisation and how can it be used to create drama/theatre?

Jade Sullivan - Extended response

Improvisation is a foundational style which is used to create ensembles, it is the art of being in a scene/s with no preparation. Improvisation is used to Refine theatrical pieces, create ensemble, and extend our own creativity. It forces us react imaginatively and immediately. Improvisation is used effectively in the examples of Augusto Boal and his 'Theatre of the oppressed', the French company 'Theatre Du Soliel' and an example from my own experience in class.

Theatre Du Soleil is a French drama company that started in the 1960's, it employs drama as the means of making performance and mainly uses improvisations part of the process …show more content…

Using improvisation encourages play and spontaneous exchange of ideas/ process. It can be referred to as an 'extension of child's play' as it stimulates offspring of child's play and it forces us to react imaginatively to offers; like a child might do in the playground. As a class, we have explored this idea in a game we play called "Space Jump", there are many alterations to the game but the general idea is this; one student starts miming an everyday activity and is told to freeze. A second player then volunteers to build another scene based on the frozen position of the first player. The original space jump then gets played backwards. This game helps us as actors develop necessary improvisation skills such as being able to accept offers, react to others and create ensemble. Games such as these, and improvisation in general allows you to explore your physicality and abilities to present different characters on the spot.

To conclude, improvisation can be used to creates ensemble, explore an individuals expressive abilities, polish Individual or group performance, and to generate ideas. In the creation of theatre, improvisation allows you to explore different personas/ life styles, and gives you the opportunity to see the world through another person's eyes. Through the examples of Theatre Du Soliel, Boal and my own class experience, improvisation is shown to

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