class

You may have heard improvisers talk about in reverent tones about this mysterious thing called “The Harold”

What is it? How does it work? Why is it called “The Harold”

Not only will this 6-week course answer all those questions, but it will turn you into a Harold ninja. It will provide you with the knowledge and skills to perform this classic format, and at the same time improve your improv scene-work, boost your confidence, and arm you with tools to perform any kind of longform improv. Time to take your improv to the next level!

*spoiler – a Harold is a structure for a longform improvised show, lasting around 20-30 minutes. It is a format into which any style and kind of show can be slotted, and a scaffold for all sorts of improv shennanigans.  It was created in the USA about 60 years ago, and is still being taught and performed around the world. 

Jon Trevor

Jon has been teaching, performing and coaching improv for 16 years.

He trained at iO in Chicago, with the Maydays in the UK, with Showstopper, and with many other internationally acclaimed teachers.

He founded and performs with Box of Frogs , Birmingham’s longest running shortform improv troupe, whose performances include Improfest London, Ludlow Festival, Cheltenham Everyman, etc.

He runs Birmingham Improv, and is the Director of the Birmingham Improv Festival.

6  consecutive Sunday nights, June 21st to July 26th, 7.30pm to 9.30 pm
Moseley Hive –  93 Alcester Rd, Birmingham B13 8DD
£10 per session, all 6 session fees payable in advance (payment in installments available through paypal – see below).
If you are unwaged, contact us at info@birminghamimprov.com for a discount code.
Session is capped at 16 people.

Unless you’re one of those brave souls that does solo improv, you’ll likely spend most of your time improvising with other people. We’re going to spend 6 weeks exploring how we can be the best scene partner possible to elevate the scenes we’re in and generally be one of those improvisers who everybody wants to work with!

We’ll go deeper than “Yes, and…” to see how we can properly accept and build on whatever our scene partner brings, we’ll play with techniques for “getting out of your own way” to let scenes evolve spontaneously, as well as discovering when the strongest supporting move is actually to fearlessly drive the direction of the scene. This course should suit anybody who wants their improv scenes to be more playful and satisfying. My belief is that the more you try to make your scene partner look good, the better you look in the process!

Feedback from previous courses:

“The course was really good. I learned a lot, and feedback was always useful.”

“I thought the course was great. David really understands this, is really good at it, explains it well, and keeps it simple for beginners. It’s hard to be good at all of those.”

David Harvey

David first starting improvising and joined the Birmingham Improv Scene about 15 years ago. He performs regularly with Box of Frogs and hosts Birmingham Improv’s monthly Spaghetti Junction show. He manages a technology training academy in his 9-5 and is passionate about helping people get into tech, just like he’s passionate about helping people grow and develop their improvisation skills!

6  consecutive Sunday nights, May 10th To June 14th, 7.30pm to 9.30 pm
Moseley Hive –  93 Alcester Rd, Birmingham B13 8DD
£10 per session, all 6 session fees payable in advance (payment in installments available through paypal – see below).
If you are unwaged, contact us at info@birminghamimprov.com for a discount code.
Session is capped at 16 people.

Now sold out.  To go on the waiting list, email bookings@birminghamimprov.com

How do you go from improvising single scenes to larger stories with an overall story arc?

That’s what we’ll be exploring in this course, as we explore how to effectively chain together scenes with the same characters to tell a narrative. We’ll look at the common elements of story arcs, how we can give our protagonists clear wants and needs, and how to structure our longform improvisation so that it fits the classic beats of storytelling.

By the end of the course, we’ll have devised a longform format that allows us to tell an engaging story with a satisfying ending, and prepared to perform it at Midlands Improv Night!

David Harvey

David first started improvising and joined the Birmingham Improv Scene about 15 years ago. Today, he performs regularly with Box of Frogs and hosts Birmingham Improv’s monthly Spaghetti Junction show. He was also a founding member of Breakfast of Champions and helped to develop the Big Breakfast, their signature narrative longform format. He manages a technology training academy in his 9-5 and is passionate about helping people get into tech, just like he’s passionate about helping people grow and develop their improvisation skills!

5  consecutive Sunday nights, January 11th To February 8th, 7.30pm to 9.30 pm
Moseley Hive –  93 Alcester Rd, Birmingham B13 8DD
£10 per session, all 5 session fees payable in advance (payment in installments available through paypal – see below).
If you are unwaged, contact us at info@birminghamimprov.com for a discount code.
Session is capped at 16 people.