Improv Comedy for 15 - 17 Year Olds

Monday to Friday, 10 am – 4 pm, one week

Indicative maximum class size: 16

Improvised comedy, or ‘improv’, is a type of theatre with no script, no pre-planning, and no second chances!

Actors jump on stage in front of an audience and create scenes, stories, and whole shows based on nothing but their wits and teamwork.

It’s fun, laughter-filled, and anyone can do it.

Secure your place with a deposit

If you're booking two months or more before the course starts, we can accept a £100 deposit to secure your place.

The balance is due one month before the course starts.

Course Description

In a fun-filled five days, you will learn the fundamentals of improv: active listening, teamwork, taking risks, and learning to love your mistakes.

This practical course in improvisation is perfect for anyone looking to build communication skills; from serious drama-lovers to class clowns, to those who love the idea of 'team sports' but hate the 'sports' bit.

On this engaging and collaborative course, you will bring together techniques from devised theatre, storytelling, and comedy, to give you essential skills you can take into the real world - and a hilarious week you will never forget.

During the course you will:

• get to know what improv is and how professional actors use it
• learn to think as a team and focus on idea generation together
• practise active listening
• build believable characters
• learn that mistakes are gifts and how to utilise them effectively
• consider how to put stories across on stage, including imaginary environments
• complete collaborative storytelling exercises
• take part in improv workshops where you will share and discuss work and give and receive constructive feedback.

What will I gain?

By the end of the course, you will have learnt how to invent whole shows on the spot as a team.

You will have also built confidence, developed your listening and communication skills, and learned skills to build your resilience around failures.

You’ll also have the opportunity to show your final performance to your friends and family on the last day of the course.

Level: Open to all

Entry requirement: You should have an enthusiasm for sharing ideas and an interest in developing your communication skills.

Where you’ll learn: You will be based on the City Campus and will find modern teaching spaces to develop your ideas and improv skills.

You’ll also have access to our library to use outside of your short course; whilst you can’t reserve or take away books, you are welcome to use them as a resource for research and referencing.

Tutor Profile: Liam Webber is an acclaimed improvisational comedian and tutor from Nottingham.

His supportive energy and infectious enthusiasm will guide you through the course, allowing you to take risks and have fun while learning and growing.

A graduate of the prestigious iO Theater intensive training programme in Chicago, Liam has performed improvised comedy around the world from New York to Copenhagen, represented England at the inaugural Edinburgh International Improv Festival, and is a veteran of five Edinburgh Fringes.

Liam has been teaching and facilitating courses in improv, storytelling, and their applications for over six years and can’t wait to pass on his enthusiasm and knowledge.

Need accommodation?

You can book a self-catered, single room with private bathroom on our city campus, right next door to our studios and classrooms.

If you're aged 16 or 17 then you can stay unaccompanied with agreement from a parent/guardian.

If you're aged 15 then you can stay as long as you are accompanied by a parent/guardian. 

Find out more at: www.ntu.ac.uk/summeraccommodation

Doing your Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award?

This course can count as your Gold DofE Residential.

DofE participants must book both the course and accommodation on campus for this to count towards your Gold Award.

Looking to turn your one-week course into a two-week experience?

If you can match this with any second course, you’ll receive a 10% refund on your course fees.

You might be interested in:

Creative Writing for 15 – 17 Year Olds

Any questions?

Contact the short course team:

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +44 (0)115 848 2813