Improvisation in Prisons and Rehab Centres - Request for Ideas and Experience

[Belina Raffy]

Hi All!

I'm gearing up to support a fantastic intensive programme designed to help transform the lives of people in prisons and drug rehab centres around the UK. As part of the communication and interpersonal skills module, I've been asked to design a half-day of applied improvisation exercises. I've done similar programmes with corporates, yet would love any ideas on what particular exercises and methods of delivery might work brilliantly with these two groups.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Best wishes,
Belina

[Belina Raffy]

Hi Brent,

Thank you for your reply. What I've heard from the program creator (I haven't worked with them directly yet) is that there is a lack of awareness of how what they are projecting reflects on them - especially in situations like parole hearings, job interviews, etc. Part of it will have to do with how ideas are framed - finding how to frame them positively. As you said, I'm looking forward to learning a heck of a lot myself and I think your idea about the narrow application sounds right. What types of exercises do you use with your just-out-of-prison guys?

Best wishes,
Belina

[Belina Raffy]

Hi Brent,

I really appreciate your thoughts on this. Would love to hear more about 'improcybernetics' too - are there any articles on it? 'Fancy a quick brainstorming Skype call sometime?

AND - is Gotham still running improv classes? I took my first impro classes in Manhattan in (eep) 1996. Loved every minute...

Best wishes,
Belina

[Anne Pensalfini]

Hi, Belina,

Sounds great, best wishes for the program.

The Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble is currently doing it's second incarnation of a program that fuses Augusto Boal's Theatre of the Oppressed (TO) and Shakespeare. Write me and I can get you in contact with the program's lead facilitator, if you think that would be useful. TO uses lots and lots of improv, and although there is a complex methodology behind it, many of Boal's games can be used for whatever you need them for (see his book, "Games for Actors and Non-Actors").

I'd be very curious to hear about your work with corporates, too!

Kind regards,

Anne Pensalfini

[Belina Raffy]

Hi Anne,

Great! Thank you! I'd be delighted if you could connect me with the program's lead facilitator. And happy to discuss corporate work and hear more about your work. I went to Brisbane a few years ago and really enjoyed it. You have the happiness dentist, Paddi Lund over there. I saw him speak a few times and really enjoyed his book, the Happiness Centred Business.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Best wishes,
Belina