The Applied Improvisation Network

Spreading the Transforming Power of Improvisation

Paul Levy
  • Male
  • Brighton
  • United Kingdom
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Here it is reprinted but added to: Is spontaneity a moment? Or does the spontaneous "event" actually occur outside time? Is spontaneity a split-second conscious "in the moment" decision or is it something that cannot be conscious but surprises ...
November 6
I recall how irritated I was at drama school when they suggested we 'rehearse' the improvisation! How can that be possible? Or were they just misusing the word? Are there particular perfect conditions for 'in the moment'? Out of the city, away fr...
October 27
Paul Levy added a discussion to the group Ideas Cauldron
Is spontaneity a moment? Or does the spontaneous "event" actually occur outside time? Is spontaneity a split-second conscious "in the moment" decision or is it something that cannot be conscious but surprises us "in the moment"? Does an in-the-m...
October 26
Paul Levy might attend Belina Raffy's event
Games Constructive People Play at The Blue Fin Building (IPC Media)
October 27, 2009 from 7pm to 9pm
Join us in London on Tuesday, 27th of October from 7-9pm. What happens when Applied Improvisation meets Transactional Analysis (TA)? Well, we co-create new, enjoyable, positive experiences in the form of games. In this session led by Paul Z Jack...
October 15
A place to share the philosophy and fundamental ideas of Improvisation
October 14
Paul Levy has set up their private workspace using Huddle Workspaces.
October 3
Jodi Cohen joined Paul Levy's group
A place to share the philosophy and fundamental ideas of Improvisation
September 22
Paul Levy added a discussion to the group Ideas Cauldron
Overcoming Resistance to Change Exercise: Create group improvised scenes exploring each of these styles and then debrief. The Directive Approach The Aim: 100% Compliance and functional commitment, regardless of emotional buy-in The Approach: ...
September 12

Profile Information

Where do you live and work? (City)
Brighton, UK
Professional Skills
Organisational theatre director and writer, collusion breaker and facilitator
What is your main interest in this network?
Education, Social, Finding Partnerships, Improv Resources
What kind of person are you?
24-7
What kinds of improv-related services are you involved in?
Creativity, Innovation, Communcation, Leadership, Change Management
Share a favorite 'improv epiphany'
The use of improvised film in theatre work
More about you: (Short Bio or any other details you'd like people to know)
I sometimes refer to our work as organisational exorcism, we use organisational theatre as an approach to creating critical incidents and collusion breaking through the mirroring of drama. We also use improvisation within scripted theatre and film work in organisational artistry.
I need help with...
Further exploring how improvisation can be used in theatre work in organisational settings.
Work Website
http://www.rationalmadness.com
Blog or other personal website
http://www.cats3000.net
Skype Name (Skype.com is the most popular free internet audio/text chat and more)
rationalmadness
Other contact info (Your choice for phone, email, facebook, myspace, etc.)
winneralan@hotmail.com

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Paul Levy's Blog

Paul Levy

John Cremer discusses Improvisation.

John Cremer discusses Improvisation.

http://www.fringereview.co.uk/pageView.php?pagename=Improvising%20An%20Interview%20with%20John%20Cremer

Posted on May 9, 2009 at 5:24pm —

Paul Levy

Scripted Improv - an activity

For a group of 5-8.

This can be done seated or walking around.

It can be done with one copy of a script shared, or one copy each.

Find a piece of writing - from a play, a story or even an article.

Someone starts reading aloud (can also be sight-performed). At any time someone else takes over, even in mid-sentence and carries on until the script has been fully read together. Whole sentences might be read by one person, or just one word before someone takes over.

The idea is to play with the… Continue

Posted on October 1, 2008 at 12:13am — 3 Comments

Paul Levy

A neat little breathing exercise

The aim of this exercise is for a group of 3-7 people to complete a breath together.

Stand in a circle.

The exercise proceeds around the circle in sequence and should be done gently (to avoid hyperventiliating!)

The first person breathes in a little and everyone breathes in a little with him/her, following the pace and amount of breath. The seconf person is tagged with eye contact (or takes over spontaneously) and continuies, taking a little more air in. This continues round the circle until… Continue

Posted on October 1, 2008 at 12:08am — 1 Comment

Paul Levy

A rather different Impro warm up

Needed - some large paper (perhaps flipchart paper), pens or crayons)

A group of 3 to 5 people.

Put the paper on the floor, give everyone a pen or crayon and ask them to gather around a large piece of paper.

Touch each person on the shoulder and allocate them one of the following each:

- circle
- square
- line
- dot
- squiggle (a chaotic line).

Then say "start"!

The exercise can have as many rounds as you like. Start with 3 rounds and then stop, look at the pictures and share a bit of disc… Continue

Posted on October 1, 2008 at 12:02am —

Paul Levy

An exercise in falling into impro

For a group.

Stand in a circle.

Simply focus on breathing calmly at whatever personal pace suits. Quiet breathing.

At any point someone can say the word BEAT. When they say beat everyone must look at them and hold their breath.

Slowly the breathing returns to normal.

In discussion afterwards, explore what triggers a person to instigate the word "beat".

Repeat the activity for longer until the moment when beat is said is not managed or planned but arises in the moment.

he exercise is very… Continue

Posted on September 30, 2008 at 11:30pm — 1 Comment

Comment Wall (2 comments)

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At 7:21am on September 30, 2008, Belina Raffy said…
Hi Paul,
Just wanted to say how inspirational we found your play 'Recycled Dreams'. It captures so many crucial, REAL dynamics in organisations that typical sustainability movements kick up. Fantastic!!!
I'm telling lots of people about it. Fingers crossed - even more organisations will run it in-house. See you on the 13th.

Best wishes,
Belina
At 2:57pm on November 27, 2007, Paul Levy said…
I wonder what you think of the view that the use of role play and "forum theatre" (where issues can be addressed through a mix of performance, reflection, questioning, directing and re-directing business problems and situations) usually ends up creating a collusion of niceness.

The day can be engaging and real for trainees and workshop participants. Yet ultimately they become compliant, simply "behaving themselves" and serving more the needs of the facilitator to "run the session" than really serving their own and their organisation's needs.

Does groupthink arise? Do participants learn that, if they respond in certain ways, they are rewarded with smiles and encouragement. If they challenge too much or make things difficult, they tend to be labelled asd trouble makers and singled out through selective discussion and questioning?

If the forum theatre scripts are to pre-planned, too contrived, too "off the shelf", there is a danger that the resulting exploration of "issues" will be pushed along pre-existing "rails of meaning", rather than enabling emergent learning.

What do you think?
 
 

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