Spreading the Transforming Power of Improvisation
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Paul Levy
- Male
- Brighton
- United Kingdom
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- Member Blog Posts (29)
- Discussions (32)
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- Groups (7)
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- Member Videos (3)
- Paul Levy's Apps (2)
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Paul Levy's Groups
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Brighton and South Eas...
3 members
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Swiss Ain
5 members
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Accreditation and cert...
12 members
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Ideas Cauldron
13 members
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London
65 members
Paul Levy's Discussions
Working and living "lightly" and negative innovation
1 Reply
Started this discussion. Last reply by Rita Venturini Nov 27.
Paul Levy's Page
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Latest Activity
For improvisors in Brighton and The South East, UK to meet, chat and share their upcoming shows
A recent theme that has emerged a few times in workshops I have had privilege of facilitating has pointed to a polarity between what might loosely be termed "eastern" and "western" world views.
The current (is it really "over"?) recession has led...
Excellent thoughts and insights, Rich.
I only add that creativity can sometimes flow through a catharsis born of an encounter with the uncomfortable, even the hitting of "rock bottom" that marks the beginning of the A.A Twelve Step Program. I sen...
This view is often controversial and people often accuse you of being miserable for expressing it. But here goes anyway.
A lot of people experience creativity blocks when they feel "stuck" and also when they feel tense and stressed. So many of th...
London AIN Evening Event and Day Game Swap - 30 people max! at Near London Bridge Station in a groovy arch room
December 14, 2009 at 7pm to December 15, 2009 at 5:30pm
(photo from http://www.firstpeople.us)
A London meeting for Applied Improvisation game fans and werewolves
We have 30 spaces for an evening of Werewolf followed by a day of exchanging applied improvisation activities. This event is suitable for ...
Still seems a lot
"“We in the west think of creativity rather than creativeness – we immediately seek results rather than seeking to be the kind of people who achieve them, which is putting the cart before the horse. We look for something which can be measured and ...
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, Leadership, Change Management, Communcation
- Any niche industries, skills, etc?
- collusion breaking, involutionist, technosopher
- 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've just located all my created activities and reflections on Applied Improvisation here:
http://rationalmadness.wordpress.com/about/cats3000-applied-improvi...
- 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
- How did you hear about this network?
- friend told me!
Inventing Improvisation
I'm keen to take Improvisation beyond the narrow confines of "Impro!" and "Improv", exploring the concept of improvisation in practice. I'm interested in the essence of the improvisational process, the improvisation moment, and authentic spontaneity. I am an inventor of new improvisation activities and exercises and keen to link up with fellow inventors and creators.
You can find my Applied Improvisation page here where you can download and read articles, reflections, ideas, activities and exercises I have created over the years.
You can find my Applied Improvisation page here where you can download and read articles, reflections, ideas, activities and exercises I have created over the years.
Paul Levy's Photos
Paul Levy's Videos
Paul Levy's Blog
Into the Woods - An Encounter Improvisation Exercise
This is an activity for exploring the dynamics of two people encountering each other. It allows exploration of:
- pair dynamics
- personal space and proximity
- connection and disconnection
- power and status
- eye contact
- interpersonal communication
- competition and collaboration
and many more themes!
It works best with a group of about 8-10 people though this can be varied.
The Process
Two people enter a wood, encounter each other. Six people or more stand still in the spa… Continue
- pair dynamics
- personal space and proximity
- connection and disconnection
- power and status
- eye contact
- interpersonal communication
- competition and collaboration
and many more themes!
It works best with a group of about 8-10 people though this can be varied.
The Process
Two people enter a wood, encounter each other. Six people or more stand still in the spa… Continue
Posted on November 20, 2009 at 3:30pm —
Crystal Ball - an exercise in present and future improvisation
This is a lovely game for exploring the role of "visioning" and "futuring" in improvisation. When is knowing or deciding the future a help or a hindrance?
Start with a group of five, with everyone else watching.
Decide a scene to be played out. For example, a picnic.
Choose someone to be crystal ball gazer (can be fun if you play this with a real crystal ball - a football or goldfish bowl will do!
At any point during the scene, a member of the audience can shout "Crystal ball!" at which poin… Continue
Start with a group of five, with everyone else watching.
Decide a scene to be played out. For example, a picnic.
Choose someone to be crystal ball gazer (can be fun if you play this with a real crystal ball - a football or goldfish bowl will do!
At any point during the scene, a member of the audience can shout "Crystal ball!" at which poin… Continue
Posted on November 19, 2009 at 10:30am —
Into the dark - a collaborative improvisation activity
This exercise explores the difference between visual and aural cues.
It can be done in a small group of three or a bigger group.
Stand in a small circle and begin a small improvised scene. You can have a rule that you must stay in the circle or, more challengingly, the circle can be broken and you can move into a fully acted scene.
This can be done with as many groups as you like as long as their is space to move. In a small room, keep people in their circle.
Examples of scenes can include:… Continue
It can be done in a small group of three or a bigger group.
Stand in a small circle and begin a small improvised scene. You can have a rule that you must stay in the circle or, more challengingly, the circle can be broken and you can move into a fully acted scene.
This can be done with as many groups as you like as long as their is space to move. In a small room, keep people in their circle.
Examples of scenes can include:… Continue
Posted on November 19, 2009 at 10:00am —
A Wonderfully Strange Improvisation Activity
A lot of impro games try to get you into the "spontaneity zone", in the present, in the moment.
Some bring you right up to the present moment, but still allow you a few seconds before the present moment to "make something up". And, after all, a few seconds before the "moment" is so damn near the moment, it might just as well be "in the moment" anyway.
But what about the moments "after the present moment"?
Sit in a circle and start to tell a group story. One short sentence each is enough. It c… Continue
Some bring you right up to the present moment, but still allow you a few seconds before the present moment to "make something up". And, after all, a few seconds before the "moment" is so damn near the moment, it might just as well be "in the moment" anyway.
But what about the moments "after the present moment"?
Sit in a circle and start to tell a group story. One short sentence each is enough. It c… Continue
Posted on November 18, 2009 at 4:00am —
The Breath Improvisation
This is another strange and wonderfully minimalist exercise.
Minimalist improvisation really can create a non-verbal experience of improvisation in its most essential form.
This is best done in threes, sitting in a circle, close together, set apart from other groups.
It can also be done VERY close together with foreheads touching.
It can also be done standing in a circle with hands on the high back of the person in front of you.
The aim is to be able to feel the breathing of the others in t… Continue
Minimalist improvisation really can create a non-verbal experience of improvisation in its most essential form.
This is best done in threes, sitting in a circle, close together, set apart from other groups.
It can also be done VERY close together with foreheads touching.
It can also be done standing in a circle with hands on the high back of the person in front of you.
The aim is to be able to feel the breathing of the others in t… Continue
Posted on November 18, 2009 at 4:00am — 3 Comments
Comment Wall (2 comments)
- 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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