Course: Intro to Improvisational Theatre

Kaivalya Plays, in collaboration with NIV Art Centre invite you to...

Course

INTRO TO IMPROVISATIONAL THEATRE

A weekend course for everyone and anyone looking to add the magic of improv to their lives in a fun, safe and no-pressure environment, with a showcase performance at the end! 

Dates: Sundays, Beginning May 4, 11, 18, 25 & June 1

Timings: 12pm to 2:30pm every Sunday

Venue: Studio B, NIV Art Centre (MAP LINK)

Registration: INR 4999/- for the full course of 5 sessions and showcase at the end, and INR 1499/- per drop-in session.

Use code KPSUMMER15 to get 15% off on early bird prices until Friday 18th April.

About The Course

This course introduces the world of improvisational theatre (aka improv!).  Open to folks from all walks of life, you don't need to be an actor or performer, just someone with a zeal for telling stories!

This is a "no pressure" workshop, emphasising laughing and having fun while working piece by piece to put concepts together. The goal is to introduce the language and basics of improvisation to individuals with little to no prior experience. There will be a strong focus on stage time and instructor interaction. The workshop encourages listening, teamwork, positivity, and self-confidence through fun, interactive games, and exercises. Our methodology builds on the teachings of Viola Spolin and Del Close. 

Over five sessions, participants will learn: 

1. Location: Improvisers draw inspiration from immediate, general, and larger environments.

2. Character: Develop a unified expression using voice, shape, movement, rhythm, and distance.

3. Relationship: Engage with scene partners through listening, seeing, reacting, and silences.

4. Objective: Focus on a goal created with scene partners to build a compelling narrative.

5. Scenework: Build engaging scenes based on CROW with a shared goal with your scene partner.

Meet Your Facilitator

Varoon is the Artistic Director of Kaivalya Plays and a facilitator specializing in applied improvisation. His multi-disciplinary training includes improv training from Danielle Scott, Shawn Kinley, Elana Fishbein and Lacy Alana; clowning from Ashwath Bhatt, Gardzienice physical theatre techniques under Anna Helena McLean, mentorship in Classical Theatre by Ignacio García, and Forum theatre training from React UK. Additionally, Varoon teaches Stella Adler's Method acting, Rudolf Laban's Eight Efforts, and Rasa Theory from Natyashastra, among others. Varoon began his career in 2006 at the renowned Theatre Guild of Ancón in Panama. He has won Best Actor at the Short+Sweet Festival, as well as Best Director and Best Writer at the 48 Hour Film Festival Delhi. He has received over 20 commissions from the Embassy of Spain, Argentina, Ecuador, the Danish Cultural Institute, the Instituto Cervantes and Goethe Insitut to create work for Indian audiences. In 2018, he received the Refunction grant from Goethe-Institut to create Unravel, an improvised mental health piece performed in India and UK. In 2019, he was the first Indian to showcase at the Almagro Classical Theatre Festival in Spain with Marta la piadosa, and received the Gender Bender grant for Aguebao exploring gender and data. Additionally, Varoon has received grants  the Connections Through Culture India Wales (2021), IFA Research on performer safety (2022), Moleskine Creativity Pioneers Fund and EU Mediafutures Artists for Media grant for Mining Hate (2023), among others.

About Kaivalya Plays

Kaivalya Plays is a performing arts and production company led by Varoon P. Anand as its Artistic Director and Gaurav Singh Nijjer as its General Manager. Since 2012, they have built transcultural associations across India and the world. Their artistic work includes original, devised theatre performances that are multilingual, interactive, and hybrid, use technology and media on stage, and are built using techniques of improvisational, documentary, and physical theatre. Through a focus on education, training and community, their work spans diverse offerings of programs across artistic development, language learning, mental health, gender, accessibility, and transcultural collaboration. They have received multiple artistic commissions and grants through their collaborations with Instituto Cervantes Nueva Delhi, Goethe Institut Delhi, MediaFutures and other cultural partners. Their recent artistic work includes I, Josef (2024), The Pillowman (2024) ABSURDO (2023), Mining Hate (2023), Funes The Memorious (2021), Lifeline 99 99 (2021), Unravel (2019), amongst others. Most recently, they were awarded the Creativity Pioneers Fund 2023 by the Moleskine Foundation. Read more about their work on www.kaivalyaplays.org

About NIV Art Centre

NIV Art Centre, located on the southern edge of New Delhi near the picturesque Aravalli hills, is a creative hub dedicated to advancing plastic arts and new media arts while fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and cultural exchange. Providing facilities like artist studios, galleries, theatres, and residencies, it serves as a platform for emerging and established artists to create, exhibit, and engage with audiences. NIV focuses on bridging gaps between creators, distributors, and consumers, supporting artists from underserved regions, and promoting contemporary art practices through a blend of traditional studio disciplines and modern global influences. With a commitment to nurturing creativity and building a legacy for the future, NIV creates opportunities for artistic growth and broader public engagement with art.