I’ve just finished a 6 week improvisation course with the Frankfurt theatre group TLS. It was SUCH a blast. I went to drama clubs all the time when I was in my teens, but I had to quit them when I got older. I’ve wanted to get back into performing for years but haven’t had the chance – and here was my chance!
It was a small group of just 14 people from all over. Aside from the teacher, there were only 4 other native speakers of English other than myself. It really made the improv games more fun to have international perspectives on things, and I learnt a lot from sharing and experiencing other peoples’ sense of humour.
Each class, we would focus on a different skill in improv – from learning how to set the scene with just one line, to learning to give and take in a scene and how to establish characters. It was made for the complete beginner so it was really easy to step right in there, but even for someone like myself who used to do a lot of this kind of stuff, there was plenty to learn.
On the last class, we had a little performance and I invited two friends of mine to come and watch us perform. It’s been so long since I’ve done anything like this, but it really was amazing. More than that, I made some really amazing friends there too – people I wouldn’t have necessarily met otherwise.
The next 6 week course is sadly fully booked now, but there is an advanced course in January which I would like to take. On the first Saturday of every month they hold a drop in session for a few hours in the afternoon, with tickets to see the professionals perform in the evening.
Even if you are not so much into the whole performing aspect of this, I highly recommend these classes. They are great for meeting new people and letting your hair down.
Find more information on this as well as all the other things TLS does on their homepage.
