Theatresports, an improvisational form created by Keith Johnstone in Calgary to bring the energy of competitive sport into theatre, has been a prominent part of Sydney’s performance culture for over three decades. Presented in a competitive format, it involves teams creating timed scenes based on audience suggestions and judged on narrative clarity, entertainment, and improvisational skill. This weekly class uses the Theatresports framework to develop students’ foundational and advanced improvisation abilities, including collaboration, character creation, storytelling, status, endowment, and emotional expression. Through this work, students build confidence, trust, and effective presentation skills, with full participation expected throughout.
The introductory level aims to introduce students to the basic techniques and rules of improvisation and Theatresports. Students will practice the basic rules of improvising and develop simple scene work based on physical and verbal offers, leading to the performing of Theatresports favourites such as Death in a minute and Double Figures. Students will explore character, status, narrative, voice, mime and stage craft.
This level workshop expands on the basic rules of improvisation and focuses on character, status and relationships leading to advanced scene work. Students will experience the teamwork and trust necessary to create successful improvised scenes. They will develop and focus on the relationships between characters, their status and objectives, advanced narrative and the improvised environment.
In this level workshop, students will hone in on their improvisation skills and continue to explore the fundamentals of improvisation – giving and accepting offers, working together, listening, creating characters and telling stories. Students will continue to work on their teamwork skills and build trust with their peers in a class format. They will develop advanced skills in expression and presentation both as individuals and with the group before applying their skills to a competition format.
Students will have the opportunity to represent the school in the Theatresports School Challenge. This is a dynamic, knockout-style competition where teams compete against other schools across Sydney. The challenge culminates in a spectacular Grand Final performance at the iconic Enmore Theatre.
Participants will first compete in preliminary heats, with successful teams advancing to the semi-finals and eventually the grand finals. Entry into the school’s competition program is by audition.
To be eligible for audition, students must be actively involved in the co-curricular Theatresports activity.
Theatresports games and concepts encourage students to unleash their ideas and explore and trust their imagination. It encourages creativity, lateral thinking and being present. Students will learn to be open to ideas and suggestions and become spontaneous in thought and action.