In this workshop, we will explore and experiment with contemporary methods of improvisational theater—the art of making up theatrical moments on the spot, without a script. It is one of the most vibrant and current forms of theater of today and is deeply ingrained in US popular culture.
You will first learn the basic principles of improvisational theater and how to apply them to improvised scenework. Later, you will encounter a specific performance structure that will serve as a framework for a public performance.
Through this work, you will build confidence in public speaking, explore practical approaches to collaborative creation, and gain insight into the production and marketing process of a theatre production. In addition, we will reflect on how these skills can be beneficial both in academic contexts as well as in the professional world beyond academia.
There will be a regular class on Monday 2.15-3.45pm during the semester, in which we will cover the basics of improvisational theater, followed by an intensive in the lecture-free period (2-6 March 2026, 10am-1.30pm) led by the student assistant Tarja Spiekermann, which will focus on a specific performance structure and prepare for a public performance on 7 March 2026. If you participate in the theatre workshop, you can choose either to be a performer or take on a behind-the-scenes role in production and marketing.