Impro

Improvisation and the Theatre

Keith Johnstone

Recommended By

Book Synopsis

"Impro" by Keith Johnstone is an influential guide to improvisational theater, providing valuable insights and practical exercises for performers and enthusiasts.

This book explores the principles of improvisation, emphasizing the importance of spontaneity, trust, and collaboration on stage. Johnstone introduces various games and exercises that encourage actors to break free from inhibitions and tap into their creativity.

He also discusses the role of status in improvisation, highlighting how understanding and manipulating status dynamics can enhance performances. Johnstone explains the concept of mask work, encouraging actors to embody different characters and explore alternative perspectives.

In addition, "Impro" delves into the power of storytelling and the creation of narratives on the fly. Johnstone explores techniques for building engaging scenes, emphasizing the importance of listening, reacting, and building on ideas.

The book also addresses the challenges and pitfalls of improvisation, such as the fear of failure and the pressure to be constantly funny. Johnstone provides guidance on how performers can overcome these obstacles and truly become fearless and spontaneous on stage.

Through its concise and insightful approach, "Impro" offers a comprehensive toolkit for anyone interested in improvisational theater, whether for performance, teaching, or personal growth. It is a valuable resource for actors, directors, educators, and individuals seeking to enhance their creative and collaborative skills in any field.

Explore More Books

See All
Little Brother
Dream Yoga
The Language Instinct
Breath
The Confessions
Maybe You Should Talk To Someone
Hatching Twitter
The German Generals Talk
Catch-22
Your Symphony of Selves
Quality of Earnings
Stuff and Nonsense
The Fish That Ate The Whale
Paradigms
Very Good, Jeeves
Going Infinite
Self Reliance
Race Against The Machine
Acts of Love
Mountains Beyond Mountains
Born to Run
Without Their Permission
Childhood and Society
Empire of the Summer Moon
Jesse Livermore - Boy Plunger
The Big Ship and Little Digger
Writing Down The Bones
Discourses on Livy
Biography of the Dollar
What You Do Is Who You Are
Irresistible
The Experience Machine
99% True
The New New Thing
The Butterfly Defect
In Search of Lost Time
The Greatness Mindset
V for Vendetta
An Unquiet Mind
Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore
Goethe’s Poems and Aphorisms
The Gray Lady Winked
Winning
An American Marriage
Zen Mind, Beginners Mind
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay
Essays and Lectures
The Myth of the Rational Voter
The Master Algorithm
The Cultural Cold War
Super Maker
Start With Why
Trick Mirror
The Marked Children
Becoming Steve Jobs
DeMark Indicators
A Walk in the Woods
Dark Towers
Bravey
Slaughterhouse-Five
The Mind Doesn't Work That Way
The Man Who Knew Infinity
The Journey of Crazy Horse
On Intelligence
An Everyone Culture
When I Say No, I Feel Guilty
The Terminal List
Three Scientists and Their Gods
Eat a Peach
The Intelligent Investor
Dealers of Lightning
Food of the Gods
Monsoon
The Wright Brothers
The Discovery of France
Meditation Station
The Harmless People
Dear Chairman: Boardroom Battles and the Rise of Shareholder Activism
Mastering The Market Cycle
Welcome to Your Brain
The Subtle Knife
Conspiracy of Fools
Poor Economics
Hidden Repression
Rework
Black Flags
A Brief History of Time
Teddy and Booker T.
The Infinite Game
When
Physics from Finance
Elon Musk
Olives
Sex, Drugs, and Rock 'n' Roll
Political Tribes
Turn the Ship Around!
Fiasco
The Coaching Habit
Taxes Have Consequences
The Blank Slate