Keith Johnstone, Improvisational Theatre, 14 Rules and ImproRhetoric™

Keith Johnstone and the improvisational theater

Keith Johnstone is considered to be the founder of modern improvisation theater and thus provided me with numerous ideas for the development of improRhetorics™. Read the 14 “Rules” of improvisation theater. Models and wisdom for coaching and presentation skills. I do not only recommend the books and ideas of Keith Johnstone to participants in my workshops.

Overview

Keith Johnstone, founder of improvisation theatre

Keith Johnstone (* 1933) is regarded as the founder of modern improvisational theatre. From 1956 to 1966 he worked at the Royal Court Theatre in London as a dramaturg and director and taught at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Since 1971 he has passed on his skills and knowledge to the University of Calgary, Canada, where he founded The Loose Moose Theatre Company. In Europe Johnstone has taught at various drama schools and universities and continues to influence improvisational theatre to this day. I owe him many very useful insights, which today flow into presentation skills training and ImproRhetoric™ in particular.

14 “Rules” of improvisational theatre

You can also benefit from the suggestions of improvisation theatre in many other areas.

Wisdom for improvisational actors:

1. Be courageous

Be brave and dare.

2. Accept, yes, and …

Take the offer and make the most of it.

3. Play along

Acting instead of just watching.

4. Assert

5. Demonstrate commitment

6. Listen attentively

7. Be awake, in the moment and flexible

Humans have many ncredible talents, but multitasking isn’t one of them. If we are preoccupied with something else, we’re missing the now. We are best when we work in the now. It is important paying attention to and focusing on the present.

8. Support the partners and make them look good.

Take care of each others. Support each other. Start with that.

9. Support the scene

10. Observe the environment attentively

11. Practice, practice, practice

12. Promote what would please you as a spectator.

13. Trust

Learn to trust yourself and your inspirations.

14. Celebrating slips and moving on

Make mistakes, please. Whether in improvisational theatre or life, you can only succeed if you take action. When you attempt something and don’t succeed, it’s not that you failed but that you’ve learned. And when you try again, you’ll have a better chance of succeeding. Failure is not even trying.

More?

Is that enough theory? You can find out more about the practical use of ancient rhetoric in Presentations Skills Training III, without the need for ancient Greek or Latin.

Remarks:

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P.S.

What do you think of improvisational theatre and have you already come into contact with improRhetorics™?

This article is a short excerpt from the more comprehensive course materials my clients receive in a group or individual training or coaching.

Published: March 6, 2015
Author: Karsten Noack
Revision: February 3, 2020
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