Oh November

My productivity and organisation lives and dies by my calendar management. I have multiple calendars and Gmail accounts, views for each of my kids and projects, public holidays and weather updates all in the same place. It's colour coded.

So when I realised after gathering interested parties, booking a room, sending info to said parties, and started planning the first Improv Gym session, that I had put it in my calendar incorrectly and I was in fact completely double booked I was MORE than a little frustrated. I booked the right date, and I emailed people the right date, and then I carefully logged it in my calendar on the wrong date. Simple but annoying.

Anyway - what's Improv Gym? An open access session where you can drop in and work out. Details below; thanks to my goof up I will no longer be there but I've asked monsieur Matt Powell to step in and run things. The only requirements are that you a) reply and confirm you are coming and b) if you say you are coming, you mean it. Koha towards room hire is welcome but not required. I was really looking forward to it so now I guess I'll just have to organise a second session sometime.

snippets

One of my many newsletters delivered me a gem - the power of 'Here's the thing...' in a scene. I'm immediately adding it to my kit of scene hand-brakes ('There's something I have to tell you...', 'What's this really about?') for when I feel lost.
Do you want to get newsletters from an awesome improv teacher about teaching improv? Laura Doorneweerd-Perry is an Amsterdam-based improvisor who teaches teaching online and has a course coming up late December. If you want to get more info and also hot improv tips in your inbox, sign up now.
Get rid/lower the amount of AI in your digital life.
Here's a weirdly useful thing - I'm a huge Ask a Manager fan and in a comment thread about IT issues this link about how to ask good questions was shared. I feel like this is something so relevant to us as improvisors, especially given the 'don't ask questions' advice that gets kicked around!

Promo image for Austen Found. Blue background with two laughing women in bright coloured bonnets and Edwardian dresses, a man in a red jacket and fancy hat smizing, and a drawing of Jane Austen with a goofy smile added to it.

coming up…

shows

Austen Found:The Undiscovered Musicals of Jane Austen (Penny Ashton, Lori Dungey and Jamie Burgess). Wed 18 Nov – Sun 13 Dec, 7:30pm (4:30pm Sundays) at Circa Theatre tix $25-45.
"Addicted to Darcy? Easily Persuaded? Bonkers for Big Balls? Aren’t we all! Join Ashton (Olive Copperbottom, The Tempestuous), Dungey (The Dinner) and Burgess, as they swoon, romp, and pianoforte their way through Austen’s world. Charming suitors, meddlesome mothers and surprisingly well-educated girls will all paint a vivid picture in song, dance and passionate handholding."
Nepo Babies In Space (Malcolm Morrison). 17-21 November, 6:30pm at BATS Theatre in the Dome, tix $15-25.
"Nepobabies In Space is an immersive character comedy experience where the audience becomes the bridge crew of a Star Trek-style spaceship."
The Wodyssey (Two Knocks Improv). 19-21 November, 7:30pm at BATS Theatre in the Studio, tix $15-25. Winner of Late Night Knife Fight #64!
"The Wodyssey is a completely improvised Wellington odyssey: a heroic journey through a city transformed by danger, temptation, strange encounters and questionable decisions."
Silly Billies - Monthly Alternative Comedy Show (Bucket Hutt). Thurs 26 Nov, 7pm - 8:30pm at Cavern Club, tix $10 online and $15 on the door.
"Silly Billies is Wellington’s premier alternative comedy playground. Every month, we assemble a line-up of the city’s top comedians and let them loose to test drive their weirdest, most experimental ideas."
Bonus: Austen Found Directors Talk: Penny Ashton and Lori Dungey. Thurs 19 Nov, 5pm - 6pm at Reading Room, Level 4, Te Papa, tix from $25.
"Join acclaimed performers and directors Penny Ashton and Lori Dungey as they share the story behind this beloved production, its enduring appeal, and the joy of creating Austen-inspired theatre without a script."

workshops

Improv Gym (Locomotive). Sat 28 Nov, 10am-1pm, Toi Aro, this month run by Matt Powell (yes, I was going to do it but see above). A opportunity to run a few exercises and then JAM - aiming for skills development and reps (and also fun!). Koha to cover the room hire, please RSVP by replying to this email and I'll add you to the list.
Social Media Workshop with Samantha Hannah. Sat 5 Dec, 1-3pm at The Fringe Bar, koha. How to get people to your comedy shows using organic social media. All proceeds to support the Humorous Arts Trust and the 2027 Wellington Raw Comedy Quest.
BLOOM: Sensory Improvisation, Psychodrama and Photography for Women (Andrea Ferpo). Sat 5 and Sun 6 Dec, 10am-2pm at Clyde Quay School, Mt Victoria, $200 or $270 if combined with Tools for Characters.
"An experiential workshop for women inspired by our female ancestors and the lineage they have left in our lives. It will be a very special and safe space to share through sensory improvisation, psychodrama, and photography."
Tools for Character Creation (Andrea Ferpo). Sat 12 Dec, 10am-2pm at Clyde Quay School, Mt Victoria, $100 or $270 if combined with BLOOM. This workshop is open to all.
"An experiential workshop for women inspired by our female ancestors and the lineage they have left in our lives. It will be a very special and safe space to share through sensory improvisation, psychodrama, and photography."
WIT Tuesdays (Wellington Improv Troupe). 6-8pm, Toi Aro, various teachers. Drop in, koha. Check the most recent newsletter (at the link) for info on this week’s session.