Spirit of the Staircase –  the agony of this imperfect artform   Oh improv, you wild and beautiful beast. A playground for the creators and the dreamers; a refuge for the perfectionists and the overthinkers because it is a place where you can only be truly present. Where you can only be in the here...

by Jen Rowe Less of a blog, more of an improv platter. Here are the 25 improv or very-improv-related shows I’ve found for your spontaneity-loving eyes. This year, we have some old favourites plus some brand-new-to-Brighton newbies, visiting us from all over the country.   At a quick glance, I see shows and improvisers from...

Improv for professional development is becoming an indispensible tool for business trying to adapt to the fast changing environment we find ourselves in.  Increasingly companies are embracing the power of improvisation to improve their wellbeing, agility, communication and connection within a business and with clients.  Improvisation is already a deal-breaking skill and most of the...

by Jon Nguyen Recently I had to choose between two Improv events, one in Chester and one in Nottingham. Both with fairly similar structures,  two amazing improv teachers I respect greatly, from the West Coast of America Michelle Gilliam and Vanessa Anton. Nottingham is physically closer to where I reside in Norwich and far easier...

by Katy Schutte I just came back from Hamburg where I was teaching and performing for TÖRN festival. It’s difficult to be positive in the times we are living in and I was so happy to be at a festival where the theme was ’How do we want to live?’. I was reminded that improv...

Learner’s Journey   Four years ago, I started learning British Sign Language. I don’t really know why beyond the fact that a few friends had told me in recent years that they were learning and I became insanely jealous. Eventually, after several friends and several bouts of hot green eyes, I got the message and...

Reconnecting    After an unprecedented couple of years of getting square-eyed and talking through screens, the UK government has removed restrictions and given the green light to go hugging, hanging and working together In Real Life again. Whatever your opinion about that decision, it is clear that we are now entering an unusual transitionary period....

Hello you lovely lot. Just a quick hi to let you know the latest news and what’s in store for spring over at Maydays HQ. Yes, it’s spring. Even though we’re still in our thermals, the crocuses are up, and we’re keeping a beady eye out for more sunshiny days. First up, you may be...

To make an improvised pancake, you need to be incredibly good at object work, otherwise, you will end up with improvised batter all over your scene-work kitchen. To start, make sure your space-work surfaces are clean and that you have put all your object-work ingredients in a place you will remember. After all, the last...

Intro As someone who has always been fascinated with language (easily getting lost in poetry, etymology, linguistics, and learning other languages) I was excited to see that the UN officially recognises an International Mother Language Day every year. Driven by this knowledge I began to ponder the inherent differences of improvising in various languages. I’ve...

How Improv Classes create Relationships We at The Maydays were delighted when our first ‘Improv Couple’ got together.  They met at one of our improv classes, improvised together for 8 weeks and – BOOM!  Since then we have seen a succession of couples emerge from their time improvising together with us and elsewhere.  In some...

Reasons for being “nice” by The Maydays, Ed Fargher   People like to say that I am a nice guy, or that I have an excessively positive outlook. Even when I was young. It would be the words I heard from every girl I fancied that didn’t fancy me back. “You’re so nice.” And it’s...

Present and Different by Katy Schutte (Re-written from my article in Status Magazine, May 2021) Four years ago I started jogging. I found it incredibly difficult getting through the Couch to 5K. A friend had taken up jogging at the same time I had and was quickly racking up the miles, thrilling that it was...

Rhiannon Vivian   Happy winter solstice! A time where we try to hibernate as much as possible, stay in and do less. But ironically also a time where we don’t get to hibernate at all, go out a lot (‘ARE YOU COMING TO THE CHRISTMAS PARTY?’) and do more. A lot more. Travel, work ‘do’s’,...

I was made aware that it was International Mountain Day on Saturday. I have done precisely zero research as to the intent or context of International Mountain Day, but funnily enough the very idea of standing at the foot of a mountain is enough to get me thinking a lot about the mountainous tasks that...

Connecting with Online Musical Improv A blog from The Maydays, Rebecca MacMillan. You know that friend who constantly pesters you to try an experience you haven’t had before, and then you reluctantly try it thinking you will HATE it but however you manage to move on from there with your friendship, at least that will...

It’s that time of year again. Yesterday we put up our Christmas Tree. I love doing this! I love the shift in gear towards the festive season and how it makes me feel. This is the 41st time I’ve seen a Christmas, and every year a tree is in the house.  A. Tree. In. The....

Brighton Community Focus On: Scoops! by Jenny Rowe Last month, I met up with Ben Tucker and Simon Goodway – the minds behind Brighton’s own Scoops. But what is Scoops? I hear you cry. Scoops is an improv cabaret night that finishes with a Jam. It’s a lot of fun.  You should go. “You started...

Jennifer Drew Pictures by Jennifer Jordan   I wanted to write something, but couldn’t get an idea to land. Nothing stuck, nothing stayed, nothing gave me joy. Then I taught a Beginners class on character and played my favourite game of ‘Sassy Carrot’ (You may also know it by another name of ‘Adjective+Noun’). Every time...

Scholarship Blog: Maydays Improv Retreat 2021 By Hon Chong   After having a bit of time to personally reflect on and digest my experience, I’ve finally managed to write down my highlighted experiences and thoughts from my first Maydays Improv Retreat.   Before the Retreat On 5.10.2021, I received an email from Maydays with the...