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Improv Comedy Techniques
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Character Work
By creating distinct and exaggerated characters, performers can generate humor through unique mannerisms, voices, and reactions.
Narrative Collage
By weaving together a variety of disjointed scenes and characters, an absurd and comedic tapestry emerges that can surprise and amuse the audience.
Edit
Performers use physical or verbal cues to transition between scenes, which can provide a comedic break or create a contrast that highlights the humor in each scene.
Callback
By referencing an earlier joke or situation in the improv set, it creates a shared memory with the audience and layers the humor.
Pattern Recognition
Performers pick out and repeat patterns in dialogue or action that can evolve humorously, satisfying audiences with rhythm and predictability.
Yes, And
It builds scenes collaboratively by having performers accept and build upon each other's ideas, creating a flow of agreement that progresses the narrative.
Space Object Work
The performers mime objects in their environment, which grounds the scene in a shared reality and can lead to humorous scenarios through physicality.
The Bat
Performers create scenes in complete darkness, relying on vocal skills and soundscapes to paint a picture, which can lead to imaginative and inherently funny situations.
Heightening
By escalating the situation or stakes, it increases the absurdity or emotional intensity, making the scene funnier or more interesting.
Emotional Commitment
By fully investing in their character's emotions, performers create authentic and often exaggerated scenes that can be hilariously over-the-top.
Word Association
Rapidly connecting ideas through association encourages quick thinking and often leads to unexpected and funny punchlines or scenarios.
Status Transactions
Playing with shifts in social status between characters can create comic tension and lead to unpredictable interactions.
Mirroring
Imitating another character's physicality or speech can result in humorous duplication and exaggeration, as well as showcase the connection between performers.
The Harold
This is a long-form improv structure that interweaves various scenes and themes, creating a web of connected stories that can lead to unexpected and humorous resolutions.
Game of the Scene
Identifying and exploring the central humorous idea or 'game' provides a clear focus for the comedy, leading to heightening and more precise jokes.
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