We are delighted to welcome Stephen Davidson, Artistic Director of Improvable and QI: Queer Improv, from the UK to teach this workshop.
About the workshop
Do you feel awkward playing genders different from your own? Just want to make sure you’re doing it well? Come along to this one day workshop and push your boundaries. We’ll build some useful improv skills often associated with gender, look at character traits from all over the gender spectrum, and have a chance to try some characters that are off the beaten path (and possibly outside your comfort zone!). Be vulnerable, be brave, try something new.
How can I make sure women, as well as trans and NB players, are heard and valued?
We'll talk about how to be a proactive ally to anybody who is being typecast, steamrolled, or hurt. Including practical steps to take.
How can I move past caricature choices and play gender more authentically?
We break down the behavioural and expressive gestures of gender into little pieces, which we can recombine to make characters with depth and integrity.
But I am afraid of offending people if I play trans or non-binary characters.
This workshop creates a safe space to talk about these characters and try them in a sensitive way that increases ouroptions and
awareness as actors.
Requisite Skill level
It’s recommended that participants have at least a year of improvisation experience and are comfortable with scene work.
About Stephen
Stephen Davidson is the Artistic Director of Improvable, QI: Queer Improv, Carmen: A gender-swapped Film Noir Fantasy, and co-director of Zeal: The Pride Improv Festival. He currently also plays with The Verbs, musical house team of the Nursery theatre, in Castles in the Air, an improvised Studio Ghibli film, and in duo The Happiest People in the World with Erick Castellan. Stephen teaches improv through Improvable and the Nursery Theatre, and is also a diversity officer for Hoopla Improv.
Stephen loves improv and one of the world’s most cheerful people when playing or teaching. When coaching and directing improv he prides himself on creating a positive environment so that players can perform at their best. Stephen likes his improv like he likes his partners; silly, clever, and emotionally connected. Stephen has studied improv through i/o Chicago, The Nursery, Annoyance, UCB, Hoopla, The Maydays, Music Box, Showstoppers, City Academy, Imprology, and with many visiting artists including Dave Razowsky, Bill Arnett, Tim Sozko, Heather Anne Campbell, Deanna Fleysher, and Lydia Hensler.
You can find out more on his website.