'Close to You' is my signature workshop, exploring how to create safe, consensual, romantic and intimate improvised scenes on stage.

It’s the workshop I am most frequently hired to teach around the world. I’ve been training improvisers in this work for over 20 years, and I also became a fully trained Intimacy Coordinator to deepen and strengthen my knowledge, skills and expertise in this field. My goal is to give performers the tools, confidence and understanding to create rewarding, compelling intimate work while maintaining a strong culture of consent and safety.

What do we mean by intimacy in improvisation?

How do we give an audience the gift of a truly romantic love story — whether hilarious, heartbreaking or deeply moving?

How do we electrify an audience with sexual energy without becoming overly explicit? How do we create tension, vulnerability and chemistry? How do we break their hearts a little? How can we create intense, electric scenes while remaining connected to ourselves, our scene partners and our boundaries?

And why don’t we hear more honest conversations about sex in improvised scenes? We see these conversations and experiences explored constantly in film, theatre and music. Why not improvisation?

'Close to You' explores all of these questions and more.

I created this workshop because I saw a real need for improvisers to explore intimacy on stage. Too often, performers can “wimp out” of love and intimacy scenes because of fear, uncertainty or a lack of tools. The result can be scenes where the performers are playing it safe rather than fully committing to the emotional journey of their characters.

Performing a love scene is a skill, just like any other aspect of acting. It can be learned.

It takes trust, bravery, honesty, vulnerability and a willingness to take risks — perhaps risks you’ve never taken before.

Consent, boundaries and safety

I create a relaxed, playful and supportive environment where performers can explore this work through unique exercises, discussion, consent practices and safely guided scene work.

We talk openly about boundaries and what performers need in order to feel safe. I always make it clear that I will never push anyone into doing something they are not ready for — including kissing or physical touch.

Although physical intimacy is one of the themes we may explore, it is absolutely possible to create powerful sexual tension without touching at all.

We explore how to communicate consent, establish boundaries and remain connected to our scene partners while still allowing ourselves to fully inhabit the emotional world of the character.

What we explore

Through discussion, exercises and scene work, we explore:

• Consent and communication
• Building trust between improvisers
• Separating the performer from the character while still committing fully to the character’s journey
• Staging kisses, embraces and physical intimacy safely
• Eye contact, slowing down and reading body language
• Creating sexual tension without physical contact
• Vulnerability, chemistry and emotional connection
• Playing heartbreak, desire, conflict and romantic tension
• Breaking down barriers between ensemble and improvising partners
• Taking emotional and theatrical risks without crossing personal boundaries
• We begin with discussion around love, intimacy and consent before moving into a series of heart-warming and playful exercises designed to build trust, connection and energy.

From there, we move into a series of relationship-based scenes, gradually allowing performers to put the ideas into practice.

The aim is not simply to make performers more comfortable with intimacy. It’s to give them the skills and confidence to create richer, braver and more emotionally truthful scenes.

A note on boundaries

This work is an invitation, never an obligation.

Every performer has different boundaries, experiences and levels of comfort, and those boundaries are respected throughout the workshop. Participants are encouraged to communicate clearly, make informed choices and take only the risks that feel right for them.

There are no full-nudity or naked simulated-sex scenes in this workshop.

Trigger Warning

This workshop may include themes relating to breakups, heartbreak, sexuality, gender, heated arguments and raised voices, passionate encounters, intimate physical encounters and potentially toxic behaviours within relationships.

Participants will always be given context and guidance around the work, and consent remains central throughout the workshop." 

Prerequisites: This course is by Application only. This course is designed for experienced improvisers who are ready to deepen their practice and work within a committed ensemble. You must have at least two years of Improvisation experience.  Places are limited, and participation is by application rather than first come, first served. Not every applicant will be selected. When forming the group, we will consider each person’s experience as well as the overall mix of participants, aiming to create a balanced ensemble with a variety of perspectives, strengths, and improvisational styles. 

Please fill in this form to apply Click here

Questions? Contact our workshop co-ordinator Katherine.

Age requirement: 18 and over. Please see our Impro in Schools programs for anyone under 18.