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Impro: Improvisation and the Theatre 1st Edition
Keith Johnstone (Author) Find all the books, read about the author, and more. See search results for this author |
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- ISBN-109780878301171
- ISBN-13978-0878301171
- Edition1st
- PublisherRoutledge
- Publication dateJanuary 7, 1987
- LanguageEnglish
- Dimensions5.24 x 0.47 x 8.22 inches
- Print length208 pages
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"Impro ought to be required reading not only for theatre people generally but also for teachers, educators, and students of all kinds and persuassions. Readers of this book are not going to agree with everything in it; but if they are not challenged by it, if they do not ultimately succumb to its wisdom and whimsicality, they are in a very sad state indeed . . . .Johnstone seeks to liberate the imagination, to cultivate in the adult the creative power of the child . . . .Deserves to be widely read and tested in the classroom and rehearsal hall . . .Full of excellent good sense, actual observations and inspired assetions." -- CHOICE: Books for College Libraries
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Product details
- ASIN : 0878301178
- Publisher : Routledge; 1st edition (January 7, 1987)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 208 pages
- ISBN-10 : 9780878301171
- ISBN-13 : 978-0878301171
- Item Weight : 8 ounces
- Dimensions : 5.24 x 0.47 x 8.22 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #44,437 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #9 in Theater (Books)
- #26 in Acting & Auditioning
- Customer Reviews:
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I heard about this book on Patrick O'Shaughnessy's Invest Like the Best podcast. I bought it and am very glad I did.
The poem in the introduction is alone worth the asking price. If you want a contrarian's take on thinking, buy this book and read it. I think it will change your way of thinking on some topics.
And while this is indeed discussed in this book, there is so much more. While ostensibly a book on teaching techniques for better improv theater the reasoning and discussion on *why* this or that technique works is amazing.
The author talks about why most formal education stinks, why people who try too hard to be original often are anything but, how and why people befuddle their own imagination and inventiveness, and how one can get around all that.
Even if you never partake in any improv theater the book will give you interesting and useful ideas on how people (including you) perceive things, how people react to the unfamiliar and challenging, and how you can open yourself up to more rewarding experiences.
Ideas that stuck with me:
Status games (the See-saw in particular)
Spontaneity (how it's unlearned at school and how to get it back)
Narrative skills (and the inability to let go and follow your instinct while piecing stories together)
Masks and trance (the ideas seemed outlandish but somehow the author convinced me that they're true - and I want to know more!)
It's the first book I'm giving a 5/5 to not because I thoroughly enjoyed it, but because I think it's a book that absolutely should be read. Not for the quality of writing, but for the overwhelming quality of ideas portrayed inside.
I didn't want to put it down but felt compelled to take a moment right now to share with others. I have teacher friends and relatives who will value this book; friends with children who will treasure it; and friends and strangers in general seeking a bright, colorful, fascinating, puzzling, moving world, who may come to experience it.
The vignettes, each and all that I've read, speak deeply to me with meaning and delight, and I wanted to share something from the book to give a sense of that, but the challenge of picking just the right sentence or paragraph left me flummoxed. I want to include more and more and more, until, well you should have the whole book, anyway.
Thankfully, Amazon offers a "Click to Look Inside". Now I've been fooled by rave reviews and 4+ stars before, and perhaps this book won't speak to some people (I'm so sorry), but even the first paragraph I read from the sample sold me.
Seriously, if you're a teacher of any kind, or a student of any kind, or someone interested in either of those two categories, this is an important book to have so you can read and reread it.
It teaches a lot about humans and arts.
Top reviews from other countries


This book is brilliant however, and I laughed out aloud on many occasions. I'm not interested acting, but read this on recommendation by a well respected magician nonetheless.
You will enjoy this book if you have any interest in seeing how people interact with each other, acting, comedy or creativity in any form. It shows clearly where some of the things by Slattery, McShane and all those other Whose line is it anyway? folk stem from.
Fascinating and a brilliant book



It is fascinating to read even if some of it is pretty strange, especially the chapter on mask work.
I am making use of many of the games that he details and I think that it has improved my writing.
In particular the "status games" were brilliant. I am much more aware of people's body language after reading this book.