Impro: Improvisation and the Theatre 1st Edition

by Keith Johnstone (Author)

83 customer reviews

ISBN-13: 978-0878301171

ISBN-10: 0878301178

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Editorial Reviews

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""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

Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (January 7, 1987)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0878301178
ISBN-13: 978-0878301171
Product Dimensions: 5 x 0.8 x 8.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 83 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #17,897 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #5 in Books > Textbooks > Humanities > Performing Arts > Theater
- #13 in Books > Arts & Photography > Performing Arts > Theater > Acting & Auditioning
- #2183 in Books > Humor & Entertainment

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Budster

I cannot recommend this book enough

January 6, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This may be one of the most important books about spontaneity training for all purposes including of course all of the arts, therapy, and business applications. Johnstone's personal journey in discovering what keeps us trapped in the constant repetitive thinking which ultimately leads to fewer choices in life often a feeling of being trapped, has shown joyful unpredictable ways of breaking out of that trap and reassuming the spontaneous creative genius which is our heritage as human beings. We use so little of our capacity to think outside the box as we are ruled by the subconscious repetitive nay saying imposed on us from birth. Johnstone has shown us so many ways of liberating our minds and reestablishing a sense of freedom to think as we will. As someone who has written about this sort of thing and been a professional in theater, song writing, and as a therapist helping people to break out of their defeating cycles and working at times specifically with creative people who have lost their muse, I cannot recommend this book enough. It is a breakthrough in so many areas. GET IT!!

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mbrock

Eye-opening book, goes beyond theater

May 2, 2014

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Keith Johnstone has a very interesting worldview. This book is clearly aimed at people who want to either learn about improvisational theater, or even moreso people who want to teach it. There are a few explicit exercises, but the text is mostly prose about the nature of improvisation, and the way that relates to human psychology.

As an example of an interesting psychological insight, Johnstone discusses trance states. He strongly recommends using theatrical masks for improvisation, and his method for using them—though he references many earlier teachers with the same idea—involves using mirrors and skillful encouragement in order to take the student out of their normative self and get them to really experience being something else. But we are in fact always going in and out of trance states, he explains: it's impossible to always be "in control," and attempting that just leads to frustration and anxiety.

Another basic point is that imagination is a kind of natural state of the human mind. At one point he says explicitly that imagination is the "true self," which is if nothing else a fascinating hypothesis. His take on school education recalls other writers, especially John Holt, whom he cites several times: basically, modern education tends to discourage spontaneity and imagination.

Finally, his structural way of seeing theater, comedy, and human interaction in general, involves "status games," which makes a lot of sense. For example, he loves Beckett's way of playing with master-servant dynamics, one-upping, etc. He describes a method of teaching theater that involves getting people to understand their own habits of "status posturing," in order to assume other positions and act naturally. He says that long spontaneous improvisation sessions can grow out of just a simple configuration of status, and gives examples of such games.

Johnstone's outlook reminds me of life's strange beauty. Life is indeed much like improvisational theater, and it's great to learn from the insights of someone whose life work involves taking this seriously.

7 people found this helpful

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James Britt

Valuable even for people outside the theater

August 18, 2011

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I heard about this book from a discussion on general social interaction. In particular, how people could learn to employee various behavioral characteristics that lead others granting you this or that social status. In other words, you can learn to get others to think of you as the boss or of otherwise high status. Or of low status, if that's your goal. The idea seemed both creepy and intriguing so I got the book.

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.

4 people found this helpful

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Robert McDowell

A Great Theater and Life Guide

November 20, 2013

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

These improvisations and lessons transcend theater. This compelling book reminds me again and again that all art and life are feasts of the imagination. We must always push the envelope and bravely break through fear and other obstacles that hold us back. I have borrowed exercises from this book and successfully offered them in writing and spirituality workshops. I perceive that many will also be effective in teen/parenting workshops. The book is a fountain of wisdom and a challenging guide to break free and go deeper.

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Most recent customer reviews

Zafer

But definitely loved the other parts

Last chapters on mask was a bit confusing for me. But definitely loved the other parts, much more than impro.

Published 5 months ago

Matias Nicolas Layño

Five Stars

all good

Published 5 months ago

EAM

Had no expectations and turned out to be superb

I have no acting experience but found this book simply amazing. So much lessons for own life and insights into the acting world

Published 5 months ago

Matt House

rare glimpse into another world narrated by the master of that universe

This book is consistently expensive and hard to find. A very rare glimpse into the world of acting written by an actor who is also a competent writer.

Published 6 months ago

Jane Daily

Plodding paragraphs and stuffy 60's syntax making for an uninteresting and annoying read

Plodding paragraphs and stuffy 60's syntax making for an uninteresting and annoying read. There are excellent books on improv available and while Keith Johnstone is a good...Read more

Published 8 months ago

Mark B.

Excellent

Johnstone speaks from a wealth of previous experience overflowing with little tidbits of wisdom and ideas that can propel forward anyone working in the theatre arts, and...Read more

Published 11 months ago

Jaime

The Status and Spontaneity sections are amazing!

Yowza, this book reads very much like a textbook. Be prepared for lots of intense concentration. It took me quite awhile to finish reading, which probably stems from my lifetime...Read more

Published on June 13, 2016

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