Some of us long for improv that’s slower and more relational - improv that feels easy, natural and true to the here-and-now, with greater range - comedy and drama. Yet free from overthinking, tension and any pressure to be clever, fast or funny - otherwise known as being ‘up in your head’.

What this is

Undefended Improv is an immersive, day-long workshop with a small group where we’ll explore being more open in heart and body. We’ll get curious about what it’s like to be fully you in-the-moment, more deeply connected to yourself and your scene partners.

This is the first workshop of its kind - your chance to be a part of something new and pioneering on the improv scene.

What to expect

This isn’t your typical workshop for improvisers because our focus is exploration and experience, rather than traditional instruction. It’ll be deeper and more immersive than a typical taught class, and you’ll learn more about yourself and new ways to approach your improv.

During the workshop you’ll be guided through relational games and exercises to explore topics like how to relax into improvising undefended without trying, and what comfort and connection means to you.

Expect all the playfulness of improv games, with a heartfelt hippy-vibe from holistic practices like Authentic Relating and embodied coaching. Like body movement, and deeper-than-usual communication between humans.

Hello. I’m Chris Kenworthy - your host for the workshop

I run Leeds Improv Co-Lab’s regular play sessions and I’m an improviser. By trade, I’m a relational facilitator and certified coach. I created this workshop, for improvisers like us to explore the conditions that encourage the kind of blissful improv we love.

For me, that’s rich, rewarding and spacious scenes where we experience a fuller range of what it is to be a human being - with laughs as well as lows, silence, space and everything in-between.

Our aim is improv that’s unafraid to venture where intuition leads. Where you feel comfortable to play with more of you - without trying, or hiding your experience of who you are right now.

For more information about what to expect, visit Undefended Improv.

This workshop is suitable for improvisers of any level (I’ll assume you’ve done some improvisation before and can play a basic short-form scene).