Improvisation: Level 1
Meet and learn with like-minded people, brighten up your week, and develop valuable skills in creative thinking, teamwork and storytelling, all in a relaxed and supportive setting.
Key information:
- Course dates:
- Wednesday evenings, 23 Sept – 28 Oct 2026
- Course times:
- 7pm–9pm
- Age:
- 18+
- Art form:
- Drama
- Fees:
- £295
- Deadline:
- Bookings will close at 5pm on Friday 18 September 2026 or when the course reaches full capacity
- Level of study:
- Short Courses & Summer Schools (ages 18+)
- Mode of study:
- In-person
- Venue:
- Guildhall School of Music & Drama
- When:
- Autumn Courses (September–November) | Evening Courses
Course info
Public booking opens at 11am, Monday 6 July. Join our mailing list before Friday 3 July to receive priority booking.
Ages 18+
Course Dates & Times
Wednesday evenings on 23, 30 September, 7, 14, 21, 28 October 2026
7pm–9pm
About Improvisation: Level 1
Join this exciting six-week evening course for enjoyable and confidence-boosting evenings of comedy and drama improvisation. Meet and learn with like-minded people, brighten up your week, and develop valuable skills in creative thinking, teamwork and storytelling, all in a relaxed and supportive setting.
Who is the course for?
- This course is open to anyone aged 18 and over
- It’s ideal for those with an interest in comedy, professionals looking for a fun and sociable hobby, or anyone keen to try something new, creative, and stimulating
- No previous experience is required.
What can I expect?
Alongside the wellbeing benefits of play and laughter, the course will help you build confidence in communication, active listening, and collaboration. Through practical exercises and group work, you’ll be encouraged to take creative risks, trust your instincts, and support others in a safe and welcoming environment.
The course includes sessions on:
- Play, spontaneity and creative freedom
- Cooperation and working as a team
- Making brave and bold choices
- Developing confidence on and off stage
- Storytelling and narrative
- Embodying character and communicating emotions
By the end of this course you will have gained a clear understanding of the main principle of improvisation and how to apply them not only in performance, but in your everyday life.
Course Fee
£295
Public booking opens at 11am, Monday 6 July. Join our mailing list before Friday 3 July to receive priority booking.
Eligibility
- We welcome participants from all ages 18 and over
- Participants must have sufficient English language skills in order to fully engage with the course
About the Course Tutor
The course is taught by Tom Machell and Fred Lancaster.
Tom Machell is an actor, improvisor and writer. Trained at The New York Film Academy and National Youth Theatre, he is currently a series regular on Comedy Central’s sketch show Every Blank Ever. Notable TV and film credits include Emmerdale (ITV), Hullraisers (Channel 4), Sparks (Channel 4), Babs (BBC), Jerk (BBC), Doctors (BBC) and The Keeper.
He writes and performs with his comedy group zazU who have had five successful Edinburgh Fringe and Soho Theatre runs and currently developing their work for TV and audio.
He is an award-winning writer, winning the UK Film Festival Best and Los Angeles Motion Picture Festival 2021 'best short script'. He is part of the prestigious current cohort of BAFTA crew for 2021/22.
Fred Lancaster trained as an actor at Guildhall School of Music & Drama. He worked in the industry for over a decade before obtaining a PGCE in Drama from Goldsmiths College. He has worked extensively as a director, teacher and workshop facilitator in the UK, US and Europe.
His work as an actor includes This House (National Theatre), Henry V (West End), The Silver Tassie (National Theatre), Rope (Theatre Royal Ipswich).
Film and TV credits include Inside the Titanic (Discovery Channel), Secret Diary of a Call Girl (ITV), No Shade (British Urban Film Festival).
He has taught at Guildhall on the Acting Summer School, the Preliminary Acting Course, and the Improvisation short courses Levels 1 & 2.
Find the Short Course that's perfect for you
Explore our Short Courses & Summer Schools
