Where to learn improv in Sydney
➤ Improv can help build skills for the workplace and socially
➤ It’s like a team sport - a great way to meet new people and collaborate
➤ Improv classes can be low investment - there are drop in classes and longer courses
What is improv?
Improvisational theatre, or ‘improv’ for short, is a form of performing (often comedy-based), where everything is made up on the spot.
It’s a group activity, and is kind of like the ‘team sport’ of comedy. When you see a group of comedians kicking back and having fun, like the guys on Saturday Night Live or a sitcom, they’re usually using improv techniques.
It is a fun way to build new communication skills, be a bit silly and gain confidence being yourself, all while making some new mates!
How can I learn improv?
Comedy schools - easy going with a focus on building skills for professional and social scenarios. Great for meeting new people. Drop-in classes and 4-week courses are available. More affordable and less of a commitment. If you’re interested in performing improv, you can do this after just eight weeks - for less than $400.
Improv schools - strict with a focus on adhering to global improv theory. Great if you’re keen on focusing deeply on theory and on drama rather than humour. Courses are generally 8-weeks long and students can perform improv a couple of times after paying several thousand dollars and spending 6-12 months learning.
Acting schools - their primary focus is on acting, with some subjects delving into improv. Great if you’re considering a career in acting. Courses range from 8 weeks to an entire year. Generally there are no opportunities to perform improv.
Pros & cons of each option
Pro: Courses go for 4-weeks and are more economical than other schools - especially for students who take advantage of our early bird rates.
Con: You can't join an 8-week class and feel that odd guilty pleasure when you don’t go to half of the classes to a course you signed up to because you have too much else on.
Pro: You can come see our students perform at our comedy shows, including the Improv Comedy Cagefight on Mondays.
Con: You might find the show awesome, and it compels you to do more improv and perhaps feature in our shows.
Pro: We only teach you what you need, and do not have eight levels of improv spanning many years.
Con: Some people like being a career student, but unfortunately you won’t be able to spend thousands of dollars with us learning improv for 2-3 years - just to perform a couple of times.
Sydney Comedy School: easy and accessible with drop-in classes and short courses
Pro: The goal is having fun, building new skills and learning about yourself.
Con: We aren’t strict in forcing you to learn about global improv theory - so you are unlikely to have strong views about whether the Chicago-style of improv is the world’s best or not.
Pro: A specific course for career skill-building, which means that our Level 1 course is different and more focused on humour.
Con: You won’t be able to chuckle at the challenges faced by teachers at other schools as they try to manage a beginner’s class that contains students who are there for very different reasons - ie some being there for life skills, and others being there to become a celebrity.
Pro: Level 2 and Level 3 can be joined by anyone, so long as they’ve done equivalent courses elsewhere. Other schools require everyone to start at Level 1.
Con: You might do Level 2 and Level 3 with some new faces and get to meet some new people and make new friends.
Other schools & creating ‘forever’ students
The model of many improv and acting schools is to keep their students in courses for as long as possible.
Pro: A one-size fits all approach to improv, where you’ll learn deep theory and be taught how to be a professional improviser from Day 1.
Con: The reality is that there is a very small market to be a professional improviser in Australia. These schools don’t teach you how to transfer your skills into being in a comedy festival, but at the Sydney Comedy School, you will learn this from us.
Pro: Teaching staff might be famous within improv circles as they’ve been on radio and have a big following on social media.
Con: Improvisers seeking a path to commercial acclaim might spend some time teaching. However, their focus is on commercial success, and they may view that talented students as a future threat - which can lead to the stifling of student creativity.
Pro: Courses are longer and completing them all can take years. So this means learning improv can be a hobby that goes for a long time.
Con: This results in a significant financial and time investment. At the Sydney Comedy School, we’ve opted for shorter classes as they are more flexible, fun - and we don’t want people to feel like they are forever students.
Pro: A rules-based system where improv must be done a particular way, or it is wrong.
Con: Fun, creativity and flexibility can be lost in such a strict environment.
Pro: Some schools have a well defined vibe, and those that fit into the vibe often form cliques.
Con: This approach to socialising can be very isolating. At the Sydney Comedy School, we are welcoming to all. Most of our classes involve going out afterwards, rather than excluding those who are new to the school.
Pro: Other schools focus entirely on Sydney.
Con: Students might not be aware of the opportunities around Australia. At the Sydney Comedy School, we feature in festivals across Australia and work with a wide range of artists. There are opportunities for our students to get involved too!
Interested in learning improv today?
We have a wide range of options:
Drop-in class: Our Wednesday night classes are extremely popular and are perfect if you’re curious about what improv involves.
Drop-in class: Our Tuesday night classes are for specific groups to help grow community and encourage students to meet likeminded people.
Improv for Career Success: Our 4-week improv course that will help you gain and build on skills for the workplace.
Beginners Improv Course: Our 4-week Level 1 improv course for those wanting to delve into improv comedy and learn the fundamentals.
Level 2 Improv Course: For anyone who has completed an improv course as an adult or half a year’s improv as a high school student.
Level 3 Improv Course: For anyone who has completed two improv courses as an adult or a year’s improv as a high school student.
Improv Performer Course: A sporadic course, where students perform each week. Students must have completed our Level 3 course first.
Yes! We run private improv classes for all occasions!
We are available for private classes for workplaces, interest groups, friends, birthday parties, hens nights, libraries, festivals and more!
Get in touch with us today for more information about our private events.
The private class can be at a location of your choosing or at one of our partner venues, which include some of Sydney’s best bars.