Acting for Improvisers with Shane Robinson

Playground Elective Series:

"Acting for Improvisers: Finding Truth in the Moment"

With Shane Robinson

What happens when you bring the techniques of screen and stage acting into improvisation?

This 4-week mini course is designed for improvisers who want to create more truthful, grounded and engaging scenes by strengthening their acting technique.

We’ll move beyond simply reacting to offers and explore how actors create compelling moments through subtext, objectives, obstacles, character choices and emotional truth. You’ll learn how to establish what your character wants early in a scene, create meaningful conflict without forcing it, and use acting techniques to naturally build both dramatic and comedic tension.

We’ll also look at how to hold space in a scene, stay present with your scene partner, recognise when a moment has real weight, and allow tension to build rather than rushing to the next beat or joke.

Finally, we’ll explore one of the most important skills in improv: knowing when and how to end a scene. How do you recognise that you’ve reached the right moment? How do you leave the audience wanting more without killing the momentum?

Across four weeks, expect practical exercises, scene work and plenty of play, with a focus on developing a stronger instinct for truth, specificity and dramatic storytelling.

For improvisers who want to make their scenes feel less performed and more lived.

When and How?

• Course runs over 4 Mondays from October 5th. 7pm-9:15pm.

• Showcase Finale at an After Hours Show

• Max 8 Participants.

• Participants are expected to attend all 4 course dates.

• Fee €100