'Brilliantly delivered, suitable for all levels, built in many layers of skills, and was huge fun!' Emma Smallman, Groupworker

Wednesday 23d to Tuesday 29th of August, all day, at Le Moulin de Canole, 24540 Capdrot, France (map). 12 participants max.

This retreat is now fully booked. Contact us to get on the waiting list.

Whom: This course is for facilitators, team leaders, directors, performers, teachers, artists and learners from all walks of life with a previous experience of improvisation - be it with words, music, movement, plastic art or any other means - keen to practise intensively in a safe and friendly space.

Benefits: Encourages interaction; Increases self-awareness; Facilitates fluent behaviours; Improves resilience; Demystifies creativity; Fosters cooperation; Strengthens problem-solving skills; Promotes authenticity; Rewards curiosity.

We will create instant theatre with:
- Dynamic flow, to ease breath and movement;
- Games, to invite spontaneous complicity between participants;
- Stream-of-consciousness, visualisation and serendipity to compose narratives;
- Mary Overlie's Viewpoints (Space, Shape, Time, Emotion, Movement, Story), for a multi-faceted approach to collaborative improvisation;
- Monologue, duologue, trialogue ensemble and silent scenes to build a repertoire of possibilities;
- Open-space, the non-coercive way to promote self-empowerment and personal responsibility.

Expect long dives into the unknown and some of the best home-cooked food you have ever had, all in good company and incredible surroundings.

Schedule

X - - - Breath
Wednesday
Ride from Bergerac airport possible.
Afternoon welcome. Discover the place, settle in.
Dinner, 7.30 pm.
Play, 9 pm. Celebrating lightness and curiosity.

X - - - Space
Thursday
Silent walk in nature, 8.30 am. The forest tracks.
Breakfast, 9.30 am.
Sharing, 10 am. No obligation, no interruption.
Sound bath, 10.30 am. Deep, joyful listening.
Excursion to the village market, 11 am.
Lunch not provided.
Curiosity, 3 pm. Improvising in nature.
Dinner 7.30 pm.
Empty space, 9 pm. Embracing the void.

X - - - - Play
Friday
Silent walk in nature, 8.30 am.
Breakfast, 9.30 am.
Sharing, 10.30 am. No obligation, no interruption.
Transgression, 11 am. Playing with conventions.
Lunch, 1.30 pm.
Invention, 3pm. Discovering the rules as we play.
Dinner, 7.30 pm.
Narration, 9 pm. Games to tell stories

X - - - Togetherness
Saturday
Blind walk in nature, 8.30 am.
Breakfast, 9.30 am.
Sharing, 10.30 am. No obligation, no interruption.
Sound bath, 10.30 am. Deep, joyful listening.
Opening minds, 11 pm. Beyond beliefs.
Lunch, 1.30 pm.
Tuning-in, 3 pm. Collective intelligence.
Dinner and party from 7.30 pm

X - - - Performance
Sunday
Silent walk in nature, 8.30 am.
Breakfast 9.30 am.
Sharing, 10.30 am. No obligation, no interruption.
Staging, 11 am. Duets and ensemble scenes.
Lunch, 1.30 pm.
Staging, 3 pm. The drama triangle.
Dinner, 7 pm.
Staging, 8 pm. The story of your life.

X - - - Revisiting
Monday
Silent walk in nature, 8.30 am.
Breakfast, 9.30 am.
Sharing, 10.30 am. No obligation, no interruption.
Replay, 11 am. Choosing games to play again.
Lunch, 1.30 pm.
Replay, 3 pm. More favourite games and formats.
Dinner, 7.30 pm.
Staging, 8.30 pm. More favourite games and formats.

X - - - Parting
Tuesday
Silent walk in nature, 8.30 am.
Sound bath, 9.30 am.
Sharing, 10.30 am. No obligation, no interruption.
Brunch, 11 am.
Ride to Bergerac Airport possible.

Your teacher, Remy Bertrand, is in the small club of improvisation facilitators with more than 10,000 hours of teaching experience. Currently based in London, UK, he has been teaching improvisation internationally since 2006 with imprology, in Drama Schools, universities, charities and other institutions. He has directed several large scale improvised performances with Zootrophic, a multi-discipline ensemble, co-directed improvised short films with Peter Snowdon and is hosting Love Explosion, an improvised open-stage show currently online.

Remy has trained most recently with John Write (Impro, Clown) Kate Hilder and Sten Rudstrom (Action Theatre) Mary Overlie (Six Viewpoints), Lee Simpson (Open Space, Impro), Lucy Hopkins (Clown) and Punch Drunk (Immersive Theatre).

He has learned most from his students and teaches improvisation as a transformational process focusing on pleasure, curiosity and courage.

'I'm a full time stand up comedian these days and your course helped me massively.' Jonny Awsum, Comedian

'I felt really supported and safe even though I was really scared on my first lesson.' Zita Konyari, Hospitality Executive

'A great mix of silliness and discovery, whatever your aims. There are skills here for daily life and on stage.' Niall Hill, VR Producer at BBC

'The most liberating fun I have had in years!' Emma Callow, Creative Lab Manager

'I have had so many zoom-meetings this year and none of them have been as much fun as this zoom event! Great to know the zoom functions can be used and played with in such an amazing, interactive and fun way! Thank you!' Theresa Rhino, Online

'Always lots of laughter, questions, baffling metaphors, surprising, deep listening, connection, acceptance, movement, failing and getting back up again. All the best things!' Sophie Tidman, Senior Advisor

'An incredible, touching, and fun experience. I cannot recommend this highly enough. Joshua Brostoff, Clinical Study Director

'I have frequented Imprology courses for several years. There are always new discoveries to be made and fresh games in which to engage.' Paul Barber, Mathematician

'A very unique and positive experience. Challenging, fun, interesting and ultimately transformative.' Ben Weatherill, Mental Health Workwer

'Through Imprology I have experienced myself and others in ways that are both fun and developmental. I find the classes extremely thought-provoking and above all entertaining.' Ned Brown, Health Executive

'Every class is different and I believe this is testament to the teacher being someone who is constantly curious - always learning and exploring. I've found his classes powerfully healing as well as playful and life-affirming. They incorporate many skills which have been so useful to my own development as a therapist: anxiety regulation, presence, authenticity, vulnerability as strength, opening into the unconscious. The perfect antidote to all that we are normally encouraged to do; a beautiful retrieval of our most human selves.' Lucy Smart, Therapist

'Imprology has helped me immensely to enjoy myself more, connect with others, and stay focused.' Lucas Szczesiak, Software Engineer and Stand-Up Comedian

'A great way to relax, learn to listen and free yourself. The teaching is really inspiring, and it's really good fun!' Benjamin Kerridge, Vicar

'A space to play, reflect, challenge yourself, be present and have fun. I could not recommend enough.' Michelle Borda, Consultant in Children's Creativity

'Social anxiety was my main concern. Your course helped me much beyond my expectations.' Xavier P, Risk Management

'I had a great deal of fun and felt I learnt a lot in such a short time. I felt challenged and nourished.' Hannah Nicholas, Actor

'I found out more about myself in one day than I did with one term of my interpersonal communications course.' Rachel Melinek, Student

'The facilitator strikes a perfect balance between pushing his students out of their comfort zone and making sure everyone is thoroughly enjoying themselves. The results are transformative.' Valerie Peake, Life Coach/Musician

'Learning about improvisation was like taking the handbrake off my life.' Simon Bell, Training Consultant

'Encouraged you to step out of your comfort zone in a way which was stretching but not scary.' Sarah Woodthorpe, Accountant

'The facilitator was clearly very experienced and truly excellent.' Ruth Whaling, Psychologist

'Brilliantly delivered, suitable for all levels, built in many layers of skills, and was huge fun!' Emma Smallman, Groupworker

'Highly recommended.' Jonathan Chappell, GP

'Great facilitation, great atmosphere, you'll learn a great deal about yourself, and have a laugh a minute.' Jemma Gray, Executive Assistant

'I had a great time laughing with a fantastic bunch of fun creative people every week.' Frankie Hardy, Nurse

'The Quality of teaching is extraordinary!' Benni Lehne, PhD student

'I thoroughly enjoyed myself and learnt skills which have greatly impacted upon my life.' Eve Macdonald, Youth Development

'Thanks again for such a fabulous weekend.' Deborah Rothenberg, Drama & Movement Therapist

'Amazing, wise, enlightening, excellent actor training and just great fun! Geraldine Curtis, Actor

'You were a joy to learn with.' Ola Aralepo, Comedian

'Magnificent course, I'm so glad I took it.' Jenny Glanville, Hypnotherapist

'Many classes I come in after work feeling a little drained and every night I leave feeling excited and refreshed.' Andrew Dowe, Consultant

'It really gives you a confidence boost and it is great fun!' Andlib Mohsin, Criminal Lawyer

'The knowledge and flexibility gained have proven especially useful to me in auditioning.' Liis Mikk, Actor