'I came in wanting to learn applied improvisation and facilitation skills; I came out utterly in love with impro. I've never experienced anything like it, and I want to do it again and again until the day I die.' - Nathan Blair, Somatic Coach
An intimate seminar for improvisation facilitators to live, cook, and practise together while deepening the art of guiding others into discovery.
From Wednesday 21 to Tuesday 27 April 2027, at Le Moulin de Canole, 24540 Capdrot, France (google map) (what3words).
Places are limited to five and offered by application. To apply, please fill in this questionnaire.
Until 1 Feb, the price is 650 euros for a week of practice, food, lodging, sauna, transport to and from the station and sun included. 750 euros thereafter. Terms and conditions apply.
Food and lodging are run by Canole Theatre, a charity, on shared effort. Have a look at the house rules.
Arrive in Bordeaux or Bergerac by train or plane and take the train to Lalinde, where we will pick you up.
Schedule a video call with us if you have questions.
Places are offered by application. If your application is accepted, your place is secured once we receive your deposit.
Until 1 Feb, the price is 650 euros: 450 for the facilitation, paid to imprology, and 200 for food and lodging, paid to Canole Theatre. From 1 Feb, the price is 750 euros: 550 for the facilitation and 200 for food and lodging.
The deposit of 200 euros is paid to Canole Theatre. The balance (450 or 550 euros) is due by Sunday 21 March 2027, one month before the seminar begins, and is paid to imprology.
The deposit and the balance are non-refundable, but you can transfer your place to someone else.
If we cancel the event, which is very unlikely, we refund all payments in full, minus the payment processing fee, usually about 3%.
imprology now runs its workshops and retreats in partnership with Canole Theatre, a charity managing the space and the events happening there. Canole Theatre provides food and accommodation. imprology provides teaching and facilitation.
To keep costs down, we share the housework during residentials. We take turns laying the table, washing up and cooking the evening meal, which is vegetarian. Lunch is prepared for us. Breakfast is self-service. Lodging is in two-person rooms. Bed linen and towels are provided. You make your own bed on arrival and clean your room and bathroom before you leave.
This intimate retreat (5 people max) welcomes those already teaching embodied improvisation, or preparing to step into it. Together, we’ll strengthen our capacity to hold the space for others to dive into all forms of improvisation.
Working with new and existing material, testing ideas, and exploring the freedom and duties of a facilitator, we will deepen an embodied understanding of optimum unpreparedness.
Optimum unpreparedness is the state of being ready without being preset. It means stepping into a learning space with all the skills, awareness, and experience we have, while leaving aside rigid plans and fixed outcomes.
It is a balance: too little preparation, and you risk running out of offers; too much, and you might force the group into a corner or shut down discovery. Optimum unpreparedness is having enough agency to hold the space, while staying open to what arises in yourself, the group, and the room, moment by moment.
For a facilitator, this often means arriving with a set of games, frames, and principles, and letting the actual shape of the workshop be co-created with the participants. It is a discipline of trust: trust in your own resources, trust in the group, and trust in improvisation itself to provide what is needed.
During this week, we will live together on a countryside estate by a medieval village, cook together (delicious French spring food), and research and practise, in groups or individually, on possible themes such as:
The retreat will be hosted by Rémy Bertrand, an improvisation teacher with 20 years of full-time experience, who has been developing his own approach outside all institutions.
Remy Bertrand has spent well over 10,000 hours teaching and facilitating improvisation. Based in Monpazier, Dordogne, after 30 years in London, he has been working internationally since 2006 through Imprology, as well as in drama schools, universities, charities, and other organisations.
Over the years, he has directed large-scale improvised performances with Zootrophic, a multidisciplinary improvisation ensemble, and co-directed improvised short films with Peter Snowdon. For more than nine years in London, he also hosted Love Explosion, a monthly open-stage night where anyone could get up with a randomly chosen partner and improvise together for two minutes.
Alongside his public teaching, Remy has worked extensively with improvisation in professional training, including with senior GPs for the NHS, international banks, consultancy firms, utility companies, and the fashion industry. He remains open to challenging work, but left LinkedIn a few years ago and has never regretted it.
His training is ongoing and has included work with John Wright (Improvisation, Clown), Kate Hilder and Sten Rudstrom (Action Theatre), Mary Overlie (Six Viewpoints), Lee Simpson (Improvisation), Lucy Hopkins (Clown), and Punchdrunk (Immersive Theatre).
Remy often says that his greatest teachers have been his students. He is less interested in teaching people how to perform “correctly” than in creating the conditions for curiosity, courage and pleasure, to generate genuine encounters. For him, improvisation is not just a performance technique but a way of exploring how we respond to others, and how we stay available when we do not know what comes next.
Many of the people he has worked with have gone on to become performers, directors, teachers, and facilitators, while others have taken improvisation into psychotherapy, community work, corporate training, film, music, and social projects.
'I enjoyed people moving around their rooms.' (after a Zoom session) Lucy Smart, improvisation teacher.
'Attending this workshop was truly transformative. It ignited a fire within me to break through the barriers that have been hindering my growth and embrace a more authentic version of myself. Remy's unwavering encouragement, genuine honesty, and profound insights created a nurturing and empowering space where I could fully embrace my true self. Beyond just an improv workshop, it was a journey towards conquering our fears and limitations, and unlocking our fullest potential.' Sarah Kent artist,critic, performer
'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
'Social anxiety was my main concern. Your course helped me much beyond my expectations.' Xavier P, Risk Management
'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 Participant
'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
'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
