Improv is an opportunity for freedom, to connect with others and playfully let your mutual imaginations explore endless possibilities. That spirit of play helps free us to reach our full potential for joy, love and connection – in performance and in life.
My first experience of improv was at middle school – I was the Old Gumbie cat (from TS Elliots Cat poems) organising her mice, who were lots of kids from younger years! I remember loving every second of it and feeling right at home – to the amazement of my fellow students who thought it must be terrifying!
My professional improv journey started out exploring myths, legends and archetypes with Andrew Holmes and Andrew St John of Empty Space Theatre, and joining Fluxx Theatre led by the late great Chris Johnston, and then on to my first one woman show Sitelines, with State of Space Theatre – taking place on trains across South London! Then in 1999 I formed my own company Ladder to the Moon creating interactive theatre – improvised work where we interacted with the general public in spaces as diverse as shopping centres and elderly care mental health facilities. Engaging people who wouldn’t normally experience it with art and creativity – in a way that is both respectful and enjoyable for them – is a long held passion of mine and interactive improvised performance was the perfect vehicle for it. I even wrote a thesis on it as part of my Clore Leadership programme!
Fast forward to 2018, when a meeting with fellow improviser Alex Menhams led us to setting up The Unqualified Yes improv company together – to bring the joy of improv to our small but ambitious Suffolk town, teaching newcomers and old hands alike the joys of improv. The focus was much more on the short-form, long-form and games of improv comedy than the interactive or dramatic work I was used to, but the joy, connection, accessiblity and humour of it had me hooked and I love teaching it!
Since then The Unqualified Yes has gone from strength to strength and I continue to love coaching my regular weekly classes, shows and one off workshops (there were even Zoomprov classes to keep us all sane through lockdown!) With Alex moving on to explore other improv avenues, the community continues to grow both locally and making connections with other improv communities nationally and internationally.
And if you’re wondering why we’re called The Unqualified Yes, its because an unqualified yes – saying yes without hesitation or judgement – is the path to great improv and endless possiblities!
If you would like to know more about improv classes, shows and one to one coaching – and how you too can have as much fun as my students in the pics below clearly are! – you can find out more about The Unqualified Yes here:
“I love improv! The playfulness, openness and joyful collaboration we learn in Justine’s classes is a bit addictive! I keep coming back for more!!”
Jo, (weekly class participant)
