EDINBURGH 2017: BWW Q&A- Improv Therapy

Tell us a bit about Improv Therapy.

Improv Therapy is the brainchild of a double-major student from Orlando, Florida who realized after studying both that they might just compliment each other very nicely. The premise of Improv Therapy is that audience members will bring stories to share with seven improvisers who have been trained to recognize microexpressions (Paul Ekman) in the teller's faces; our team will then expertly bring your stories to life, adding onto them, imagining the next steps, and showing the perspectives of other people involved.

There will even be opportunities for audience members to try out that conversation or interaction they've been acting out in their heads with our company, who have all been taught how to respond in the way best for your personal growth (mirroring and idealizing self-objects, Kohut & Wolfe).

Why bring it to Edinburgh?

Edinburgh Fringe is the Mecca for all theatre students, and we were lucky enough that our school wanted to send some students on a field study anyway; so we thought, why not try out our new format with some of the most experienced and passionate theatre-goers in the world? We were confident that Fringe-goers have the appetite for something as esoteric and out-there as an improv show where the performers read people's faces.

What sets it apart from other shows at the Fringe?

Our show tells your story. You bring the content, we bring the theatrics, empathy, and a decent iota of charm. The Improv Therapy company is dedicated to getting your story right, and audience members have a chance to correct our takes and improvise their own next chapters with us. Also, we're pretty sure we're the only group of American students who have prepared for their improv show by reading lab reports headed to Edinburgh this year.

Is it ever possible to prepare for an improv show?

We can't prepare for the audience awaiting us in Scotland, which is part of the great fun in coming over. But we have and are preparing extensively to be able to understand what's important to you about your story and how to tell it in a way that offers you insight, hope, or a good laugh. We practice all our psychology on each other to make sure we're well accurate before doing face-reading tricks on you, and we're running the format with small audiences here to perfect the show.

As for preparing for what our Fringe audiences will share with us; no. We have no idea what Edinburgh's got up their sleeves, but we're excited to hear your stories!

Who would you recommend comes to see you?

Improv Therapy is meant for anyone. If you love improv or have a penchant for psychological theory, great! But if you've just gone through a break up or bought a dog or met the love of your life or remembered a weird conversation you had fifty years ago, we want to hear about it. Our show follows in the tradition of Playback Theatre, which asserts that every audience member brings unique and worthwhile stories to the stage. Anyone ready to have some fun and share a little is encouraged to come-we can't wait to meet you.

Timings and ticket information for Improv Therapy are available on the edfringe website.

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