Exploring the World of Improv: A New Adventure for Our Junior Musical Theatre Students
This year, our junior musical theatre students have taken a bold leap into one of the most exciting and creative areas of performance: improvisation! From spontaneous scenes to wild imagination games, our young performers have been learning how to think on their feet, support one another, and bring characters to life in the most unexpected ways.
At the heart of our improv journey has been the classic principle of “Yes, and…” a golden rule in improv that teaches actors to accept an idea and build on it. This simple phrase helps performers keep a scene moving forward, encourages teamwork, and boosts confidence. Our students have quickly discovered how saying “yes” to their scene partners opens the door to endless storytelling possibilities.
But we didn’t stop there!
To help them dig deeper into the physicality of acting, our juniors also took part in imaginative games where they embodied animal characters. Whether they were slinking like a cat, bounding like a kangaroo, or waddling like a penguin, these exercises gave students a playful way to explore how movement can shape a character’s personality, emotions, and voice.
Watching our young actors transform into animals and invent entire scenes from scratch has been nothing short of inspiring. Their laughter, quick thinking, and growing confidence remind us of the magic of learning through play.
Top Tips for Young Improvisers (Under 11s)
If your child is excited about improv or wants to build their confidence even more, here are a few top tips tailored just for them:
Always say “Yes, and…” Agree with your partner's idea and add something new to keep the scene going.
Use your whole body –Whether you’re a robot or a rabbit, how you move tells us a lot about your character.
Listen carefully Great improvisers are great listeners. Pay close attention to what others say so you can respond in the moment.
Don’t be afraid to be silly Improv is the perfect place to let your imagination run wild.
Have fun and support your team The best improv scenes come from working together and making each other look great.
We are so proud of how far our junior students have come in their improv journey this year. Their creativity, courage, and joy are what theatre is all about!
