CREATIVE COLLABORATIVE CRAIC! IMPROVISATION WORKSHOP A NEW, SIX

Improvisation develops creativity, confidence, collaboration skills, and spontaneity. In addition to being a mode of live comedy, it can be used as a tool to create characters, develop original dramatic, and/or comedic material and as part of a rehearsal process to explore written text. In this six-part beginner/intermediate level workshop, participants rediscover their natural ability to 'play' while exploring collaborative games, exercises, and techniques used by North America’s Second City Theatre (the forerunner and principal casting pool of 'Saturday Night Live') and 'Whose Line Is It Anyway?'. The elements of narrative such as plot, theme, conflict and resolution are emphasized and explored so that storytelling skills are developed. This is perfect for both the trained performer who wants to stretch and expand their abilities as well as for the curious who want to explore new creative experiences. The workshop concludes with a live performance at the weekly Battle of the Axe Comedy event at the Ha'Penny Bridge Tavern, Temple Bar, Dublin. WHEN: 6 classes on Tuesdays, starting Tues., Sept. 6th to and including Tues., Oct.11th. WHERE: 4 Manor Street, Dublin 7 (Stoneybatter area) CLASS TIMES: 7:15PM to 10:15PM COST: €185.00 total (€170.00 for full time students and for groups of 3 or more) A €85.00 non-refundable deposit is required to enroll - due no later than Friday, August 26th BIO: John Dawson studied under improv guru Del Close while training in improv at N. America’s famous Second City Theatre, the forerunner and principal casting pool for Saturday Night Live. John went on to become a founding member of a Toronto-based Harold troupe. He has been teaching master-classes and workshops in improv, characterization, scene study, audition technique and on-camera acting for over 20 years in three countries. He has taught hundreds of actors and comics including members of Dublin’s Craic Pack, Cork's Snatch Comedy troupe, Limerick's Choke Comedy and many more in his own Dublin workshop and at Dublin’s Gaiety School of Acting, The Actors Centre in London, The Galway Film Centre, and Toronto’s Equity Showcase Theatre. He taught film acting for over 6 years at Trinity College’s Samuel Beckett Centre. John's own Dublin-based improv troupe MONDO BIZARRO performed regularly last year including 5 sold-out shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2013. TESTIMONIALS: "I have studied improv in North America and Europe, and JOHN DAWSON is by far the most energetic and enthusiastic teacher with whom I have ever had the pleasure of studying. His exercises pinpoint weaknesses that we improvers may have never known how to tackle. He knows exactly how to loosen up the performers. It's no wonder his name became famous in the "underground" improv scene in Dublin, he's the best." NATALIE PLAZA, performer w/ The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, NYC "We at Trinity saw the benefit of John's work as did all who he taught. He's a great teacher who engages with students in a fantastic and practical way." ANDY CROOK, former course co-ordinator - Professional Actor Training Programme, Trinity College, Dublin “Performers who’ve trained with John have a definite edge because they can adapt to handle the toughest audiences.” TONY FERNS, producer, ‘Battle of the Axe’ Comedy Club, Dublin For more information and to enroll, email to: dawsondramaworks@gmail.com For information about other workshops and classes: www.dawsondramaworks.com