Improvising events from characters’ backstories can help actors and directors imagine the world of the play and the inner life of the characters in rich detail. When an actor’s character refers to a significant moment from their past in dialogue and that actor has improvised that moment, they have an actual memory of experiencing it to draw upon. When two characters have a moment of tension or connection in the play and those actors have improvised past interactions between those characters, they have a history of emotions to build upon. Even solo improvisations of mundane tasks can help actors find their characters’ rhythms and preoccupations.
In this workshop, the leader will guide volunteers through a series of backstory improvisations to demonstrate how directors can use this world-building technique in rehearsal. Then all attendees will have an opportunity to practice a simple improvisation with a partner.
Dr. Paulette Marty is a Professor of Theatre Arts at Appalachian State University. Her teaching specialties are theatre history, play analysis, directing, dramaturgy, and cross-disciplinary topics. Paulette’s research specialties include contemporary stage directors, Elizabethan theatre and spectacle, and the performance of folklore. She has published in various theatre journals and periodicals, is the author of the book CONTEMPORARY WOMEN STAGE DIRECTORS: CONVERSATIONS ON CRAFT (Methuen Drama, 2019) and serves as a director and dramaturg on departmental productions.
