Improvise Freely - by Patti Stiles (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Improvisation is a vibrant art of spontaneity and impulse. Audiences the world over flock to shows where 'anything could happen!' But lurking at the heart of many companies that perform it is a contradiction, a bait and switch. Students who sign up for classes are taught 'The Improv Rules': the strictly right and wrong way to be creative. Exploration is replaced with emulation and curiosity with compliance. How the hell did that happen?

Patti Stiles is an internationally respected improvisor, actor, director and teacher whose performance skills and deep understanding of the work shine out on stage and in the workshop room.

In Improvise Freely, she shows how 'rules' meant to guarantee success actually confine us in a counterfeit appearance of spontaneity and hamper our creativity. She turns 'The Rules' on their head and shows that other approaches are possible.

Is it okay to ask questions? Why must we Who What Where? And what if ' Yes, And' isn't all it's cracked up to be?

This book encourages us to explore the labyrinth ourselves, rather than follow a tour guide. Instead of handing us a map, Ms. Stiles offers us a light.

Review Quotes

"This book is a must-read for all improvisers and creative humans. Patti debunks myths, questions rules and hot-wires us back to our authentic imaginative selves. As well as inviting us to look at our habits and defaults, she raises a battle cry to adventure, meaningful storytelling and, critically, the power of supportive collaboration. She reminds us to take responsibility for the stories we tell and the way we interact with others, the communities we create and the spaces we share. Political, profound, mischievous and maverick, 'Improvise Freely' raises the bar for improvisers and improvisation everywhere." Sarah-Louise Young (Amazon review)

"it highlights shifting from improvisational rules to improvisational tools and lists out a number of exercises with citations to help explore the concepts. It feels next level to me in how it's written, which is fairly true of Patti." Joel Veenstra, Associate Chair of Drama, University of California

"It is an elegantly engaging read full of thoroughly thought provoking wisdoms and passionate points of view.

A wonderful glimpse into one of the planets greatest improv minds. Heartily recommend!" Rik Brown (facebook)

"This is a book about improv for improvisers. It is the book we have needed for quite some time! Her book unpacks our reliance on these "rules" and offers up perspectives on how to remember they exist while giving yourself and your fellow improvisers lots of space to ignore or creatively break them. She reminds us to connect and continually re-connect to the energy of playfulness, discovery and surprise. You know, the things that probably drew us to improv in the first place LOL. She also addresses the dark underbelly of the scene. How toxic masculinity, bullying, power imbalances, abuse of power and consent violations created improv spaces and companies that were unsafe for many performers." Lee (Goodreads review)

"Having trained under Keith Johnstone himself, Stiles has a unique understanding of the history of improv as we know it. She is also one of the world's best impro teachers and directors. Her understanding of Johnstone's philosophical approach shine through this book. It's a great resource for anyone looking to unlock creativity on stage and off." Improv Books review

"Patti Stiles est une coach d'impro extraordinaire et son livre est un outil précieux pour tout-e improvisateur-ice non débutant-e et, surtout, tout coach d'improvisation qui souhaite réfléchir au bien fondé des "règles" de l'improvisation: "ne pas dire non," "ne pas poser de questions dans une scène," autant de dogmes qu'elle démonte un à un, en invitant à ne pas les suivre à la lettre mais à retrouver l'esprit qui les a vu naître, pour que les pratiquant-e-s de l'improvisation théâtrale retrouvent la liberté de jeu et la joie de la découverte nécessaires à toute exploration artistique, plutôt que de se cantonner à n'être qu'une liste de recettes rassurantes mais étouffantes qui brident notre créativité." Jeanne Toulouse (Amazon review)