WHAT WE DO
Learn about Improv Connection, our grounded approach to improvisational theatre, and our values.
WHAT IS IMPROV CONNECTION?
Improv Connection is a New-Zealand based improv company focusing on unscripted-theatre style improvisation. Founded by Ben Zolno in 2019, we've trained over a hundred students in what we call discovery-based improv.
When we eschew expectations of "doing scenes right," we free ourselves from unhelpful expectations, and open ourselves up to discovering something that's far easier, more fun, and more fulfilling for the players and audiences – unique stories of flawed characters going for what they want in bold ways we've never seen before.
When you learn to break down the protective barrier that's hiding what's powerful about you – your instincts, your emotions, and your needs – we can then discover gut-wrenchingly relatable, hilarious and breathtaking scenes that not only make audiences laugh, but make them cry, make them feel, make them question...
BEN ZOLNO
Founder / Director
WHAT IS GROUNDED IMPROV?
Grounded improvisation techniques teach the improviser to use real emotions as their inspiration within a scene. It often means not thinking, but rather just believing in the moment in order to explore where the scene goes. Grounded improvisation tries to find the real meaning, and therefore the human stakes, behind each scene.
Grounded improvisation exercises, like those we've adapted from the work of Sanford Meisner, are good for:
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New people looking to try improv in an accessible and easy way
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Seasoned veterans who want to enrich their current improvisation technique.
I've been able to access my emotions more—something I'm still working on. The teaching style provides immediate feedback which helps me to improve on an ongoing basis.
TONY
Improviser
GROUNDED
Grounded improv relies on the improviser to use and act on how they feel in the moment instead of less-reliable (and often less interesting) wit. You're already amazing, and our grounded improvisation techniques will teach you how to be you—just on stage.
EQUITABLE
Improv is daunting enough, why make it harder by doing all the work yourself? We push for equity on stage, as we believe the best scenes result from each player stepping into the unknown just one step at a time, back and forth, and discovering the magic of the world they're creating together.
CONFIDENT
Improv can be scary – by definition, it's unknown. Through our leading-edge consent system informed by local and global intimacy choreographers and improvisors, we provide the safest space we can for you to take risks, and grow.
