Spotlight on the Musician
Thursday 27th June
10:00am - 4:00pm (with 1hr lunch break at 1:00pm) for Musicians
2:00pm - 4:00pm for Improvisers
This workshop is open to musicians & improvisers of ALL LEVELS
This workshop is for Improv Musicians and Musical Directors to share knowledge and hone their skills. The first part of the workshop will be looking at some music theory, underscore, genre and song structure. The second half we will be joined by some stage improvisers to look at the dynamic between the musician and the improvisers. Some experience of playing an instrument or providing the sound for Improvisation is ideal but there is no entry requirement for musical skill or knowledge. In the last part of the workshop, 6-8 improv singers will join the workshop to help create songs and add lyrics to the improvised music.
Class Size: 8 Improv Musicians & 8 Improvisers
Heather originally trained in Physical Theatre and then went on to specialise in improvisation at Chicago’s I.O and Annoyance theatres. She and Joe both improvise with The Maydays, whose flagship show, 'Happily Never After' is an improvised show in the style of Tim Burton. She also improvises with the Olivier award winning Showstopper! The Improvised Musical, Blues Hammer, an improvised blues show with the legendary Joe Bill and London's premier all female improv team 'Yes Queens'. She has headlined numerous improv festivals & toured extensively around the world.
Heather is an artistic director at the Nursery Theatre and has also co-written a book with Joe on the subject of musical improvisation called ‘Sing it!’
Heather was winner of the award for best female performer in the Brighton Fringe & winner of the Argus Angel Award for artistic excellence. She is a vocalist with the mercury music prize nominated Electric Soft Parade and when there is time improvises a concept album with Fred Deakin of Lemon Jelly.
Joe has been a Musical Director for theatre and Improvisation for over 15 years and has worked with companies and troupes all over the world. He have been fortunate enough to be the musical director of many European Improv Festivals such as Barcelona, Athens, Amsterdam and many more. He is the Musical Director of The Maydays and conceived and directed their flagship show, Happily Never After that has been performed all around the world. He has taught and played for countless Musical Improv courses in my home town of Brighton, co-written our book, "Sing It" and devised a million exercises, games and performance pieces, some of which are born in our Super Secret Musical Improv sessions that have been running for 10 years.