William Shakespeare: the bard, England’s national poet, the world’s greatest dramatist. Untouchable, inimitable… unimprovisable, right? Surely you can’t just ‘make up’ Shakespeare? 

You absolutely can and it’s beautiful and hilarious in equal measure. 

Join us at this workshop with Rebecca Macmillan where you will achieve the impossible by improvising prose, poetry, insults, soliloquies, asides and more, in the style of Shakespeare. 

We will delve into the bard’s work for a bit of inspiration, but not so much we get lost in it. Then using a range of techniques and games, a mix of short and long form improvisation and a touch of parody, we’ll have Shakespeare’s quill putting words straight into our mouths.

Exploring the range of Shakespeare’s genres and themes – comedic, tragic, historic, and the simply weird; we’ll become improvised royals and nobles, fools, witches, ‘rude mechanicals’, unrequited lovers, witty youths, warriors and fairies. 

This workshop is suitable for those with a basic level of improvisation (comfortable being in a scene) and a reasonable grasp of the English language. No previous study or performance of Shakespeare is necessary.

If you’re new to improv check out our First Steps in Improv Course starting on 21 March.

About Rebecca

Rebecca has been teaching for over twenty years and has been learning and performing improv since before then. She takes inspiration from a huge range of schools, teachers and other influences stateside and in the UK. She’s active in developing an improv community in Stroud, where she lives, as well as in collaboration with the Bristol Improv Theatre.

She coaches groups and individual improvisers and is one of the teaching team at AndAlso. 2024 saw her teach at the Robin Hood International Improv Festival and Birmingham Improv Festival. She’s a co-founder of the Maydays and also performs with Closer Each Day – the improvised soap, Impromptu Shakespeare, No Expectations – the Improvised Dickens Show, La Wronge, The Library of Forgotten Books & The Adventures of the Improvised Sherlock Holmes. Rebecca is a nurturing and supportive teacher with a playful sparkle, and loves to help improvisers and teams to discover their improv super powers, and lean into and take joy from them.

“Rebecca holds space for improv lightly, brightly, with great expertise and skill, versatility and naturally a ready humour.” – Stroud class regular.

Details for this class

– Wednesday 19 February
– 6:45pm to 9:30pm
– £15
– The Sprat Shed, Woodbridge

Tickets are non-refundable for this class but can be passed on to another participant.

Venue details

The Sprat Shed, Robertson’s Boatyard, Lime Kiln Quay Rd, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 1BD

There is parking on site and The Sprat Shed is a warm and attractive space on the River Deben with beautiful views across to Sutton Hoo.