Explore what it means to improvise as a human being, not a performer.

This four-part series invites people in caring and coaching professions to explore improvisation as a way to deepen connection—with themselves, others, and the present moment.

Improvisation is often thought of as performance – but that’s only one side of the practice. At its heart, improvisation is a practice of listening, noticing, responding, and allowing. Performance is not required – the invitation is to show up as we are, to play with what’s here, and to meet others with curiosity and care.

Through mindful games, embodied exercises, spontaneous interactions in scenes,  and reflective dialogue – we’ll explore how different parts of ourselves show up in relationship. We’ll cultivate presence, playfulness, and trust—valuable capacities for both our professional and personal lives.

No performance experience needed—just a willingness to be surprised, to laugh, and to lean into the unknown.

This series is not a beginners intro to improv as such, it’s specifically for people in coaching, caring and helping roles who are fascinated by all the complexities of light and shadow in the human experience.

Details

• I’d like to run this in autumn 2025. Once I have 10+ people on board I’ll figure out dates with the group.
• It’s likely to be four Sunday mornings 10:30am to 1:30pm 
• I have a venue I can use from 28 September for four weeks so if lots of people sign up now it might happen soon!
• For a four week mini-course the cost is likely to be £120
  
  

Please register your interest if this appeals. It’s not a commitment – but it does let me know who to contact when the group comes together.

Why Mindful Improv for Coaches

Lots of people I know who are therapists, coaches, facilitators have shown an interest in these aspects of improv, but they don’t necessarily want to pursue it as a performance art or in our weekly drop-in classes:

– a fun and energising way to connect with new people where you don’t have to hold the space (phew!) and you can just PLAY
– a counterspace where you don’t have to be nice, or good, or serious, or professional all the time – you’re free to play with what’s alive, what’s full of joy and what’s messy, what’s human (we will still create a kind and curious space of course!)
– a liberating space for personal development & growth that comes through an oblique creative practice all about relating and individuating – where you move and change without even realising it (or not – which is also fine!)
– a way to explore spontaneity and play in the here & now in a way that lets you bring more playfulness into your professional interactions (without making it another qualification, or a thing to do)

So I figured I put on a mini-course and we can explore all this juicy together. I’ll shape the experience around the needs and interests of the group – we’ll co-create it together so it might be applied to your work, or it might be more of a playful, creative exploration. Let’s see.

Improvisation goes surprisingly deep into areas like: intention, awareness, acceptance, commitment, integration, flexibility, embodied presence, status, leadership, parts work (to name a few) so there are lots of areas we can explore in this course, and in further sessions if the group wants to go deeper.

Why improv?

Improv is one of the most powerful tools I’ve worked with.

It brings learning to life in a way that nothing else really touches. Why? Because live interaction helps people feel what we’re talking about. 

Learning experiences with improv build connection, invite play, and open the door to learning that’s real, experiential and surprising.

It’s probably more helpful to think of this as social play – as improv can have connotations of forced humour – whereas play feels more spacious and open.

When people are playing — paying close attention, co-operating, experimenting, taking risks, and letting go of getting it “right” — (aka improvising) things shift. People listen differently. Show up differently. The learning lands in a deeper way.

It’s not about being funny. It’s not about performance. It’s not about being clever or original. It’s about presence, trust, and co-creating in real time. It’s about dancing on the edge of your conditioning. It’s about exploring how to bring more of yourself into relationship with others, the world and life itself. And that’s where change happens.

Oh – and in case it hasn’t been clear enough – just being open to spontaneous connection creates a lot of energy, joy, laughter and fun. Lots of people say our weekly drop-in classes are the highlight of their week and I hope you’ll say the same for the classes in this short course.

Who’s it for?

This course is intended for people in coaching, caring and helping professions (not sure how best to phrase that!) – people who hold space for others.

That might include (but is not limited to): Coaches, Counsellors, Psychotherapists, Mediators, Arts therapists, Mindfulness teachers, Embodiment or somatic practitioners, Group Facilitators, Workshop Leaders, L&D or OD practitioners.

What it isn’t

I want to improvise with the group and follow what feels most alive and appealing. Every session will be structured and designed in response to the last session, rather than a pre-set curriculum.

We probably won’t get into the fully applied side of improvisation where I would be teaching tools and techniques for you to use with clients. I’d be happy to do that but I think that’s a follow on course, and maybe easier delivered online. I’m gradually compiling a list of the applied improv activities I use on my personal website www.alexmenhams.com/resources

If the group wants to talk about how this can be applied with clients (or explore other personal and professional links) then we’ll make space for that.

About the facilitator

Alex Menhams is the founder of improv school Here & Now People in Woodbridge, Suffolk where he teaches classes that bring people together in ways that are playful, joyful mindful and hopeful. 

Alex teaches and performs improv across Europe and loves exploring the connections between presence, play, mindfulness and humour, and has taught The Way of Play in London and many sessions on presence and play at festivals, retreats and conferences.

Alex works as a trainer and facilitator (www.alexmenhams.com) and is passionate about the power and possibilities of creative group work to help people fulfil their potential. He’s a bit of a trickster, and has had many adventures with creative learning and team development and in creating thinking spaces for forward-thinking organisations. His clients include Channel 4, AstraZeneca, Shell, Norwich Theatre, Britten Pears Arts and many other charities, universities and NGOs.

Over the years Alex has dived deep into personal development and human potential through retreats, IFS therapy, mindfulness and more.

Why do I want to do this?