* Are Talking Pigs Canon? | Workshop | Brisbane Improv Festival 2026
Are Talking Pigs Canon? : Building a Long Form Genre Based Show. Build a genre show using predefined characters, relationships and settings.
Questions. Questions? Questions! | Workshop | Brisbane Improv Festival 2026
Come and join me on an adventure to find funny and engaging scenes. Thinking about how we can use questions in our improv that can drive scenes forward, enhance our collaboration with our scene partner, and discover hilarious games.
You've probably watched scenes where the improvisers fall down "The Question Hole" and the scene goes nowhere. There's a chance you've heard the improv advice "Never ask questions". This school of thought that shuns questions is suggesting you're not contributing to the scene. I want to us to dive deeper into why this perception exists, when it is true, and when it isn't true.
This workshop is for any improvisors from the 101 beginner who wants some tools for their belt on how to keep scenes engaging to advance improvisors wanting to dig into a little corner of their improv.
Workshop Length: 2 hours
Recommended experience level:Beginner (upto 12 months experience)
Jaye Heather (she/her)
Jaye Heather (She / Her) is an improvisor, comedian, and musician. She's been improvising with Big Fork Theatre for nearly 5 years. She is a member of the The Tuning Forks, Big Forks musical improv troupe, and produced her debut solo show "Frozen Girl Sperm" this year to a sold out audience. Her improv is inspired by the likes of Big Grande and Comedy Bang! Bang! and loves when performers make big justifications.
🟣😆💚🎂🟪🎉🤣🟢🥳🟩💜
* From Hard Boiled to Historical Romance - Genres in Improv | Workshop | Bris Improv Fest 2026
Genres (or literary/film styles) are a fun way to bring some spice to your improv - be it soap opera, detective or sci-fi. They have been a part of improv since the beginning, with many shortform games and longform formats using them as a inspiration. But sometimes they can be intimidating!
You may find yourself asking “How can I get the hang of any genre for fun and profit?”
Well wonder no more, as this workshop is packed full of fun activities and tips on unleashing the potential of all sorts of genres - from Shakespeare to Disney, from Horror to Children’s show - as well as ways of improving your improvisation and challenging yourself!
Participants may be cast from the workshop to perform in Hard Boiled Dick. Casting is at the discretion of the facilitator.
On the Spot | Workshop | Brisbane Improv Festival 2026
We bring a lot of ourselves on stage, the good, the bad and the ugly. When shit happens to us, and we don't realise how it's affecting us til we're on stage, how do we survive the moment? This workshop is a trauma informed approach into the tangible ways we can negotiate physical and emotional consent or boundaries on stage and off.
First working through the off stage preparation, we will explore how to have conversations with our troupes/other players and why they're important. Then, we'll dive into the actual techniques we can use and trial them. I have specific techniques that I share, and then coach people to find what they feel comfortable using.
Workshop Length: 3 hours
Recommended experience level: Intermediate (1 - 3 years experience)
This workshop will require participants to consider experiences of being uncomfortable on stage to inform the workshop. There will be no requirement to disclose any information, only invitations.
Stageless Storytelling | Workshop | Brisbane Improv Festival 2026
Even improvisers who struggle to focus—or who think they’re “not great at auditory things”—find themselves completely dialled in during The Bat. With sight removed, your brain has nothing to split its attention. So, your listening sharpens, your imagination fires, and you drop into a level of focus that feels almost effortless.
Performed entirely in darkness, The Bat (originally created by Joe Bill) strips improv back to its most powerful elements: voice, story, connection, and trust. No stage pictures. No space work. The result is pure, auditory storytelling built in the moment that unfolds purely through sound and imagination. Sometimes described as the “radio play” style of improv, in our current world of podcasts The Bat is more relevant than ever before.
In this three-hour intensive, you’ll:
• Develop laser-sharp listening and ensemble awareness
• Create vivid worlds using only voice and sound
• Build emotionally grounded, connected long-form scenes
• Sustain narrative without visuals
• Commit to distinct character voices
• Learn techniques for clarity, pacing, and connection for an auditory-only performance
Spots in this workshop don’t just teach you a format—they change how you improvise.
N.B.–Only a portion of the workshop will be in darkness.
* A Back Line - An Improvised Musical Genre Workshop | Bris Improv Fest 2026
Welcome to the audition to see who can join the Back Line, the next hit improvised musical show at Big Fork Theatre. That's the show you will be performing in. This workshop is for anyone curious to try musical improv or those wanting to extend their skills. The format is dynamic because it’s an audition style show. Our workshop will focus on improvising a specific genre. Think A Chorus Line, Centre Stage, Chicago, Rent the kind of theatrics that is a little too serious – but a lot of fun to get lost in.
When in Rome, Improvise like the Romans do| Bris Improv Fest 2026
Want to bring more physicality in to your improvisation? Why not draw from one of the oldest forms of physical characterisation and pretty much where Shakespeare stole all his basic character ideas from. (Don’t tell him I said that). In this three hour workshop you’ll go through several of the stock Commedia dell’arte characters, including a mix of Zanni (clowns), Vecchi (the elderly) and Innamorati (the lovers). Emilia will also take you through several physicality drills and exercises that you can choose from to build your own warm ups. That way you will get in the mood to put not just your best foot but you best whole body forward each performance!
* Harnessing Harmonies | Workshop | Brisbane Improv Festival 2026
Improvisers are said to be Directors, Writers and Actors all at once. In Songprov, we're also the Lyricist, Composer and Choreographer! This workshop will sharpen your singer/songwriter skills, making music come forth naturally and beautifully. Whether solo or in a group, you'll soon be creating songs like your favourite composers.
Over the past decade of performing as a professional musician and improviser, Jaron has boiled down musical theory and composition to help you take your songprov to the next level. We’ll run through exercises that refine your melodic and harmonic abilities, and have you instantly write complementary and meaningful lyrics.
Hive Mind | Workshop | Brisbane Improv Festival 2026
Something is happening in the room: the group is breathing together, moving together, thinking together. Hive Mind explores how improvisers can find that collective intelligence on purpose. Working through body, voice, and mind, participants tune their spatial awareness, shared rhythm, non-verbal listening, and collective scene-making. The aim is not sameness, but a richer ensemble state where many voices, ideas, and impulses can move through one coherent performance.
Scary Strangers Presents: Big Character Energy | Bris Improv Fest 2026
Big characters make shows memorable, invite our scene-partners to make stronger choices, and give audiences something exciting to connect with. They’re playful, surprising, emotionally bold, and one of the most enjoyable ways to stretch ourselves creatively onstage. In this workshop, you’ll explore simple, practical techniques for finding unique characters, accessing a wider emotional range, and making confident physical and vocal choices. We’ll focus on heightening character decisions, committing fully to the moment, and supporting the reality of the scene. Through fast-paced exercises and improvised scenes, you’ll build confidence, trust your instincts, and discover characters you didn’t know you had.
How to Prov About Nothing | Workshop | Brisbane Improv Festival 2026
How to stop worrying, do less and have more fun. This workshop focuses on using practical techniques to get you out of your head and into the scene. Plot is the enemy and character development and relationship is your ally. Slow down, find the patterns and the gold that's already there and have a nice, fun time.
Make It a Show: Creative Producing for Improv | Brisbane Improv Fest 2026
This practical workshop is all about creative producing for improv. The bit between “this could be fun” and “people bought tickets.” We’ll look at how to shape concepts, identify audiences, strengthen hooks, and give notes from a producer’s perspective that balance creative ambition with commercial reality.
You don’t need a finished idea, or even an idea at all. Just an interest in making improv that reaches beyond the same familiar circles.
Less spreadsheets. More making shows people actually want to see.
You Are Actually Up There On Stage | Workshop | Brisbane Improv Fest 2026
If you find it hard to do scenes that aren’t just two people standing across from each other having a chat, this is the workshop for you.
This workshop is designed to get you more “in your body”, so that characterisation, stagecraft and object work can come easily and naturally.
The best improv is playful improv, and it’s easy to play when you’re feeling loose and relaxed on stage. In this workshop, you will learn exercises and techniques you can reuse to unlock your own physical performance.
Backstory Factory | Workshop | Brisbane Improv Festival 2026
This workshop dives into one of the most magical parts of improv: how your character seems to know everything about the world they’re in. They know where they are, why they’re there, their own personal history, and even details about the people around them. Characters know so much, and performers can too. We’ll focus on the performer’s mindset, exploring how to discover what your character knows through spontaneity, curiosity, and genuine connection with your scene partners. Together, we’ll build shared histories, relationships, and worlds that feel rich, grounded, and alive.
Hands - Head - Heart | Workshop | Brisbane Improv Festival 2026
Being on stage can feel overwhelming. You might catch yourself wondering: What should I do with my body? What should I say? What should I feel?
You don’t have to figure everything out at once. Your hands, head, and heart already know how to work together. This workshop offers simple, playful ways to let one clear idea show up through your movement, thinking, or emotions. Through guided exercises, you’ll practice trusting one part of yourself at a time, allowing you to relax, truly listen, and discover that powerful improv comes from doing less and being honest.
F*ck Yeah Improv
Presented by Taylor Edwards (Brisbane/Meanjin)
Get back in the groove and inspire yourself!
Codifying Improv
Presented by Cam Watson of Big Fork Theatre (Brisbane/Meanjin)
It's time to get nerdy with improv - let's dissect the frog!
Bring It, Sing It
Presented by Mark Grimes of Big Fork Theatre (Brisbane/Meanjin)
Connection is core to improv, and when we improvise singing, we have the unique opportunity to make a connection with our inner thoughts.
Stan is the man!
Presented by Jhi Rayner of Freeroam Theatre (Wagga Wagga)
Take to the stage as you navigate the actioning, objective, and super objective techniques of one of the fathers of Modern Acting.
Big Me: MC Skills
Presented by Matt Powell of Locomotive (Wellington/Te Whanganui-a-Tara)
Have you ever seen someone hosting a show and thought, damn, they really know what they're doing?
The Sneaky Improviser
Presented by Jim Fishwick of Improv Theatre Sydney (Sydney/Gadigal Land)
When we improvise, we’re trying to get on the same page as our scene partner and the audience about what’s going on.
The BIG and the Small of it
Presented by Lindsay Drummond of Improv Hub (North Brisbane/Moreton Bay/Online)
This workshop explores how a focus on making BIG of the small or small of the BIG things can give us great comedy and plenty to work with.
Playing With Your Voice
Presented by Eleanor Stankiewicz (Melbourne/Naarm)
Is voice an afterthought during scenes or creating characters? This workshop will encourage improvisers to develop and discover characters using their voices and physicality in imaginative ways. NIDA Acting and Voice graduate, Eleanor Stankiewicz, will share her favourite vocal tips, tricks, and tools to help participants bring joy and musicality to their play.
The Stories That Made Us*
Presented by Matías Avaca (Auckland/Tāmaki Makaurau & Mendoza, Argentina)
In The Stories That Made Us, participants will explore how cultural and personal stories influence the way we create characters and play scenes. This workshop invites you to reflect on your own background, traditions, and ancestral tales, using these stories to deepen and enrich your scene work. We’ll explore oral storytelling, integrating culture, history, and heritage into performance. Participants will engage in guided exercises and activities that help bring diverse perspectives into their scenes, unfolding authentic and meaningful stories. By the end, you’ll have the tools to tell richer, more connected stories on stage.
Express to Impress
Presented by Mandy Plumb of Blah Blah Blah Improv (Gold Coast/Northern NSW)
Unlock the power of using emotion to elevate your improv with Express to Impress! This high-energy, interactive workshop will help you tap into your full emotional range—even the emotions you’ve never felt—to create compelling characters, deepen relationships, and drive scenes with authenticity. Through targeted exercises, you'll learn how to make bold emotional choices, sustain (or switch) emotions under pressure, and build stronger connections with your scene partners. Whether you're new to improv or a seasoned performer, this workshop will increase your stage presence and give your characters more oomph. When we express, we impress—so get ready to unleash the emotional firepower that makes improv performances unforgettable!
Sing, Improvise, Repeat!
Presented by Anne Laroche of Big Fork Theatre (Brisbane/Meanjin) and FMR Académie (France)
Step into a world where music and laughter collide, and your voice becomes the key to spontaneous creativity! This improv singing workshop invites you to create songs, craft catchy tunes, improvise lyrics, and build stories through melody alongside fellow performers.
TINYPROV: The Workshop*
Presented by Hayden Wright of Improv Theatre Sydney (Sydney/Eora)
TINYPROV: The Workshop invites you to explore improvisation as a duo. This dynamic session includes personalised, diagnostic feedback to help duos strengthen their unique connection and grow in confidence. You'll build chemistry, respond to your partner’s instincts, and create electric, in-the-moment scenes. No advanced experience needed—just curiosity and a willingness to play. Bring your improv buddy or get matched with someone new. Either way, you’ll leave with tools to elevate your duo work.
Awareing is Caring
Presented by Glenn Seaby of Big Fork Theatre (Brisbane/Meanjin)
Become more aware of your scene partner and yourself. This workshop aims to make us more present in our scenes and shows. It will strengthen your ability to listen, react, and build off your fellow performers. We’ll start with awareness of ourselves. What habits, quirks, and tendencies do you bring to your performances? Are there any commonalities in your scenes? We will then explore awareness of our scene partners through exercises and scenes that will stretch our skills. What are they really saying? How can you support each other? How can we truly listen?
Hook, Line and Sinker
Presented by Malcolm Morrison (Wellington/Te Whanganui-a-Tara)
We have all been to shows where you found your mind drifting. Similarly, you've likely read books, watched movies, or TV shows that a friend swears, "It gets good after 10 episodes!" This workshop explores audience attention and engagement with your show: how to capture it initially and how to keep it. We break it down into three parts: Hook - Catching people's attention. Line - Gaining people's investment. Sinker - Delivering a great show. We put this into practice through discussion and exercises - written and physical - to develop your chosen medium of performance. Bring writing tools and let’s really make your work shine!
Instant Group Mind
Presented by Tom North (Sydney/Eora)
Ever been in a new team or ensemble and found your first few shows full of hesitation? You want your team to be full of support, but aren't sure you're on the same page?
Too often, new groups go straight into perfecting a format, and let their group mind whither. This workshop will give you the tools and experience to go from a bunch of strangers or gathering of friends to a tight-knit team of performers in no time at all (read: in 2 hours time).
Rom-Com Prov
Presented by Janette McBride of Big Fork Theatre(Brisbane/Meanjin)
Those cheesy, feel-good romantic comedies we all secretly (or not-so-secretly) love have the power to elevate a regular improv show into a heartwarming and hilarious experience. In this workshop, we’ll explore how to craft an improvised rom-com using classic tropes, beloved character archetypes, expressive emotions, and physical storytelling—drawing inspiration from Hallmark, Hollywood, and Asia. We’ll also dive into iconic rom-com moments such as the ‘bump and catch’ and the ‘interrupted kiss’. Please note that while this class involves some physical touch, all activities will be adapted to respect each participant’s comfort level.
Character Creator
Presented by Rosa Sottile of Big Fork Theatre (Brisbane/Meanjin).
Characters are the best part of sketch comedy - and characters are a great way to perform solo sketch! But how do you get started - what makes a character memorable? What makes their jokes work? How do you keep the momentum when it’s just you on stage? This workshop focuses on giving hands-on experience with idea generation from various angles, character creation, and, by the end, you will have a character monologue ready for the stage.
Plug Me In
Presented by Broni of The Improv Conspiracy (Melbourne/Naarm)
We all have different go-to’s and safe zones… moves or characters we retreat to when we worry things aren’t going well. What if, though, our safe place really truly was connecting with our scene partner. When we panic, we should reconnect, not retreat to ourselves. Plug Me In teaches you awareness for yourself, your partner, and the moment you’re both in… plug back in to each other.
Improvising & Cognition: Use Impro to Win
Presented by Alastair Tomkins of ImproCOG (Brisbane/Meanjin)
Using impro' techniques, workshop participants will have an opportunity to experience firsthand how this style of learning aligns with and helps build 21st century skills (aka soft skills) of collaboration, creativity, communication, empathy and critical thinking. Several techniques explore divergent thinking and show how it can be used in creative writing, presenting in public, group work, and other settings. Participants will play some of the games and reflect on other cognitive elements during the workshop identifying how they can also be used in non-theatrical settings like school, uni and workplaces.
Attitude!
Presented by Luke Rimmelzwaan of Improv Queensland (Brisbane/Meanjin)
In this workshop, we’ll focus on making bold, playful character choices that ignite creativity and bring energy to every scene. By taking strong attitudes and being open and responsive, we’ll discover how spontaneity and collaboration can lead to surprising, delightful moments with our scene partners. We will play with fresh attitudes and perspectives to unlock unique, never-before-seen interactions on stage. This is a chance to break out of habits, take risks, and embrace the unexpected. Whether you want to deepen your characters or simply have more fun in your scenes, this workshop is about discovery, connection, and joyful play.
Beginner's Guide to Stand-up Comedy*
Presented by Marcel Blanch-de Wilt of The Comedy Writers Group (Melbourne/Naarm)
Get the tools to make your stand-up debut. We're going to hit the ground running and equip you with the basics to develop material and brave the stage. This workshop will help you find the funny and discover the comedian within. The Beginner's Guide is designed to show you just how joyful and approachable stand-up comedy can be. Come and make your voice heard.
Wizards at the Supermarket*
Presented by Malcolm Morrison (Wellington/Te Whanganui-a-Tara)
An improvised exploration of the interesting, but often missed aspects of fantasy and science-fiction: the mundane. Learn how to tell stories in the Fantasy Normalism (or the Mundane Fantastic) genre, which delights in taking the crazy, out-there characters from Fantastical genres (superheroes, supernatural, sci-fi) and treating them as real people.
The Beat
Presented by Laura Buskes of The Improv Conspiracy (Melbourne/Naarm)
The Beat is all about action moments beyond the dialogue. This workshop will explore how we can combine authentic responses with acting skills, and take your performances to new heights. We'll work with physical offers, stage pictures, tone and sometimes even silence.
Improv & Tech
Presented by Ben Snaith (Brisbane/Meanjin)
This workshop is a chance for improvisers of all experience levels to play with technology to complement and influence what's happening on the Big Fork stage. We will use webcams, FaceTime, the lighting desk and projectors, microphones, speakers, and captioning software and see what becomes of it all.
Toddlerprov*
Part of the Brisbane Improv Festival workshop series!
Toddlerprov with Jim Reynolds
What could we add to our scenes if we had the mindset of a toddler looking at a situation for the first time? Explore how we can improvise more instinctually and with a greater sense of abandon and fun, using real examples from our parenting experiences.
Silly Odyssey: Improvising a Hero's Journey*
Part of the Brisbane Improv Festival workshop series!
Silly Odyssey: Improvising a Hero's Journey with Tom North
In this workshop learn the narrative improv format ‘Silly Odyssey’, build up your storytelling skills and learn how to maximize your fun without losing track of the story.
The Chorus of Chaos
Part of the Brisbane Improv Festival workshop series!
The Chorus of Chaos with Liam Webber & Nick Harriott
A wild and crazy deep-dive into improvising large cast musical numbers! We’ll be singing big cast songs, creating scenes, shapes, and meaning with our choreography, and generally having a rootin’ tootin’ good time.
Stuck in the Middle
Part of the Brisbane Improv Festival workshop series!
Stuck in the Middle with Rik Brown
Stuck in the Middle is an energetic and entertaining format which involves one performer being ‘stuck’ on stage for the entirety of the performance, with no option but to go along with every offer, character, scene or genre that is being thrown at them.
Head/Heart/Hole - Where does improv come from?
Part of the Brisbane Improv Festival workshop series!
Head/Heart/Hole - Where does improv come from? with Matt Powell
We all have different defaults that we bring to improv, but have you ever wished you could try something different? In this workshop we look at three different approaches to making offers, and how to use those different styles with intention and clarity.
Creating Stories People Care About
Part of the Brisbane Improv Festival workshop series!
Creating Stories People Care About with Tara McEntee
This workshop focuses on getting to the core of narrative improv and storytelling; what stories do people care about, and why? Through exercises and side coaching, you will learn how to work the improv muscles that lead to creating characters and plotlines audiences care about.