This event is part of the Brisbane Improv Festival 2026, featuring all of your favourite shows and workshops.

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When in Rome, Improvise like the Romans do (Commedia dell'Arte and Improvising from your Body)

Presented by Emilia Higgs (Gadigal Country/Sydney) as part of the Brisbane Improv Festival 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!

Workshop Length: 3 hours

Recommended experience level: Intermediate (1 - 3 years experience)

Note: This is a workshop all about connecting with your physicality and thus a level of curiosity and enthusiasm to pursue that is required. Having said that, all exercises can be accommodated for injuries, disabilities or other restrictions.

Meet Emilia (Emilia/Millie/She/They)
Emilia Higgs is a multidisciplinary artist with a deep passion for storytelling . Her diverse career spans film, theatre, voice acting, children's entertainment, movement direction, and art curation. Some career highlights: performing commedia dell’arte in a Florentine piazza, galloping into the sunset on a rhino in Eugène Ionesco’s Rhinoceros, singing bluegrass whilst playing the viola as the fiery Princess Malcolm and most recently performing in the Manila Improv Festival as part of The Joy Riders.

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