Learn the magic of making up songs on the spot in a focused workshop with one of the leaders in the Australian industry.

Impromptunes, Australia's premier improvised musical theatre troupe, comes to Brisbane for one weekend only with a rare opportunity to work on your songprov. Using just what comes to your mind, long-time improviser Jaron Why will support participants in shaping spontaneous songs. Exploring lyric, structure, melody and finding and locking in catchy choruses, this session will provide a complete approach to developing a song in seconds that could fit into a Broadway Musical... or Off-Broadway at least!

The session is presented by Jaron Why, a seasoned member of Impromptunes and long time musician and performer with The Big Hoo Haa! Melbourne.

Performers with experience in improvisation, songprov and/or composition and a love of music will be best suited to participation in this workshop. Compose your inner composer with Impromptunes - spots limited!

About the Facilitator
Jaron's passion for music and comedy come together in this unique art form, providing expert knowledge through exercises and feedback. His warm and supportive energy makes for a safe and playful workshop space.

Jaron’s journey with music began over 20 years ago, learning the piano and musical theory from a young age. In 2014, when he joined the Big Hoo-Haa! Melbourne as the Director of Music, Jaron combined his love of improvised comedy and musicals, creating formats that have taken songprov to new heights. Since then, he has performed and taught all over Australia not only with Impromptunes, but also with groups such Murder Village, Cabaret Time Machine and The Ad-Libertines.

About the Company

Impromptunes has performed improvised musicals for over a decade in fringe and comedy festivals around Australia, as well as Edinburgh. With over 500 musicals to their name, they are the leading company in Australia. Known also for their accomplished workshop program since 2014, Impromptunes stands for quality in everything they deliver.

Come join us for a fun and interactive Discover Improv class, have some fun and meet new people!

Anyone can improvise! Ever wanted to try improv but you weren't sure if it was for you? This free 2 hour intro to improvisation course is designed for those who have never had any experience with improv.

Improv can help you become a better listener, improve your confidence in public speaking, kickstart your creativity and teach you how to work as part of a group. Most of all, a Discover Improv class with Big Fork Theatre is guaranteed to send you home laughing.

Our free Intro to Improv session will be taught by some of Big Fork Theatre's most talented improvisers. The session will give you a basic introduction to Big Fork's style of improvisation in a fun, low pressure environment, and attendees will leave with a discount code for our full, 6-week Improv Fundamentals course.

If you have any questions about the session please email us at training@bigforktheatre.com - we hope to see you there!

Come join us for a fun and interactive Discover Improv class, have some fun and meet new people!

Anyone can improvise! Ever wanted to try improv but you weren't sure if it was for you? This free 2 hour intro to improvisation course is designed for those who have never had any experience with improv.

Improv can help you become a better listener, improve your confidence in public speaking, kickstart your creativity and teach you how to work as part of a group. Most of all, a Discover Improv class with Big Fork Theatre is guaranteed to send you home laughing.

Our free Intro to Improv session will be taught by some of Big Fork Theatre's most talented improvisers. The session will give you a basic introduction to Big Fork's style of improvisation in a fun, low pressure environment, and attendees will leave with a discount code for our full, 6-week Improv Fundamentals course.

If you have any questions about the session please email us at training@bigforktheatre.com - we hope to see you there!

Learn a brand new improv format with improviser/actor Jason Geary!

Stop Being Polite. You know the rule: "Make your partner look good." And you do—every time. But what happens when the offer you get leaves you cold? You step on stage anyway. And the scene suffers.

That stops here.

Welcome to the format that gives ideas permission to fly—or fail happily. In ‘How ‘Bout This?’ Jason Geary has designed a format that frees improvisers from the pressure of accepting uninspired offers. Instead, you'll learn to pitch ideas onstage—out loud, in the moment—and players only step into a scene when they're genuinely inspired.

Here's how it works:

● A cast member pitches an offer to the group.

● If it sparks something? You step forward and play.

● If not? You stay put.

● And if no one steps in? The pitcher gets rapturous applause from the audience (yes, that's rehearsed into the format)

No guilt. No politely walking into a dead scene. Just focused, certain, inspired beginnings —every time. The result? Happy failure. Brave choices. Scenes that start with fire because everyone in them wanted to be there.

Perfect for casts of 6–8.

Workshop Duration: 3 hours

Come learn how to fail happily—and play fearlessly.

About Jason Geary

Jason has been improvising for over 30 years. He has studied with some of the most influential Improvisation teachers in the world, including Randy Dixon and Keith Johnstone. Jason was a founding member of Impro Melbourne and after 17 years with the company became the Artistic Director for three years before departing to pursue his goal of teaching and performing improv around the world.

He has been a guest Director and Artist In Residence at theatres in Stockholm, Milan and Portland, Oregon where he directed seasons with those companies and produced new improvised works.

Jason has been invited to teach and perform at improv festivals in Cape Town, Berlin, Paris, Wurzberg, Hamburg, Stockholm, Los Angeles, Seattle, Barcelona, Reunion Island, Wellington and Amsterdam. His original interpretation of the craft and his pursuit of pushing the boundaries of how audiences perceive improvised theatre, see him held in high regard in the improvisation community in Australia and around the world. You may recognize him from his iSelect ads, Utopia (ABC), Fisk (ABC) or as an ensemble member of the 2023/4 season of the hit series Thank God You’re Here (Network 10).

Learn to build improv characters with improviser/actor Jason Geary!

Stop Playing Surface Characters. You’ve mastered the basics. You can think on your feet, commit to a choice, and get laughs. But deep down, you know your characters could hit harder—live deeper—tell better stories. This advanced character workshop is for experienced improvisers ready to move beyond the stereotype.

Learn to reverse-engineer your characters—taking the split-second choices you make on stage and turning them into rich, intentional foundations for narrative and emotional depth.

You’ll be challenged to build complex characters that honor your instincts while adding surprising layers of substance. Discover how giving your character an inner archetype unlocks story possibilities you never saw coming.

About Jason Geary

Jason has been improvising for over 30 years. He has studied with some of the most influential Improvisation teachers in the world, including Randy Dixon and Keith Johnstone. Jason was a founding member of Impro Melbourne and after 17 years with the company became the Artistic Director for three years before departing to pursue his goal of teaching and performing improv around the world.

He has been a guest Director and Artist In Residence at theatres in Stockholm, Milan and Portland, Oregon where he directed seasons with those companies and produced new improvised works.

Jason has been invited to teach and perform at improv festivals in Cape Town, Berlin, Paris, Wurzberg, Hamburg, Stockholm, Los Angeles, Seattle, Barcelona, Reunion Island, Wellington and Amsterdam. His original interpretation of the craft and his pursuit of pushing the boundaries of how audiences perceive improvised theatre, see him held in high regard in the improvisation community in Australia and around the world. You may recognize him from his iSelect ads, Utopia (ABC), Fisk (ABC) or as an ensemble member of the 2023/4 season of the hit series Thank God You’re Here (Network 10).

Learn how to improvise a full romantic comedy using classic tropes, strong characters, and iconic moments!

Those cheesy, feel-good romantic comedies we all secretly (or not-so-secretly) adore have the power to elevate a regular improv show into both a heart-melting and hilarious experience. By popular demand, this expanded course builds on the one‑day workshop previously sold out and taught in the Big Fork Comedy Festival, Melbourne’s Defrost Festival, and the Improv Theatre Sydney Comedy Festival (participants can join even if they did not do the workshop).

In this five-week course, we will practice how to beautifully craft an improvised rom-com using classic tropes, main and essential supporting characters, authentic emotional and physical connections, and soul-satisfying plots. We’ll also dive into iconic rom-com moments such as the ‘bump and catch’ and the ‘interrupted kiss’. If you love love, then this is “the one” that will give you the tools to create heartfelt romantic comedies that will make audiences swoon.

Please note that while this class involves physical touch, all activities will be adapted to respect each participant’s comfort level. Minimum improv level experience: Level 3 Characters (or equivalent). Please email training@bigforktheatre.com for any questions.

About your teacher: Janette McBride has had the unique experience of being in TV shows and films in the Philippines. She has been performing improv since 2015, and she directs and performs in one of Big Fork Theatre’s regular shows, Wer Ya From? Janette is currently studying her Master in Theatre and Performance, and she is particularly excited about character development and cultural diversity on stage.

This course meets for 5 sessions that are each 3 hours long.

Dive into Big Fork Theatre's lively and inclusive Improv Fundamentals course, discover creativity, build confidence, and have fun!

Anyone can improvise and Big Fork Theatre's Improv Fundamentals is the perfect place to start! This six-week course is designed to introduce participants to Big Fork Theatre's approach to improvised comedy. No previous acting or improv experience is required to participate.

In Improv Fundamentals you will be encouraged to explore your creativity, build your confidence and have fun whilst developing the basic skills of improvisation. Big Fork Theatre's teachers have years of experience and are excited to help you start your improv journey.

Improv Fundamentals focuses on the basic tenets of scenic improvisation and is part of Big Fork's Improv Foundations program. Improv Foundations is a series of four workshop blocks designed to introduce students to Big Fork's style of long form improvisation. Once students have completed all Improv Foundations they are invited to participate in our Advanced Study program.

Specific skills and topics covered in Foundations 1 - Improv Fundamentals:

· "Yes, and"

· Listening

· Creating a character

· Supporting your scene partner and the performance

· Object /Environment work (mime)

· Introductory long-form improvisation techniques.

This course meets for 6 sessions that are each 3 hours long. There will be a graduation show at the end of the course. Once graduated, students are invited to join our regular improv jams and perform in our Jam Shows.

Bench Characters

We often find ourselves coming back to character archetypes in improv: the wizard, the psychiatrist, the zany waiter, the Hollywood producer. Sure, they have different names but haven’t we met them before? These are our Bench Characters. This workshop aims to not only extend your repertoire of reliable foundational folks but also to fall in love with them as you give them new depth and dimensions. You’ll leave this workshop full of potential characters for your next show and feel comfortable knowing they’ll always be there for you. 

Building a Solo Show From Scratch

Where do we begin when it comes to creating a one-person-show that will captivate the crowd? Across this workshop, Marcel will demystify the experience of building a show and provide you with the tools to ensure the process is approachable and fun. Through a series of exercises, discussions, and activities, you will leave this workshop feeling inspired and ready to take on your next project.

MC Masterclass

There’s an art to being a good host. Learn how to build trust, charm the crowd, and be hilarious at the same time. Across this workshop you will be equipped with the tools to approach the best ways to MC a variety of events from comedy nights to corporate functions. This class will be highly practical, giving you plenty of time in front of an audience to try your hand at crowdwork, introducing acts, thinking on your feet, uniting the crowd, and more.

Come join us for a fun and interactive Discover Improv class, have some fun and meet new people!

Anyone can improvise! Ever wanted to try improv but you weren't sure if it was for you? This free 2 hour intro to improvisation course is designed for those who have never had any experience with improv.

Improv can help you become a better listener, improve your confidence in public speaking, kickstart your creativity and teach you how to work as part of a group. Most of all, a Discover Improv class with Big Fork Theatre is guaranteed to send you home laughing.

Our free Intro to Improv session will be taught by some of Big Fork Theatre's most talented improvisers. The session will give you a basic introduction to Big Fork's style of improvisation in a fun, low pressure environment, and attendees will leave with a discount code for our full, 6-week Improv Fundamentals course.

If you have any questions about the session please email us at training@bigforktheatre.com - we hope to see you there!

Come join us for a fun and interactive Discover Improv class, have some fun and meet new people!

Anyone can improvise! Ever wanted to try improv but you weren't sure if it was for you? This free 2 hour intro to improvisation course is designed for those who have never had any experience with improv.

Improv can help you become a better listener, improve your confidence in public speaking, kickstart your creativity and teach you how to work as part of a group. Most of all, a Discover Improv class with Big Fork Theatre is guaranteed to send you home laughing.

Our free Intro to Improv session will be taught by some of Big Fork Theatre's most talented improvisers. The session will give you a basic introduction to Big Fork's style of improvisation in a fun, low pressure environment, and attendees will leave with a discount code for our full, 6-week Improv Fundamentals course.

If you have any questions about the session please email us at training@bigforktheatre.com - we hope to see you there!

Dive into Big Fork Theatre's lively and inclusive Improv courses, discover creativity, build confidence, and have fun!

In this 6 week Intro to Musical Improv class we will introduce students to the basic concepts and tools needed to create songs and music in the moment.

There is nothing more joyful than creating a fully improvised song out of thin air. It can explore the emotional connections of your characters and drive the action of the scene forward, all while getting a catchy chorus stuck in your audience’s head for hours.

If you’ve ever wanted to stretch your improv muscles then Intro to Musical Improv is where you should start.

Specific skills and topics covered:

• How to use lyrics as a storytelling tool

• How to work with other improvisers and a musician to create improvised songs

• Basic song structures, rhyming, rhythm and melody techniques

• Creating songs from your character’s perspective

• When to bring an improvised song into a long form

• How to end an improvised song

• How you can sing great even when your singing isn’t great

• Beginner vocal warm ups

There is no previous musical experience required to take this class, whether you’ve never sung outside of the shower or you’ve toured all great Opera Houses of the world, this workshop is for you! However, successful completion of Big Fork Theatre's Foundations 3: Characters is required to take this class - you need to have a good grounding in improv. Special consideration may be made at the discretion of the teacher, if you don't fit this criteria but you feel that you have the required training and skill please contact our Training Director at training@bigforktheatre.com to discuss.

This course meets for 6 sessions that are each 3 hours long.

Dive into Big Fork Theatre's lively and inclusive Improv courses, discover creativity, build confidence, and have fun!

The Scene focuses on the two person scene which is the backbone of Chicago style long form improvisation. The Scene will allow you to understand Big Fork Theatre's signature style of play while also complimenting and improving your own set of skills.

In this class you will learn how to create interesting and entertaining two person scenes from nothing, with a focus on relationships. The Scene will involve personal feedback and side coaching from your teacher to take your improvisation to the next level.

The Scene is the second class in Big Fork’s Improv Foundations program.

Specific skills and topics covered:

• How to advance and explore a scene

• Using relationships between characters to advance the scene

• Characterisation and Point of View

• Creating scenes from nothing

• Basic long form improvisation techniques

Successful completion of Foundations 1: Improv Fundamentals or a similar introductory class is required to participate, special consideration may be granted to participants with other improv experience - please contact our Directors at training@bigforktheatre.com if you believe this is you.

This course meets weekly for 6 sessions that are each 3 hours long. There will be a graduation show at the end of this class.

Improv Acting Class: The Harold - The Harold is a format that is performed all around the world - it weaves together multiple threads of characters and stories through two person scenes, group games and organic exploration of themes - all inspired by a single word.

Dive into Big Fork Theatre's lively and inclusive sketch courses, discover creativity, build confidence, and have fun!

Writers Room 1 will introduce students to the basic concepts and tools of sketch writing and development, with a focus on writing for live and audio sketch comedy. From the kernel of an idea to the final cut, students will put theory into practice at every step as they develop their own sketches throughout the course.

Specific skills and topics covered:

• Introduction to sketch comedy

• Idea generation

• Developing strong and clear comedic ideas

• Pitching ideas and taking feedback

• Heightening and exploring

• Solo sketch and character development

• Writing for audio sketch

• Specificity

There is no previous writing or improv experience required to take this class.

This course will meet for 5 sessions for 2 hours per week.

Dive into Big Fork Theatre's lively and inclusive Improv courses, discover creativity, build confidence, and have fun!

In Characters students will explore how to access fully fleshed out characters in an improv scene.

This class will teach techniques to unlock your way of playing characters and jump in and out of them with ease. Whether you want to play characters that are larger than life or a little more nuanced this class if for you.

Characters is the third class in Big Fork’s Improv Foundations program.

Specific skills and topics covered:

• Character physicalisation

• Character voices

• Using status

• Point of View

• Intermediate long form techniques

Successful completion of Foundations 2: The Scene is required to participate in this class, special consideration may be granted to participants with other improv experience - please contact our Directors at training@bigforktheatre.com to discuss.

This course meets for 6 sessions that are each 3 hours long. There will be a graduation show at the end of this course.

Come join us for a fun and interactive Discover Improv class, have some fun and meet new people!

Anyone can improvise! Ever wanted to try improv but you weren't sure if it was for you? This free 2 hour intro to improvisation course is designed for those who have never had any experience with improv.

Improv can help you become a better listener, improve your confidence in public speaking, kickstart your creativity and teach you how to work as part of a group. Most of all, a Discover Improv class with Big Fork Theatre is guaranteed to send you home laughing.

Our free Intro to Improv session will be taught by some of Big Fork Theatre's most talented improvisers. The session will give you a basic introduction to Big Fork's style of improvisation in a fun, low pressure environment, and attendees will leave with a discount code for our full, 6-week Improv Fundamentals course.

If you have any questions about the session please email us at training@bigforktheatre.com - we hope to see you there!

Come join us for a fun and interactive Discover Improv class, have some fun and meet new people!

Anyone can improvise! Ever wanted to try improv but you weren't sure if it was for you? This free 2 hour intro to improvisation course is designed for those who have never had any experience with improv.

Improv can help you become a better listener, improve your confidence in public speaking, kickstart your creativity and teach you how to work as part of a group. Most of all, a Discover Improv class with Big Fork Theatre is guaranteed to send you home laughing.

Our free Intro to Improv session will be taught by some of Big Fork Theatre's most talented improvisers. The session will give you a basic introduction to Big Fork's style of improvisation in a fun, low pressure environment, and attendees will leave with a discount code for our full, 6-week Improv Fundamentals course.

If you have any questions about the session please email us at training@bigforktheatre.com - we hope to see you there!

Dive into Big Fork Theatre's lively and inclusive Improv Fundamentals course, discover creativity, build confidence, and have fun!

Anyone can improvise and Big Fork Theatre's Improv Fundamentals is the perfect place to start! This six-week course is designed to introduce participants to Big Fork Theatre's approach to improvised comedy. No previous acting or improv experience is required to participate.

In Improv Fundamentals you will be encouraged to explore your creativity, build your confidence and have fun whilst developing the basic skills of improvisation. Big Fork Theatre's teachers have years of experience and are excited to help you start your improv journey.

Improv Fundamentals focuses on the basic tenets of scenic improvisation and is part of Big Fork's Improv Foundations program. Improv Foundations is a series of four workshop blocks designed to introduce students to Big Fork's style of long form improvisation. Once students have completed all Improv Foundations they are invited to participate in our Advanced Study program.

Specific skills and topics covered in Foundations 1 - Improv Fundamentals:

· "Yes, and"

· Listening

· Creating a character

· Supporting your scene partner and the performance

· Object /Environment work (mime)

· Introductory long-form improvisation techniques.

This course meets for 6 sessions that are each 3 hours long. There will be a graduation show at the end of the course. Once graduated, students are invited to join our regular improv jams and perform in our Jam Shows.

Discover the joy of unscripted acting in this intro to improv comedy workshop!

This workshop is perfect for complete beginners! Through fun games and playful scene work, you’ll spark your creativity, sharpen your listening skills, and learn to collaborate with others. You’ll leave with new friends and plenty of laughs! This workshop is presented by Big Fork Theatre as part of the BrisAsia Festival 2026.

Workshop participants must be 18 years old and above.

About Your Facilitator

Janette McBride is a Filipina-Australian improviser, teacher, and director. She had the unique experience of being on TV and films in the Philippines and has been performing improv with Big Fork Theatre since 2015. Janette has trained under NIDA and is currently studying her Masters in Theatre and Performance. She is particularly excited about cultural diversity on stage and character development.

About Big Fork Theatre

Big Fork Theatre is a not-for-profit co-operative that is focused on building an inclusive comedy community and running Brisbane’s biggest and best improv training centre.

Come learn the most popular roleplaying game in the world!

Wish you could have been a character in Middle-Earth or Westeros? Have you played fantasy games on the screen, and want more depth? Do you like to sit with friends and tell stories? Then learn to play Dungeons & Dragons!

This FREE* event is for absolute beginners. No prep, nothing to bring. No previous gaming experience needed No spotlight on you. Hundreds of beginners have first learned D&D at this event—join them!

Find this event at Big Fork Theatre, Lv 2, 252 St Pauls Terrace, Fortitude Valley.

Parking available at garages nearby but pricey—consider starting your adventure on the train instead, a 5-minute walk away.

*This event requires a paid ticket, but when you attend, you GET BACK AS CASH what you paid, making this free. At the end of the show, as you exit, we will give $5 cash to you. This is a deposit system to assure we fill the space.

For 15+ only -- it can get violent and profane, like Game of Thrones from a first-person perspective. We follow all health guidelines stringently. If symptomatic in any way, please do not attend -- we don't want to catch a cold, flu, or Covid. We actively include people of all kinds and promote a respectful attitude among all our players. We especially take pride in gender diversity—both in and out of character!

We are lucky to have Maurissa Afanador in Brisbane and available to deliver this 2 hour workshop before our shows start back on the 8th!

Break it to Make It

Most performance-level improvisers have a tool kit of approaches, choosing their instruments relative to the needs of each ensemble…if we are mindful. Mostly, however, we go on automatic and just do the thing that has worked for us time and again.

What if you were willing to break your patterns of comfort in order to bring your performance to the next level?

Maurissa will walk you through an organic improv method that demands mindfulness for its execution - though it requires absolutely nothing but your presence and your partner. You’ll seed a strong start, and build on this strong start with a writer’s efficiency without sacrificing your play and freedom as a player.

Recommended experience level: Group Mind OR a drive to level up.

Maurissa is the vendor-manager and lead improv instructor of The Arts at Google, theater program in Mountain View, CA.

We are lucky to have Maurissa Afanador in Brisbane and available to deliver this 2 hour workshop before our shows start back on the 8th!

Break it to Make It

Most performance-level improvisers have a tool kit of approaches, choosing their instruments relative to the needs of each ensemble…if we are mindful. Mostly, however, we go on automatic and just do the thing that has worked for us time and again.

What if you were willing to break your patterns of comfort in order to bring your performance to the next level?

Maurissa will walk you through an organic improv method that demands mindfulness for its execution - though it requires absolutely nothing but your presence and your partner. You’ll seed a strong start, and build on this strong start with a writer’s efficiency without sacrificing your play and freedom as a player.

Recommended experience level: Group Mind OR a drive to level up.

Maurissa is the vendor-manager and lead improv instructor of The Arts at Google, theater program in Mountain View, CA.

Improv Acting Class: In Characters students will explore how to access fully fleshed out characters in an improv scene. Characters will teach techniques to unlock your way of playing characters and jump in and out of them with ease. Whether you want to play characters that are larger than life or a little more nuanced this class if for you.

Improv Acting Class: The Scene focuses on the two person scene which is the backbone of Chicago style long form improvisation. The Scene will allow you to understand Big Fork Theatre's signature style of play while also complimenting and improving your own set of skills.

This 8 week Writers Room 2 - Pitch to Performance course takes students out of the classroom and into a simulated writers room as they create a full-hour live sketch show from scratch over the course of the term. Students will work together every week to pitch, write, edit and stage the show, with guidance and direction from the teacher as Head Writer. The term culminates in a live performance of the final sketch show (note: Writers Room 2 students are not required to act in the show unless they would like to).

Improvising a Musical will have students performing a full length, fully improvised musical from a single suggestion with confidence.

Writers Room 1 will introduce students to the basic concepts and tools of sketch writing and development, with a focus on writing for live and audio sketch comedy. From the kernel of an idea to the final cut, students will put theory into practice at every step as they develop their own sketches throughout the course.

Improv Acting Class: Anyone can improvise and Big Fork Theatre's Improv Fundamentals is the perfect place to start! This six-week course is designed to introduce participants to Big Fork Theatre's approach to improvised comedy. No previous acting or improv experience is required to participate.