acting & stagecraft course
The essential lessons from drama school, distilled into a 6-week intensive toolkit for improvisers.
This course is for those who want to elevate their improv game by diving deep into the acting side of things. It’s not just about quick wit or spontaneous scenes — it’s about the craft of becoming a compelling performer on stage; understanding how to use your body, your emotional core, knowledge of staging, characterisation and vulnerability as a tool for storytelling in long-form improvisation.
In this intensive, improvisers will gain a toolkit of skills to help them transform into actors who are fully present, grounded, and able to connect with their emotions on a visceral level. It’s an acting course with a twist — it’s all about applying these tools in the fast-paced, unpredictable and funny world of improv.
The content of the course presumes a good knowledge of long-form improv and editing techniques and is best suited for people who perform improv regularly. You should be able to commit to the entire 6-week course.
The aim will be enable improvisers to have a truthful connection on stage and to be open and vulnerable in comedy scenes. Walk away with tools to not only enhance your improv but also bring new depth to your acting in any medium.
This course is in our advanced level section so if you haven’t got any previous experience of performing improv comedy on stage it’s best to start with at least our Level 1 Beginners Improv Course , Level 2 and Level 3 improv courses.
Please only do this course if you can make all of the workshops.
dates, time, location
Dates:
Every Wednesday for 6 weeks from Wednesday 5th November 2025. BOOK
Every Wednesday for 6 weeks from Wednesday 11th June 2025. SOLD OUT
Time: 7pm – 9pm.
Price: £185.
Teacher: Jonah Fazel.
Venue: Theatre Delicatessen Studios, 107 Leadenhall Street, EC3A 4AF.
Tube: Bank, Liverpool Street or Fenchurch Street.
This is an advanced course and is only suitable for people with previous experience. Please only do this course if you can make all of the workshops.
topics
Stage Dynamics:
Understanding how to use space on stage is just as crucial as the lines you deliver. We’ll work on blocking, crossing, and positioning to amplify your character’s status, energy, and relationship to the audience.
Animal Studies:
Gain an understanding of how different creatures move, react, and communicate, applying that physicality to your improvisation. Chimpanzees optional.
Intimacy & Consent:
Build trust and set boundaries within an ensemble, with exercises that teach you how to create authentic connections while respecting personal space.
Emotional Recall & Vulnerability:
Tap into past emotions and use them in scenes. Develop the skill to bring raw, specific emotional truth to your performances. Find the truth in comedy!
Actioning, Objectives & Super Objectives:
Learn how to clearly define your character’s objectives and how to use tactics to drive your scenes, within the fast-moving world of improv.
Voice Training:
Master the vocal mechanics necessary for clear, confident delivery on stage.
Script Work:
You read that right! We’ll use some scripts and self poems to sharpen your instincts, find emotional truth, and deliver with clarity, so your improv scenes hit harder and resonate deeper.
Jonah Fazel
Jonah is a veteran improviser, character comedian, and children’s TV presenter. He is a series regular in the BAFTA-winning online comedy series History Bombs, co-founded The Bazaar—Europe’s first improv show by SWANA heritage performers—and tours internationally with Bumper Blyton, one of the UK’s longest-running improv shows.
He specialises in character and sketch comedy and stage-acting, lectures in performing arts at the University for the Creative Arts, and teaches improv at festivals and schools worldwide.
In the UK, Jonah has created work at the Battersea Arts Centre, Royal Court, and the National Theatre, as well as numerous site-specific venues, touring nationally as a
performer, director, and workshop leader,
He trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, The National Film & Television School and the Webber Douglas Academy, and has studied clowning with
Philippe Gaulier, stand-up with Logan Murray, and improvisation at the iO and Second City in the US and with Keith Johnstone in the UK.
faqs
Is there a show at the end?
No. We felt that a show would distract from learning the core skills, so this intensives focuses on acting and stagecraft skills for improvisers without a show format to worry about.
What previous experience do I need?
You should have done at least our Level 3 course or above, or have a similar amount of experience elsewhere.
How often do you plan to do this course?
Probably about once a year.
What happens if I'm running late or likely to miss sessions?
This is an advanced course and we are progressing as a team over the course, therefore we don't recommend booking this course if you are likely to be late or miss sessions. Please only the book this course if you can be present at each workshop and on time.
What’s the class size?
The group size is going to be limited to 16 people - small enough that you get lots and lots of practice and stage time, but big enough that there’s still a lively atmosphere in the workshop. It’ll be fun as we get to know each other and build a team together.
How is this course different from your other courses?
More focus on stagecraft, acting for improvisers, emotional connection, vocal work.