Impro ought to be required reading not only for theatre people generally but also for teachers, educators, and students of all kinds and persuasions. Readers of this book are not going to agree with everything in it; but if they are not challenged by it, if they do not ultimately succumb to its wisdom and whimsicality, they are in a very sad state indeed . . . .Johnstone seeks to liberate the imagination, to cultivate in the adult the creative power of the child . . . .Deserves to be widely read and tested in the classroom and rehearsal hall . . .Full of excellent good sense, actual observations and inspired assertions -- CHOICE: Books for College Libraries.
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Impro ought to be required reading not only for theatre people generally but also for teachers, educators, and students of all kinds and persuassions. Readers of this book are not going to agree with everything in it; but if they are not challenged by it, if they do not ultimately succumb to its wisdom and whimsicality, they are in a very sad state indeed . . . .Johnstone seeks to liberate the imagination, to cultivate in the adult the creative power of the child . . . .Deserves to be widely read and tested in the classroom and rehearsal hall . . .Full of excellent good sense, actual observations and inspired assetions.
–CHOICE: Books for College Libraries
–CHOICE: Books for College Libraries
About the Author
Keith Johnstone is an internationally recognized authority in the field of improvisation. His books Impro, and Impro For Storytellers, have been translated into many languages. He leads master classes in improvisation around the world.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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As I grew up, everything started getting grey and dull. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt
As I grew up, everything started getting grey and dull. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Keith Johnstone is a maverick educator and theatrical innovator.
This book, first published in 1979, remains the most important book on improvisation written in English.
Johnstone divides the world of improvising into four categories:Spontenaity, Narrative, Status and Masks.
The stories about his own loss of creativity through the demands of public education set the frame for his illuminating description of what it takes to return us all to our creative selves.
This book is a must read for anyone involved in the creative process, for all teachers of the arts and anyone who has ever wondered where his creativity has gone.
Patricia Ryan,
Head of Acting
Stanford University
This book, first published in 1979, remains the most important book on improvisation written in English.
Johnstone divides the world of improvising into four categories:Spontenaity, Narrative, Status and Masks.
The stories about his own loss of creativity through the demands of public education set the frame for his illuminating description of what it takes to return us all to our creative selves.
This book is a must read for anyone involved in the creative process, for all teachers of the arts and anyone who has ever wondered where his creativity has gone.
Patricia Ryan,
Head of Acting
Stanford University
By BowlingPete
Format:Paperback
After many years of being wary about Johnstone's book, I've finally given in. My initial response was that while other improv texts cover the "Hows" this one covered the "Whys".
This is a very enlightening book, but I feel it is too heavy for the everyday improvisor. A very large amount is focused on status. The subtleties of status are interesting to read about, but the text suffers from being TOO thorough. In addition, only about 1/20th of the final section (about Masks and Trance) were helpful to me.
All this aside, it is a very interesting book to discover what works, and more improtantly WHY. Knowing why something works will allow you to discover new ways of performing.
Recommended.
This is a very enlightening book, but I feel it is too heavy for the everyday improvisor. A very large amount is focused on status. The subtleties of status are interesting to read about, but the text suffers from being TOO thorough. In addition, only about 1/20th of the final section (about Masks and Trance) were helpful to me.
All this aside, it is a very interesting book to discover what works, and more improtantly WHY. Knowing why something works will allow you to discover new ways of performing.
Recommended.
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Keith Johnstone is nothing less than brilliant. This book inspires, challenges, and moves me to do more. Admittedly, sometimes Johnstone is on a wee bit of a story, but that is the spirit of the man who has given so much to the art form of improv. In this text lay the nuggets of much improv wisdom.
Johnstone, Spolin, Sills, Close, Napier... the gurus of the form.
Johnstone, Spolin, Sills, Close, Napier... the gurus of the form.
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4.7 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely entrancing
I'm not an actor, have no experience of improvisational theatre (not even seen any!), but I loved this book. Read more
Published on May 16 2003 by Marco Polo
3.0 out of 5 stars
Challenging but difficult to judge
Impro is divided in four sections, Status, Spontaneity, Narrative Skills, and Masks and Trance. The most interesting section, Status, discusses how general physical attitudes... Read more
Published on Jun 3 2002 by Francois Tremblay
5.0 out of 5 stars
This isn't a theatre book: it's THE theatre book
I first came actoss this book when I first got interested in theatre in the early 80s in England, and I couldn't believe what I was reading. Read more
Published on April 26 2002 by Alan Bates
5.0 out of 5 stars
Rule Brittania!
I suggest that you follow Amazon's recommendation and buy it with the acompanying sequel "Impro for Storytellers"
Hmm... Read more
Published on Feb 23 2002 by the wizard of uz
5.0 out of 5 stars
I had the great fortune
to study with Keith at the University of Calgary and to work with him at the Loose Moose Theater, and it had a tremendous impact on my life. Read more
Published on Aug 22 2001 by P. C. Brown
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not a theatre book, but a teacher's manifesto
Keith Johnstone's book has influenced countless acting classes. Many artists who have not yet heard of this book are doing exercises based on his experiments in England with... Read more
Published on Jun 19 2001 by Algernon D'Ammassa
5.0 out of 5 stars
The bible of creativity! Buy this book!
This book is the absolute bible of improv and acting. Keith Johnstone takes you step by step through his approach to teaching. Read more
Published on Dec 28 2000 by "sarahtacey"
5.0 out of 5 stars
It's more than just a book about Improvisation . . .
This book is the one that I carry around with me and refer to constantly. It should be in the collection of every serious actor, writer and director - but almost anyone can... Read more
Published on May 17 2000 by Paul Norton
5.0 out of 5 stars
Worth Reading
Johnstone's book is one of the two or three books in the field of Improvisational Theater that is a must read. Read more
Published on Dec 29 1999 by Eric Farone
5.0 out of 5 stars
Central School of Speech and Drama
This is essential reading for anyone on the Drama and Education Course at Central!
Published on Nov 19 1999
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