This September, class is back in session — improv class, that is. If you think improv is not for your child or teen, think again.
According to Peterborough Academy of Performing Arts (PAPA) founder Linda Kash, improv is not just for the class clowns or for the next, well, Linda Kash. It’s for everybody.
“Whether you’re going to be a teacher, a real estate agent, a banker or an actor, it’s communication skills you need more than anything else — that’s what improv is,” says Kash, who began her professional career at the Second City in Toronto and has been an improv performer (and instructor) for decades. “It’s a performance and a challenge, but there’s safety in numbers when you’re working with someone else on stage.”
This fall, Kash is back to leading classes in improv for kids of all ages through PAPA, which brings high-quality drama education to kids and adults in Peterborough and surrounding areas. For 17 years, the academy has held fun and collaborative workshops that cover everything from stand-up comedy and improv to sketch writing and voice acting.
Split between three age groups, the eight-week improv workshops are foundational and inviting to both those who have no experience and those who have limited experience in improv and performance. Students will engage in a series of easy-to-learn and spontaneous games intended to relax the nerves and get them working with and supporting one another.
“The point of the games is to take the kids away from the performance so the game is what we’re focusing on instead,” Kash explains. “My job is to make everyone in the room feel safe enough to take risks, to feel confident, to surprise themselves, and to make each other laugh.”
Participants will be guided by knowledgeable local performance professionals, including Jennine Profeta, Mark Rostrup, and George Knetchel, as well as some assistants who have been PAPA students over the past few years. For the second time, PAPA has added a category for toddlers and Kash has enlisted the help of her daughter and early childhood educator Megan Walsh to welcome children with learning and developmental disabilities.
Tiny Troupe sessions (ages 4-6) will run Sundays from 3 to 4 p.m., with Kids Improv sessions (ages 7-12) on Sundays from 4 to 5 pm., and Teens Improv sessions (ages 13-18) on Mondays from 5 to 6:30 p.m. The cost is $130 plus tax per participant ($146 plus tax for teens), and a sibling discount is available.
Workshops begin on Sunday, September 8 and Monday, September 9 and are held at the St. James United Church (221 Romaine St., Peterborough). For more information and to sign up, visit www.lindakash.ca/linda-classes-and-camps or email Kash at lindakash11@gmail.com.
For adults interested in improv, Kash is hosting workshops starting in September through her company klusterfork entertainment. She will be teaching a beginner improv workshop, with intermediate and advanced workshops led by Dave Pearce, Kerry Griffin, and Janet van de Graaff also available. For more information, visit www.klusterfork.com.
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