I mean, in the foreword to Impro in Denmark is by Sรธren Iversen, who I taught long ago, he was a Danish director, after he left. He said he'd read about [Eugeny] Vakhtangov. I'm a fan of his. When he heard that Vakhtangov had lots of tricks, he thought this was very bad. But when he came to be my student, he realised it was very good to have a lot of tricks. You saw some this morning.
Keith JohnstoneVery hard to get an audience. So if you're going to fill the theatre, you can't just rely on old stuff.
Keith JohnstoneIn a scene [where the improvisers must interact] without the letter S, the audience is waiting for you to lose - so they can laugh at you. Don't try to win.
Keith JohnstoneAn artist who is inspired is being obvious. Heโs not making any decisions, heโs not weighing one idea against another. Heโs accepting his first thoughts.
Keith JohnstoneGood improvisers seem telepathic; everything looks pre-arranged, This is because they accept all offers madeโwhich is something no โnormalโ person would do.
Keith JohnstoneMany teachers think of children as immature adults. It might lead to better and more 'respectful' teaching, if we thought of adults as atrophied children. Many 'well-adjusted' adults are bitter, uncreative, frightened, unimaginative, and rather hostile people. Instead of assuming they were born that way, or that that's what being an adult entails, we might consider them as people damaged by their education and upbringing.
Keith Johnstone