Impro Scenes & Sketches with Mark Phoenix: Exploring Status Transactions

“The desire for high status is never stronger than in situations where "ordinary" life fails to answer a median need for dignity and comfort.”

Alain de Botton, Status Anxiety

Come explore Impro from a master teacher and improvisor, the workshop is good for beginners and experienced improvisors alike. Mark will be exploring Keith Johstone's status transactions in long and short scenes and sketches.

Philosopher Alain de Botton in his book 'Status Anxiety' explains:

“Every adult life could be said to be defined by two great love stories. The first - the story of our quest for sexual love - is well known and well charted, its vagaries form the staple of music and literature, it is socially accepted and celebrated.

The second - the story of our quest for love from the world - is a more secret and shameful tale. If mentioned, it tends to be in caustic, mocking terms, as something of interest chiefly to envious or deficient souls, or else the drive for status is interpreted in an economic sense alone. And yet this second love story is no less intense than the first, it is no less complicated, important or universal, and its setbacks are no less painful. There is heartbreak here too.”

In Improv as in real life, status plays a fundamental part, Keith Johnstone explains that "status is a misleading concept unless one understands it as something that one does. One can have a low social status and still play high and vice versa."

Here is Keith Johnstone explains status further https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1uIw3wxyC4

Mark Phoenix currently teaches many acting courses at the City Lit and he has taught in Europe and internationally. Mark, has appeared in the movies; V for Vendetta and the Bank Job, along with much TV and theatre.

Mark has worked with top theatre practitioners and as an ex City Lit student himself, wants to pass on what he learned in rehearsing with great directors, to acting his students. He has been teaching at the City Lit for 20 years.

Mark's area of expertise is Improvisation, he has practiced this with dancers, musicians and actors.Mark has his own theatre company, Third Person that improvises whole plays, live and on the spot.

Marks philosophy passed on during most of his courses, is that “it’s not about you!” It’s about the other person/ actor/ audience. A relationship/ many relationships are required for performance. The importance of listening and of eye contact is paramount. To know how the other feels, gives you so much information that is needed for acting/ improvising. Other important concepts are those of multi-tasking and losing.

This workshop can help you to increase your confidence and your observational skills. In addition increase your emotional intelligence and your ability to adapt, respond and be in the moment.

Here is an interview with Mark

http://www.imprology.com/092008.html

Further details on Mark at

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2147779/

How Much?

Waged: £15
Conc.: £12

Please pay in advance if possible.

Where?

Theatre Delicatessen, Rehearsal Studio 1