TEST Workshop: Be Annoying

Teacher: Balasree “Bala” Viswanathan

Have you ever watched an improv show or play and saw a character that made you say, "They aren't terrible, but something about them just TICKS ME OFF"? We will learn my favourite ways to bring those characters to life on stage, using tips and tricks that I love using on stage to create subtly loathsome characters. Inspired heavily by clowning and archetypes from Commedia dell'arte, improvisers will learn different ways to be annoying (on stage) and practice characteristic "lists" from annoying character archetypes.

Balasree “Bala” Viswanathan is an improviser, theatre artist and organisational development facilitator based in Bengaluru, India. She is the founder of Improv Lore and co-founder of The Adamant Eves, India’s first all-women improv ensemble. A mechanical engineer turned venture-capital investor turned artist, Bala has been teaching and performing impro since 2016, creating original show formats, learning journeys and playful spaces for people to connect.
Her approach blends childlike curiosity with deep reflection. Drawing on her training in traditional Indian arts, mythology, meditation and her keen interest in the human psyche, she invites improvisers to explore vulnerability, spontaneity and cultural roots while developing their unique voices. She has taught and performed across the US, Europe and Southeast Asia, bringing together high-energy exploration with thoughtful, meditative techniques.
Bala believes we’re all “8 billion potential friends” and uses improv to help organisations and individuals become more human. When she isn’t on stage, teaching or travelling, she can be found on long walks with her dogs Kali and Suzie or at home with her cat, Mochi - her favourite audience for new ideas.