Claim the Stage | Ali James & John Oakes

🏢 Tannery, Farnham Maltings, Bridge Square, Farnham GU9 7QR
🕥 18th May, 11am-4pm (30 minute break)
💰 £70

Sometimes we get in our heads when we improvise. And that often results in us freezing from the neck down as our brains feverishly think of something to say.

Ali and John are here to show you another way. 

By practising staying present and focusing on your partner, they will show you techniques to explore what the scene needs and how to deepen your relationships.

If you love improv but want to feel more confident, fluid and reactive on stage, then this is the workshop for you.

And all in the beautiful surroundings of a rural malt house turned art centre.

The class will run 5 hours with a 30 minute break included which is SCIENTIFICALLY-PROVEN to leave you with more energy than a 7 hour workshop with an hour break included. 

Included in this price is a ticket to the Pretend Night show at the same venue at 6pm. This will feature a long form set from local improvisers and Ali & John's Improvised Shakespeare show The Play's the Thing (also featuring Chris Mead) in the second half. You can view more detail about the show by clicking here - https://www.tickettailor.com/events/pretend/1685266

Good to know

• In terms of experience level, this workshop is suitable for anyone who can confidently improvise a three minute scene - we'll be pushing you from that comfy starting point
• Class size is up to 16 students
• If you'd like to come but can't afford the full fee - email hello@chrismead.co and we'll work something out
• The Maltings is a 5-10min walk from Farnham station which is itself just 1 hour from London Waterloo.

Ali James

Ali is movement director and cast member of Olivier Award winning Showstopper! The Improvised Musical and co-directs the London 50 Hour Improvathon. She has worked as movement director on comedy plays with Mischief Theatre and Sheffield Theatres and won the Special Recogition award from the UK Pantomime Association for innovation. 

Ali has represented England improvising at the Impro European Masters and plays regularly with her hometown team Scared Scriptless and Grand Theft Impro. She produces and directs the Southend 48 Hour Improvathon and will be performing at Improvanganza in Canada in June 2025 with improvised Shakespeare trio The Play’s The Thing.

John Oakes

John’s is widely regarded as one of the best improvisers in the UK with an act that fuses crowd work and audience suggestion to create a completely unique set at each show.

John has been writing and performing comedy for almost 2 decades. He performs regularly with improv legends: Scared Scriptless! Sharing the stage with the likes of Suki Webster, Tony Slattery and the Comedy Store Players.

He’s a key player in the annual sell-out runs of Oh Yes It Is! – The Improvised Pantomime! And regularly stars in the London 50 Hour Improvathon, sharing the stage with Nina Conti and members of the Olivier Award Winning Showstopper! The Improvised Musical and Austentatious.