The Anatomy of a Heartache
Exploring heartache, vulnerability and emotional connection through improvisation
What happens when we let our characters feel everything?
This eight-week online course is designed for advanced improvisers who want to deepen their emotional range, explore the complexities of human connection and bring greater honesty and vulnerability to their scenes. We’ll investigate the beautiful, messy, often contradictory territory of heartache: longing, loss, regret, unspoken love, missed opportunities, tenderness and the things we struggle to say to the people who matter most.
We’ll explore how to create performances that feel deeply human. Through a series of exercises, scene work and collaborative explorations, we’ll practise staying present with our scene partners, embracing emotional complexity and finding the truth in the smallest moments. We’ll look at how to portray heartbreak without forcing it, how to make emotional connections feel earned and how to allow silence, subtext and the things left unsaid to become as powerful as dialogue.
This is a space to take risks, sit with uncertainty and discover what happens when we stop trying to make scenes work and start allowing ourselves to be genuinely affected by them.
Dates:
W1 - Sunday 31st January 2027
W2 - Sunday 7th February 2027
W3 - Sunday 14th February 2027
W4 - Sunday 21st February 2027
W5 - Sunday 28th February 2027
Week off
W6 - Sunday 14th March 2027
W7 - Sunday 21st March 2027
W8 - Sunday 28th March 2027
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7:30pm - 9:30pm GMT
USA times
11:30am - 1:30pm PST
12:30pm - 2:30pm MST
1:30pm - 3:30pm CST
2:30pm - 4:30pm EST
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£190/£145/£100
Class size limited to 8
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Love Improv Concession tickets:
The Love Improv Concession tickets are open to anyone who needs it ❤️
There will be no need to explain why you need the concession rate just select the Love Improv ticket when you’re booking.
Life can be hard and improv can be a real life line. I want you in my class, I want to improvise with you and I want you to have fun.
So whenever you need it the Love Improv Ticket is there ❤️❤️❤️
There are 2 types of Love Improv ticket - Love Improv 50 which offers tickets that cost 50% of the standard rate and Love Improv 75 which offers tickets that cost 75% of the standard rate. Please pick which one best reflects your needs.
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About Katy:
Katy Bateson is an experienced improvisation teacher with 20 years in the field. She has a passion for teaching online courses that specialise in Narrative Improv, focusing on creating deep connections between performers and their audience.
As a dedicated improviser, she founded We Are Improv in Lancaster, UK in 2011, a company that went on to perform at renowned festivals including Improv Fest Ireland, ImproFest UK, and the Bristol Improv Festival. After having her 2 children Katy switched her focus from performing to teaching, creating a supportive and encouraging online community.
Katy has trained extensively with leading figures in the improv community, including Pgraph (The Hideout Theatre, Austin, Texas), Jason Chin (iO, Chicago), Rich and Rebecca Sohn (Annoyance Theatre, Chicago), The Maydays (Brighton, London), David Razowsky and Keith Johnstone.
Her expertise lies in narrative long form, with a particular focus on creating improvised plays. Katy’s past shows include The Nearly Famous Five, a playful homage to Enid Blyton’s works, and Four Walls, a 50-minute monoscene where three actors remain onstage until the precise moment the clock strikes zero.
Her creative approach and dedication to narrative storytelling make her a prominent figure in the improv community.
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Student feedback:
"Katy is such a great teacher. I find her motivating, supportive, nurturing and pushes in such a gentle way that you don't even notice."
"Katy creates such a wonderful atmosphere for learning and having fun."
"Love her classes. Very supportive. I've learned a lot and had tremendous fun. Other participants are creative and generous. Would highly recommend."
"Katy's innovative teaching style creates a special atmosphere in class that nurtures and supports."