Improvisation — Putting the Spotlight on Spontaneity

Enilolobo Anuoluwapo & Eniola Awolesi

WHAT?

“The best moments in acting, those really iconic ones that rock the Theatre and the audience, are not scripted; they are improvised.”

Staged plays are reflections of life, and emotions make them memorable. The audience always sits hushed and in anticipation of actions that are true to life. For the actors, however, when the script is thrown out the window, they must rely solely on their wit and creativity to give the audience what they expect. This, in a nutshell, is what the enchanting world of improvisation in Theatre is. It is an experience.

Improvisation is a spontaneous art form that looks a lot like workers venturing out without safety nets. It’s the alchemical process of turning the unexpected into pure entertainment. If there’s a moment of surprise, unscripted lines have to come up to make every performance unique.
This must be why Mr. Akapo constantly hammers, “No two staged plays are ever the same. No matter if it’s the same play and with the same actors, there’s always a new experience.”

SINCE WHEN AND HOW?
Improvisation, simply called improv, in Theatre is not a recent innovation, but a tradition as old as the art itself. It didn’t begin with UI students, and it won’t end with them. Truly, the students rehearse the line meticulously, but with the jitters of Theatre, improvisation has to make the element of surprise undetectable. It requires quick thinking, adaptability, and a raw, unfiltered connection between the actor and the audience. That is the essence of spontaneity, which is the heartbeat of live Theatre.
The bottom line remains that, in the end, we are human, and we connect more to spontaneity and the eclectic, especially in storytelling. That is where improvisation is most potent.

To the Theatre Arts student of AFAS, improvisation is about deeply immersing yourself in your character, so much so that you act and react to stimuli the way that character would.
A 300-level student of the English Department recounts her experience of borrowing a practical Theatre Arts course. She always thought it was the usual “play-play” of secondary school, but she was pleasantly surprised when she was handed a male-dominant role of Èsù, the ancestral god. She was even more surprised when she was required to research and incorporate the character of Èsù. She was more so when she defaulted and was almost forced to see the Èsù worshippers. Maybe this could be referred to as the practice before improvisation, but this still doesn’t leave out the element of surprise.

To the Music student, improvisation means infusing your passion and character into your art to bring it to life in a way that would take the world by storm. A way that would rock your audience’s world in their seats, spin it off its axis, and leave them staring at your soul and seeing theirs too. The music student is so immersed in the spirit of their music, and the melodies their hearts sing, and improvisation is that colorful brush stroke on the perfectly drawn art that is music. That extra brush stroke adds a finishing touch, a certain je ne sais quoi.

Improvisation is basically the ‘clever’ way artistes add finesse to their performances in the Theatre. The fact that it saves the show in time of need is a fun bonus.
An AFAS Theatre Arts actor recalls playing the role of a warrior king, and when he’s about to deliver an important line, forgets himself and his lines. It took skills to spin other lines in ways that would remain unnoticeable to the audience.

Improvisation also goes beyond lines and words. It may be a dress rip in the middle of a music and dance performance, an obvious wardrobe malfunction. The performer, in that instance, has to find a way to spin the incident to look like he ripped it on purpose or anything at all to cover up that moment.
These student artistes are driven by one phrase taught to all performers in show biz, “The show must go on, no matter what.”

A recently graduated student of Theatre Arts UI shares a memorable experience. “During a performance, I lost my sight and was plunged into momentary blindness and blurriness. Despite that, I didn’t skip a beat. I carried on, using my voice to alert my fellow actor of the issue. I left the stage earlier than I had rehearsed, but I delivered my lines regardless. I’ve been using glasses ever since.”

Another student says,“Improvisation has taught me to trust my instincts and my fellow actors. The audience always knows the magical moments, and it is always when actors support each other.”

Improvisation is a team effort. Actors must listen, respond, and collaborate seamlessly. It’s not about one person shining; it’s about the collective energy of the ensemble.

A music student recalls, “I had to adlib one time, and the students on stage with me obviously caught on. They just kept hailing me. It’s our marks we have to get o“.

While improvisation can be exhilarating, it is not without its challenges. These student actors must stay in character while navigating unexpected twists and turns. These challenges often lead to unforeseen triumphs, where mishaps become memorable moments. This blend of vulnerability and resilience is what makes improvisation so compelling.
Most people think of improvisation as just “freestyling,” easy to do, but they fail to realize that while it seems easy from the outside looking in, the reality is that it is far from easy and requires understanding the “psychological and physical frameworks of the characters, in acting and rendering lines or actions that will push you as the character towards your goal in the scene”, to quote the words of the Theatre Arts student, Emmanuel Adodo.

Speaking on the importance of improvisation, another Theatre Arts student said that, “It adds depth to my characters and gives me more wealth of experience. Audiences, too, benefit from the unpredictability of improvisation, sha”

Improvisation is a daring adventure into the unknown, a celebration of spontaneity, and a testament to the power of human creativity. Through the voices and experiences of these Theatre Arts and Music students, we’ve seen the magic that happens when actors dare to step into the spotlight without a safety net.

Really, improvisation is the soul of Theatre. The heart of Theatre beats in the unplanned moments. It is what ensures that the show goes on regardless of the many things that could possibly go wrong. And although it often looks seamless when these students do it, it actually takes a lot of conscious effort and skill to pull it off effectively.