Space Work in Improv

Video Transcript

"JANE ENTWISTLE: So we just learned about some basic rules and structure of improv, yes-and, listening, give and take, not blocking, not asking questions. Another great structure of improv is the idea 'space work'. Now that sounds really weird, right, space work? Why, is this science fiction? Space work refers to the space we have on stage we're playing with and using our imaginations, how we're going to build things in that space. Maybe it's drinking a cup of coffee, my space work with a little coffee cup. Perhaps, it is brushing my teeth or building a fire. Why space work is so great is, as the audience, it really gives them a visual picture. We're adding to the scene, we're trying to create this 3-dimensional world that we want you to be able to see, and I want Andrew to be able to see the world I'm in. What is uncomfortable is when I do a piece of space work on stage that the audience has seen. Let's say, it's that I have built this beautiful campfire and Andrew completely ignores what I've done. ANDREW STUBBLEFIELD: And I just step right in her campfire. I'm standing there doing the scene from the middle of campfire, not reacting to the fact that I'm on fire. JANE ENTWISTLE: Yes. You're probably thinking. Well, it's a fake fire, nobody cares. But the audience knows that fire is there and it's going to be in their head going, "He's standing in the fire. That really just bothers me." That's why space work and the acknowledgement of space work is so important."