A Piece of the Pie

This article highlights how Formosa Improv Group (FIG) provides performing artists with a platform to lead community workshops, offering the Taipei improv community a diverse range of facilitators to learn from, as well as giving guest facilitators a chance to shine and rise to a new challenge.

Seen here is an image from the FIG workshop led by guest facilitator, David Liu. During this workshop, participants experienced the clowns’ curiosity and naiveness and used these two factors as the bridge to connect to the audiences. Welcome to check out more of his adventures and activities on his FB page: https://www.facebook.com/davidliutawei.

Prebaking the Crust

The one surefire way to make absolutely certain your pie’s crust will be golden brown, crisp, and delicious — just as appealing as its filling — is to prebake it. (King Arthur Baking)

Just as one of the prerequisites for an exceptional pie is to have a superior crust, any community group needs a strong foundation, combining just the right mixture of core values and dedicated team spirit in order to grow and remain sustainable. Ever since its inception in 2018, FIG has focused its energies on growing the Taipei improv community through its weekly bilingual improv workshops that are open to those who are experienced improvisers, as well as those who may be trying improv for the first time. Although the venue which hosts the workshops changes from time to time, FIG currently hosts the weekly donation-based workshops at Two Three Comedy on Monday evenings from 7–9pm. This is the same location where FIG performs on the first Saturday of the month.

Known for being the mecca of Taipei’s stand-up comedy scene, Two Three Comedy has also been a home for FIG’s performances and workshops. “Reaching out to FIG was my first priority as English language program director at Two Three. FIG is truly bilingual. Our stand up and theatre shows usually are mono-lingual, even though we have extensive English and Chinese content, these worlds exist separately. FIG truly brings this together, and with that brings a different group of patrons into the space than any other performance we offer.” English Language Program Director at Two Three Comedy, Sam Yarbs.

The Monday workshops have no prior improv experience requirement necessary in order for participants to join. FIG only asks that people enter with an open mind ready to proactively take part and “say yes” to the facilitator’s directions, and that they purchase one beverage to support the venue. These workshops are an essential element of the group’s activities, making up the backbone for FIG’s connection to the community, all held together by a set of steadfast core values. All of these ingredients make the perfect “crust” to a pie that refuses to crumble.

Pictured here is a sample template of what FIG’s Monday workshops might look like on weekly basis.

“Say yes” to new ideas and collaboration within the improv group, Taiwan, and the world’s greater improv community在FIG 團內及台灣即興表演社群中，以正面肯定的能度面新觀念興合作 — One of FIG’s 5 core values

A regular at FIG’s workshops as a participant, “Fly” also changed roles and led as a guest, focusing on dance and movement. “I have experience in fitness coaching, but this is the first time I focused more on dance. It was a new and refreshing experience for me. It’s very challenging and exciting to pay attention to the overall changes at any time. I look forward to having the opportunity to share again.” Welcome to know more about Fly on his site: https://Flyism.org

“FIG is an organization based on consensus and joy. I think the group works very hard to keep this momentum.” Fly, workshop participant and guest leader.

The Filling

“A good pie filling should be substantial and deliver a contrast in textures.” Mike Cook, Arbitrator Judge of The Great Taste Awards (Lovefood.com)

Another regular as a participant at FIG open workshops, as well as a member of FIG’s intermediate classes, FIG大 (FIG University), Cheyenne Maechtle took his teaching and storytelling chops to the workshops and led a session on applied improv.

Besides FIG’s core performance team, the workshops also give members of the Taipei improv and artistic community at large a chance to step in and lead workshops as guest facilitators. The group started inviting guest facilitators to lead the Monday workshops more regularly towards the 2nd half of 2022 in order to add a variety of flavors to FIG’s ever-increasing repertoire of pie mixes.

Guest facilitator, Addi challenged workshop participants to do some exercises where people changed their physicality, exploring different ways of moving in order to see how the transition impacted their mental states.

FIG workshops have a certain structure and focus on improv-specific skills that run in a cycle over time. By bringing in fresh new elements and different ways of presenting on a topic, the guest facilitators also provide regular FIG performance members another angle and perspective on how to look at improve. This energy from the guest leaders helps to keep FIG members on their toes, as well as inspiring the group for future workshops and shows.

Although improv rarely uses props, Addi brought in the element of masks during the workshop. The use of masks allowed participants a safe space to explore body, rather than facial expressions.

The group has a sign-up list where internal performers arrange their Monday workshops, choosing from a multitude of topics. These include different improv stage skills such as scene building, object work, emotions, status, listening, applied improv, and the ubiquitous “yes, and”. When guest facilitators lead, the topic is listed as “inspiration,” giving the guest for that evening an open book to play to their strengths and provide participants a new addition to the pie mix.

Guest facilitators aren’t even necessarily regulars of the FIG community workshops. I-Chia Chiu led a guest workshop on how to explore the imagination of power through drama-based strategies and image work, and see the oppression and freedom in daily life.

Seen here is a snapshot of I-Chia Chiu’s workshop where improvisers gather around three chairs in different positions in preparation for their next exercise. Workshops are broken down into sections where facilitators will gather participants in a circle to explain and debrief the various exercises.

Amie regularly leads Butoh dance workshops at Wisteria Tea House in Taipei. She led FIG workshop members in an introductory session on Butoh dance.

“Perhaps because most participants who come to FIG open workshops have improv experience, participants did not seem shy and it was quite easy to get ppl in the butoh improv zone. sometimes with workshops in other settings I have attendees with almost zero improv or dance experience and people will need a lot more encouragement.” Guest FIG instructor, Amie.

The Topping

“Anointing the top of your pie may seem like gilding the lily — I mean, how can you improve on your already perfect apple pie? But topping pie crust with a spritz of water and a sprinkle of sugar, or a quick brush of sweet butter followed by the merest drift of flour, can take your pie — both its flavor and its texture — to a new level.” King Arthur Baking Company

Guest facilitators might be people with no direct relation to FIG, or they could be personalities much closer to home. Olof led as a guest director in May, 2022 and is a FIG alumni and greater extended family. His workshop focused on exploring the topic of tension within a scene. Olof’s passions are many, including writing for a website of his own creation which focuses on energy and climate issues: https://lowcarbonpower.org/

“Total freedom! I get to play god for two hours.” Olof Nordensam

“The workshop doesn’t have to be strictly about improv. Good improv depends on creativity, acting, dancing, music, storytelling etc anything that involves those areas can be a FIG workshop.” FIG alumni and guest facilitator, Olof Nordenstam.

Besides giving workshop attendees a chance to rub shoulders and learn from personalities outside of FIG’s core team, the guest leaders also bring different skills, mindsets, and artistic talent to the table. Sometimes the workshop focus might not even be so directly connected with improv at first glance, but to the experienced improviser it soon becomes apparent that all these skills connect.

An image from the end of one of FIG’s workshops. Workshop attendance can range from as few as four to five people to as many as twenty. Workshops led by guest facilitators help to bring in new perspectives.

I am a contact improv dance practitioner, and at first I was surprised when FIG invited me as guest instructor, and even thought it was a mistake. Thankfully we were all on the same page, and I was really grateful that FIG was open to trying something new. I really appreciate how FIG’s Monday workshop is an arena for me as an instructor to try something experimental. I enjoy working with contact improv, movement improvisation, mindfulness, sound improv, Playback Theatre and somatics. So Monday workshop is a great opportunity to play with a group of people who “say yes” to creative experimentation and improvisation. Rosalyn Shih

“The first workshop I taught was an internal workshop on Movement Awareness for Actors in Aug 2020. The objective of that lesson was: Through awareness of the body & movement, members will achieve new inspiration for: sequencing, connections, scenes. The groupthink of FIG members was incredible and transitioned so seamlessly to collective movement.” Guest facilitator and performer Rosalyn Shih.

“When all the workshops shifted online due to COVID, I also taught an online improv class: Mindful Improvising: Observing Ourselves as Performers. Teaching that online class was really interesting for me, because as a high school teacher I also had to teach online class at the time, and improv games helped me really engage my students.” Rosalyn Shih

As someone who dedicates herself to the stage, Jade is a former member of 迷鹿即興排練場 Milu Impro Rehearsal Space, so she is no stranger to improv. In 2021 she led FIG’s workshops as a guest facilitator and has since joined FIG as an official member.

After guest leading, I felt that everyone has unique skills, but we hold ourselves back all too often, thinking that we need to wait until we’re world class actors before we can get up on the stage. Part of FIG’s reason for existing is to give everyone the opportunity to emerges. No one judges anyone’s personality, talents or skills as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ — people can just be themselves. FIG provides a stage where we can all put our judgements aside and just let participants perform. — Jade, current FIG member.

Sharing the Pie

“Always cut with a clean, warm knife. Between each slice, dip your knife in hot water to ensure a clean, smooth cut every time.” Lettuce Entertain You

Just as we want to cut a slice of our “perfect pie” and share with someone else, FIG hopes to leave the door open for other potential collaborative partners to add flavor and flare to the Monday evening open workshops. The group intends to stay true and double down on its core values, “saying yes,” to new and exciting areas for collaboration with facilitators and performers from all walks of life. They need only be willing to open the door and take a risk in a safe space. Whatever is in in FIG’s future, this group of improvisers will continue to build upon its rich diversity of performers and workshop leaders and bring flavorful additions to the Taipei improv scene! The group welcomes newcomers as well as seasoned improvisers to our Monday evening workshops. Whether it’s backing a pie, leading a workshop, or performing in an improv scene, we never know what will happen — but this feeling is part of the beauty of what it means to be in the moment.

“If you don’t know what to say, don’t say anything. Slow it down and embrace the uncertain. “ — Olof Nordensam

FIG’s bilingual open workshops are every Monday evening from 7–9pm at Two Three Comedy. Improvisers of any level are welcome to join. The group also welcomes requests for guest facilitators. Should you be interested in leading a guest session on a Monday evening please contact the group at formosaimprovgroup@gmail.com.