Improv with Annaleise Byrd
On Saturday 6th of September, WriteLinkers gathered at the State Library of Queensland to take part in a creative, playful and entertaining professional development session with one of our favourite authors. ‘Improv with Annaleise Byrd’.
As a nice gear-change after another wonderful Book Week, we put away the pencils, powered down the laptops and let our creativity tell the story.
Improv, short for improvisational theatre, is a live performance in which the actors make up scenes, dialogue and characters on the spot.
So how is Improv like writing books for children?
Improv is a lot like a first draft, a collection of unpolished ideas, rough and raw. You’re developing characters, finding a voice and building a scene as you go—but with Improv, you’re doing it in front of a live audience. Although Improv sounds considerably more daunting than reading a first draft aloud to your dog in the comfort of your own home, Annaleise eased the group into the concept, with each activity building upon the next.
We started with the notion that the simple act of writing, could reveal a story. One by one, we went around the room, contributing one word at a time. It got off to a very safe start. Once. Upon. A. Then Steve said ‘spaghetti’ and the whole thing went sideways. A cat with a mouse phobia, sofas chasing crocodile pies and an octopus who thought it was a good idea to slip down the sofa and encourage the aforementioned cat to pounce clear over a planetary body.
It got wild, okay? It was Improv.
Now we’d established that anything goes (and no one was afraid to make a pip of themselves) we moved onto the next exercise. Annaleise invited us to collaborate on a ‘pretentious poem’, a live-action example of how ‘voice equals personality’.
One line at a time, starting with A and finishing with Z, each person created a line of poetry, delivered with as much pomp and arrogance as we could possibly muster. Our subject was not just an ordinary laptop bag… It was the finest designer, fairy-wing encrusted, world travelled, shimmering satchel of sheer magnificence. And we were just warming up.
The third exercise invited a bit more vulnerability as individuals put up their hands to act out a concept in front of the group.
“I did that” was an activity of writing and rewriting. With one character defending themselves against the other, with multiple versions of how and why they committed such an unspeakable act. Brave volunteers accused and defended, making things up on the spot.
So why does one shave their housemate’s cat or fill their Ugg boots with tomatoes… to cool them down, to warm them up, or just to follow the latest TikTok trend? We didn’t know and we didn’t care; we were just glad to be sharing a laugh.
The big Improv finale did not disappoint and really capped off the unleashing of wild creative abandon.
Three volunteers were plonked on the stage and declared an ‘expert panel about to be interviewed’ by the incredibly popular TV presenter, Annaleise Byrd.
Their expert subject (as chosen by two audience members) …Quokka volleyball.
A sports psychologist, an expert trainer and Margaret Taylor-Johnson-Smytheson-Green, the organiser of the upcoming Quokka World Cup, answered some hard-hitting questions. The audience gained valuable insight into the tenacity, grit and ball-handling skills required in such an under-represented sport. The panel spoke of unmatched athletic ability and encouraged us to never underestimate a furry little animal. It was plain to see that quokkas have a lot more to offer than health insurance.
Throughout the session, Annaleise offered some micro-opportunities for creativity and connection as she shuffled the room, encouraging group members to sit and chat with someone new about the totally fake breakfast they had this morning and their favourite things about being a writer.
Big thanks to the brave volunteers who made us laugh, and to Rebecca, Victoria and Sophie for ensuring the session ran smoothly. ‘Improv with Annaleise’ was a fabulous way to shake off the intensity of another successful Book Week… and if you can’t make a pip of yourself in front of your writing buddies, then you need better writing buddies. Join Write Links!
Annaleise Byrd is a children’s author who writes funny books for kids. Find out more about Annaleise and her books at her website Annaleise Byrd – Children’s Author and on Instagram @annaleisebyrd
By Joanna Wisbey
Find Joanna on Instagram @jmwisbey
Photo credits Victoria Ellen
Follow Victoria on Instagram @victoriaellencreates
