The Spontaneity Shop is an improvisational comedy company formed in London 1996. They base their work around the teachings of Keith Johnstone

Keith Johnstone

Keith Johnstone is a drama instructor whose teachings and books have focused on improvisational theatre and have had a major influence on the art of improvisation.-Education:...

 and have developed several original improvisation forms.

History

The Spontaneity Shop, then known as The Old Spontaneity Shop was formed in 1996 by Tom Salinsky and Deborah Frances-White. Their first shows were at the Troubadour Coffee House in Earl's Court, and they moved to the Canal Cafe in 1999. From 1998-2000 they also ran shows and workshops at Oxford University.

In 1999 they presented a benefit concert at The Hackney Empire, directed by Keith Johnstone and Improbable theatre

Improbable theatre

Improbable theatre is a UK theatre company founded in 1996 by Lee Simpson, Phelim McDermott, Julian Crouch and producer Nick Sweeting. Improbable is funded by Arts Council England, London. The theatre company has produced twelve shows...

's Phelim McDermott. Joining the Spontaneity Shop cast were Tony Slattery

Tony Slattery

Anthony Declan James "Tony" Slattery is an English actor and comedian who has appeared on British television regularly since the mid 1980s, most notably as a regular on the Channel 4 improvisation show Whose Line Is It Anyway? As a film actor, both comedic and serious, his credits include The...

, Jonathan Pryce

Jonathan Pryce

Jonathan Pryce, CBE is a Welsh stage and film actor and singer. After studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and meeting his longtime partner English actress Kate Fahy in 1974, he began his career as a stage actor in the 1970s...

, Lee Simpson

Lee Simpson

Lee Simpson is a British actor and comedian best known as a member of the improvisational group The Comedy Store Players.He has appeared in a number of roles, including the sitcoms Terry and Julian and Drop The Dead Donkey, the films Paper Mask and Nuns On The Run, and played a key role in...

, Neil Mullarkey

Neil Mullarkey

Neil Mullarkey is an English actor, writer and comedian.Mullarkey studied at Robinson College, Cambridge; while he was there he was Junior Treasurer of the Cambridge Footlights in the academic year 1981 to 1982 and was president in the year ending 1983...

 and a number of other special guests. The money raised went to the Royal Court Theatre

Royal Court Theatre

The Royal Court Theatre is a non-commercial theatre on Sloane Square, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is noted for its contributions to modern theatre...

 where Keith had once worked as a director.

In 2000 the company created DreamDate, the improvised romantic comedy which was a hit at the Edinburgh Fringe. Hat Trick

Hat Trick Productions

Hat Trick Productions is a British independent production company that produces television programmes, mainly specialising in comedy.-History:...

 Productions, producer Dan Patterson

Dan Patterson

Dan Patterson is a British television producer and writer, responsible for the production of both the British and American incarnations of the improvisation show Whose Line Is It Anyway? and the British satirical panel show Mock the Week with writing partner Mark Levenson...

 and most recently Pozzitive Television have all attempted to get TV versions made but none has yet got past the pilot stage. Recently, the company sold the international rights to FremantleMedia

FremantleMedia

FremantleMedia, Ltd. is the content and production division of Bertelsmann's RTL Group, Europe's second largest TV, radio, and production company...

 who are currently trying to launch it in the United States.

The company also developed the long form structure Tell Tales which presents a complete improvised play entirely in monologues. They are currently developing a new TV format at their regular Islington venue, The Florence.

Workshops

The Spontaneity Shop has a thriving workshop programme, with around 50 students learning the techniques of improvisation at any one time. Regular student performances are held in various London venues. Spontaneity Shop teachers have also taught at RADA

Rada

Rada is the term for "council" or "assembly"borrowed by Polish from the Low Franconian "Rad" and later passed into the Czech, Ukrainian, and Belarusian languages....

, The Actors Centre, The Central School of Speech and Drama and The Drama Studio.

Corporate Work

The Spontaneity Shop is also very active in the corporate training and corporate entertainment

Corporate entertainment

Corporate entertainment relates to private events held by corporations or businesses for their staff, clients or stakeholders.These events can be for large audiences such as conventions and conferences, or smaller events such as retreats, holiday parties or even private concerts.It is also commonly...

arenas, with its product The Charisma Key proving particularly popular for training presentation skills, sales, leadership and the like.

External links

• http://www.the-spontaneity-shop.com Official homepage
• http://www.myspace.com/thespontaneityshop MySpace page