At the beginning of each month, we look back at the previous one. Just as we do when we support an event with thematic improvisational theater, we look for common threads.
January is for vulnerable and for powerful.
“Everyone has something they are insecure about. And that collective vulnerability is so clean to see. I feel less alone with that by being here,” said a participant in the series Living Impro. It has become a tradition that Ingrid and Nathalie walk out of the darkest winter month with this four-part course. Extra special this year is the first edition of the train-the-trainer course. Trainers and coaches who want to use more applied improvisation in their own work, especially of the embodied kind. Where attention is paid to the body, the senses, physical sensation, emotions. Where there is enough slowing down to unravel helping and hindering thoughts. Where the power of vulnerability is experienced.
During this January month, we were also guests for the first time in a track of the research project Art On Reference. Participating in this wonderful initiative are people who have been referred by a doctor or therapist. Vulnerability is supported in this by the beauty and pleasure of experiencing art, and we are proud to contribute to this. Combining creativity with spontaneity and instant interplay is at once vulnerable and powerful.
Also vulnerable and powerful is the choice of organizations to invite us with TIM XL. It is not our most booked, but it is our most daring formula for a client. Not only is there no fixed script, we leave the themes open. The “intake” happens on the spot, with the whole audience, and immediately we start playing. A blissful mix of improvisational theater, Deep Democracy principles (debate and decision making in groups) and playback theater. We previewed it at the New Year's meeting of an organization that will soon be diving below that waterline with us. We could already feel the open, playful and curious vibe and are already looking forward to it!
We were otherwise working mostly as role-play actors over the past few weeks, and there, too, things were moving in the delicate direction: including sessions that dealt with addressing people as victims or bystanders for transgressive behavior. The unfortunate observation during those sessions is that sexism and patriarchy have not disappeared from the scene. And bhaaaam, in 123 such experiential exercises do groups dive below the collective waterline. To get depressed about? Not! Theater work forms add light and air to vulnerable themes. Discharging laughter together is so powerful. It creates space for recognition and acknowledgment, for connection, for possibility thinking and for resilience. And it is gratifying.
It is a wonderful thing to bestow this on participants and audiences, it is a wonderful thing to be allowed and able to do this as a job. Modern jesters we are, who do not stay safe at court, but go out into the field. Putting a little fire to the wick everywhere, or smearing balm for the soul. Often a combination of both.
No fourth wall, and often no theater hall. Together with patrons and attendees, we create it on the spot, a cocoon of artistic experience with word and body. We shouldn't think what would happen if the government got bogged down not only in music and pistolets, but also in theater, to determine what is essence and what is luxury.
What makes TIM Theater itself vulnerable right now is the kink in our schedule that we were forced to look at more closely during our team meeting. The upward trend after the corona years has not continued, over the past year the line has changed direction. Fortunately not as steep, but still. We see and hear the uncertainty and limitation of resources in a lot of places. Fortunately, we each personally lean on the fact that we are all professional octopuses and also work as mediators, coaches, trainers, aid and care professionals. Still, we hope very hard that our acting work swells a lot more again! This sharing feels pretty vulnerable. Hereby a strong call to not hesitate to choose improvisational theater formulas when you are at the helm to stage special gatherings. We also do our best to accommodate constraints where we can, and especially for healthcare and education, we have developed a limited-budget special. Contact us for more info.
Finally, in January we were also traditionally allowed to celebrate here and there. Theater interludes during a kick-off, a New Year's reception, a CEO's farewell. One such celebration took place under the giant skeleton of a humpback whale.
No finer symbol in these times for the merging of strength and vulnerability.
Cheers to those two Ks!