Hello and welcome to the Global Impro blogs introduction! There are a lot of blogs in this series (13 including this one), charting my experiences and learning through a 4-day international symposium on improvisation!

This blog will give you some context before laying out a menu of the other 12 Global Impro blogs. There's a mix of theory, practical explorations you can do at home alone or with others and personal reflections. I hope some of what I've written is help... Read more >

As a teacher of Fooling, part of my job is to prepare my students for the inevitable Inner Critic tango that follows an improvised performance. The following advice is based on my own frequent ferocious foxtrots with my fantastic friend, the Inner Critic.

Read more >

Holly Stoppit and Dominique Fester sit in the dappled sunlight in Dominique's garden, chatting about their upcoming summer schools, what they're excited about and what you might get out of it if you sign up.

H: Hey Dominique Fester, we're running some summer schools, this summer!

D: We are, Holly Stoppit!

Read more >

These are travellers notes which I offer myself should I again be lost. 

Trick yourself into the writing 

Set up the thing and see it and then do all you can to evade it

-Text from the photo above, excerpt from an art exhibit by Dr. Sarah Wishart as part of Undertow at Sluice Gallery, London*

I'd been longingly waiting for time to work... Read more >

Last week, I met 'international art-clown' Jamie Wood. We'd heard a lot about each other from shared students, and I've seen two of his three solo shows (which are, incidentally, coming to Bristol this week), but we'd never officially met to chat. 

On moving to the southwest of England, Jamie decided it was time look up this Holly Stoppit character, and find out about what I do with my days.

Read more >

As 2018 quietly grinds to a halt, I'm taking a moment to reflect back and savour the deliciously tangy, rich, fruitful experiences that have made up my year. 2018 has been like one massive, fancy, cake tasting party.

Read more >

On my final weekend as Clown In Residence at the Bristol Museum, I asked my alter-ego, Professor Patricia McNish H.A. H.A. H.A, to lead four tours around Clowns: the Eggs-hibition. This blog will give you a flavour of some of the content of the tour; there's facts and stories and downright lies, as well as funny things to try.

Read more >

It's that time of year again, the time when I quietly haul up and reflect on my past year and dream about my year to come. As someone who needs to be constantly learning, challenged, stretched and inspired, my career has taken many unusual twists and turns. Many of which have been intentional! 

I have a regular reflection practice which I'd like to share with you below. I've refined it a bit since I last described it Read more >

Yesterday, I got a call from one of Chris Evan's researchers. Earlier, during his breakfast show on radio 2, Chris had been pondering the origins of the gesture where you put your thumb to your nose and wiggle your fingers. "Well", thought the researcher, "who better to ask than a clown teacher?"

So here I am appearing as Chris Evans' mystery guest talkin... Read more >