The Art of the Unplanned: Improvisation as Collaborative Practice
Improvisation
is not the absence of structure. It is the art of responding and building with presence, openness, and trust. In this lecture,
Jim Libby explores how improvisation becomes a tool for collaboration, drawing on experiences with his Vienna based theatre
company, English Lovers, and work with corporations and performers across the world.
Through
stories, theory, and practical examples, we’ll uncover how improvised creation turns control into curiosity, transforming
collaboration into art. For artists of all mediums, these principles open new ways of working: embracing uncertainty, co-creating
meaning, and finding structure through interaction.
By the end of this talk, participants will have experienced
improvisation not as a mere stage technique, but as a living philosophy for artistic and human connection.
Jim Libby is a performer, director, and teacher with more than three decades of experience in improvised and scripted theatre,
film, and television. A founding member of The English Lovers, he has helped to create many innovative productions and has
taught performance and improvisation across Europe and beyond. His work explores the intersection of improvisation, storytelling,
and human connection. Jim strives to inspire artists to embrace risk, curiosity, and collaboration as central elements of
their creative practice.
