IRL:
Improv for Real Life
Improv for Real Life is a joyful experience full of laughter, play, and genuine connection.
Rather than being an awkward happy hour or network event where you have the same surface-level conversations over and over, Improv for Real Life is a facilitated experience rooted in improv and personal storytelling, designed to help you turn neighbors into friends.
This workshop is for you if:
You want to build community with new people and go deeper than surface-level chats
You’re curious about improv but feel intimidated by the pressure to be funny or original (no such pressure exists here!)
You’re open to laughing, playing, and taking small risks with kind strangers
Upcoming Events in Seattle
Start building your community in Seattle this summer at IRL workshops hosted by the UHeights Center, a vibrant community arts space in the U-District.
Thursday, July 17
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
The Auditorium at University Heights Center
Friday, August 1
6:30 PM - 8:30 pm
The Auditorium at University Heights Center
Friday, August 8
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
The Auditorium at University Heights Center
Hi! I’m Saya.
I’m a theatre educator, team building facilitator, and a recent Seattle transplant.
Making friends as an adult can be hard. I know: as someone who’s moved to new cities several times, I’ve experienced how challenging it can be to build a community from scratch.
In my 10+ years as a theatre educator and team building facilitator, I’ve learned a lot about how to help folks cut through the small talk and develop friendships that will last. In this workshop, you’ll join other folks who want to make friends IRL with people in their local community. I’ll lead you through exercises rooted in improv and personal storytelling that will help you find your people.
Why should I try a workshop for building friendships?
A third of Americans report that they don’t know any of their neighbors (Pew Research Center). And a nearly 90-year longitudinal study conducted at Harvard found that the quality of a person’s relationships is the number one factor that predicts whether someone will have a happy and healthy life, more than exercise, income, or sleep.
We all know we need friends. We lived through a pandemic where we experienced the alienating jolt of being cut off from in-person interaction. But just because we value friendship doesn’t mean it’s easy to foster, especially in a new city.
In this workshop, we’ll cut through the awkward, repetitive small talk and get right to the fun.
Why improv?
There’s a lot of research out there that indicates that improv, and that playing in general, helps us cope with stress and lead happier lives. A 2020 study found that participating in improv improves well-being, creativity, and an ability to tolerate unpredictability. Similarly, a 2019 study found that participating in improv increased hope, creativity, and willingness to take risks, even among people with social phobias.
I’ve personally experienced all these positive effects of improv. I used to have bad social anxiety, and to be honest, sometimes it still rears its ugly head. But the habits of mind that improv has allowed me to practice has had a huge impact on my ability to enter social situations with curiosity and excitement rather than fear.
Zero experience necessary.
Beginners are enthusiastically encouraged to attend! Being “good at improv” is not the point -- think of improv as being a means to an end, where friendship is the end goal. While I firmly believe that everyone is inherently creative, you don’t need to identify as a “creative type” to get a lot out of this experience.
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***Are you a community partner/organization who is interested in working together or hosting an IRL workshop? Please reach out on our Contact Page.