About | Provocation Theatre

Berkeley Improv has been a long trusted name in East Bay Improvisation. It’s foundation was rooted in a “cure for loneliness” — students and performers were drawn to the ease of access to high quality training and a chance to play with diverse class make ups. For over 10 years, Berkeley Improv hosted learning opportunities for college students, local artists, engineers, stay at home parents, you name it! We reflected the make up of beautiful Berkeley, CA and always focused on intentional and welcoming play.

Our Improv For Real Life class is what really caught students attention — for many, the thought of improvising makes them break into a cold sweat and want to say “NO!” — improv as a comedic performance feels stressful. The thought of being more easeful and off the cuff in real life situations like job interviews, first dates, work presentations, or even being around family and friends is a great skill to practice— like going to the gym, humans need a safe place they can stretch their mental flexibility and apply this to their daily lives. Improv for Real life became that sanctuary and quickly became one of our flagship classes (with many students having so much fun they continued into our core curriculum offerings to continue their discovery.

In 2023, Provocation Theatre and Berkeley Improv became one. Our next chapter will stay firmly rooted in the supportive + playful environment that we have always offered. We strive to be the playground that welcomes new improvisers into our community with strong foundations and real world application.

Adding to this, we are excited to bring opportunities for improvisers to come together with our workshop offerings, a new undertaking in 2023. You can see a list of our former workshops and upcoming sessions to see what unique facets of improv we are diving into recently.

We are also excited to continue to provide space for BIPOC + fem expansive + queer improvisers to play and learn in a sacred space of their own.

I’m not a performer, why should I do improv?

Improv is NOT about trying to be funny. You don’t have to be quick witted, have the best party stories, or know how to do awesome impressions. We teach from the core of who people are— we invite truthful stories, real life situations, and human connection. In our classes we will share how to feel more confident in all of life’s moments of improvisation— you already make in the moment decisions in your daily life, our classes will encourage you to add a dash of creativity and playfulness. Along the way you will laugh and stretch your brain muscles in a new and exciting way.
So what happens in a class?

mprov is all about the experience! Every class is unique because it is a reflection of who is in the room and the energy they bring. We always focus on a core tenant of improv, teach lessons + games that focus on that, and give a chance for students to try new skills in large group, pairs, and sometimes solo. We do promise a safe space for this exploration with no tolerance for making people feel uncomfortable, unsupported, or that they can’t make mistakes. Our classes are capped at 20 people — we save space for 16 full enrollments and 4 drop in students weekly. Most weeks we see attendance at 16-18 people. We spend a lot of time on our feet and playing for the full 90 minutes. There are chairs if needed — if you have further questions on accessibility, please email us.
What might be some things I will learn?

In no particular order: generous collaboration, yes! and.. thinking, how to share ideas in a group, how to better present (voice, gestures, and eye contact), confidence in your own creations, mental flexibility, positive growth mindset.
What is a difference between a drop in + full enrollment?

To get the most out of your experience + grow your community, we encourage you to sign up for a full enrollment. If you are only able to join certain dates, or want to try out improv, then drop ins are a great way to get to know us! Each week we focus on one key tenant of learning, so you will work the skills and walk away feeling complete after even one lesson!
I’ve signed up for a class, anything else I should know?

We rent our class space, and the building’s policy is shoes off. Make sure to bring socks or ask us about a complimentary pair of shoe booties. A water bottle is always helpful. You may be talking and do a lot of physical activity. Please do not bring other food or drinks.
What is the makeup + refund policy?

Class fees are non-refundable unless a class is cancelled. In the case of a class cancellation, we will contact you via email and issue a refund. If you are unable to make a class, please email at least 12 hours before class time and we will offer each student (1) complimentary makeup the following month, if space available. For changing your class registration, please email us.