Improv & Third place
“I have learned that if you approach challenges or opportunities with the mindset, ‘Fuck it - what could go wrong?’ good things may come. You may fail, but that’s a necessary part of life.”
Miriam Ashford is a freelance children’s workshop facilitator, poet, and performer. Her studies in Classics have deepened her fascination with the world of theatre and writing. She completed Free Association classes Level 1 and 2 between 2022 and 2023 and is currently writing her first poetry collection.
Improv and Third Place
I can hear children laughing.
I can see adults dancing to loud music.
I feel happy and safe because my friends are here.
-‘Community Centre', written by an attendee of SPID Theatre ‘Third Place’ poetry workshop.
On an overground train back home after leading my first poetry workshop, I read these words again and again. I couldn’t help but feel inspired and look back fondly at the journey that led to me holding this poem in my hand.
My time at university was interrupted by Covid-19, meaning that half of the first year and the whole of my second year took place online. Although I was fortunate to eventually earn my degree and meet amazing friends along the way, I couldn’t help but be affected by the challenges of lockdown as so many others were. I struggled with loneliness, insecurity, and anxiety and grew to truly understand the value of ‘Third Places’ we had been cut off from.
‘Third Place’ is a term coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg in 1982 and refers to spaces where people spend time between the ‘first place’ of home and the ‘second place’ of work or school. He characterised them as locations that facilitate social interaction and the exchange of ideas, build relationships, and provide a feeling of inclusiveness and belonging. These places may be cafes, parks, libraries, community centres - the list goes on. Essentially, they are places where anyone is welcome, where you can talk to new people and where joking, creativity, and fun are highly encouraged.
‘Third Place’ reminds us of the simple fact that human connections are invaluable and require nurturing.
‘Third Place’ is somewhere people can feel safe and come together to make something special.
‘Third Place’ is what I found after graduating in 2022 when I joined a Level 1 Improv Course at Free Association.
Taking up space on a stage, sharing it with a stranger and ‘yes... and-ing’ each other's ideas until an entire scene and characters with backstories are revealed is something I never thought I could do. However, the sense of community and joy I felt in that space made it possible and kept me coming back. One week I could be a witch selling potions in a literal Dragon’s Den, another, I could be sitting on a Parisian park bench judging strangers’ clothes behind Gucci sunglasses with my fashionista friend.
A personal favourite involved me, playing an ice cream seller, and my fellow actor, playing a hot dog vendor. We began the scene by competing with each other to see who could sell the most delicious goods, only for that conflict to slowly fade away. Our characters became nostalgic staring up and down our make-believe village centre. We took our time admiring our surroundings and bonding over how time had changed both the village and our characters. It was quite beautiful.
Improv scenes can transport you to fantastical places and the journeys your characters take can be a real treat to see. Having seen several Harold Nights at the Free Association, I have marvelled at the universes created by improv troupes in one short night and laughed at the pure silliness and fun of it all. It is made possible by stepping forward and holding space with another. It is also made possible by having a whole lot of ‘fuck it-ness’.
After completing my Level 1 Improv course, my tutor Scott Oswald told me that at the start, I approached scenes with the goal of them being ‘correct’. By the end, however, I was starting to give in to the ‘fuck it-ness’ of it all and simply enjoy the journey of the improv scene. Through the Free Association, I have learned that if you approach challenges or opportunities with the mindset, ‘Fuck it - what could go wrong?’ good things may come. You may fail, but that’s a necessary part of life. In the process, you will have tried and learnt something new. It was only natural that I then joined the Level 2 Free Association Improv Course in 2023.
The excitement of coming to each class powered me through my week. I noticed that my sense of fun and newfound confidence drifted into other aspects of my life. I started to have more fun at my hospitality job, make plans with friends, say yes to short film auditions, and attend more social events. Over time, I built the confidence to pursue what I enjoy. I started to write poetry, start burlesque classes, and even took to the stage in drag! It is through one of these drag shows that I met a fellow poet who recommended me to join them in creating ‘Third Place’ poetry workshops for children with SPID Theatre.
In an increasingly technological world, we are losing touch with our physical ‘Third Places’, no one more so than young people. Coming together to meet people from all walks of life is a vital part of discovering who we are both in childhood and adulthood. Free Association was a ‘Third Place’ for me in a time I needed it. Now I am inspired to cultivate a ‘Third Place’ for the next generation.
Improv and the idea of ‘Third Place’ celebrate what can arise from a single conversation with a stranger. I invite everyone to give Improv a try and see where it takes you.
If you have an interesting story on how improv has helped or is helping you in the real world, please complete the form at www.thefreeassociation.co.uk/improv-in-real-life
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FA Taster Classes are a great way to discover improv in a fun, supportive, one-off class. This class is an optional start point for those who want to try it out before deciding whether to take part in a full course.
This class will give you a great insight into what it's like to train improvisation at The Free Association. A taster class costs £20, but should you decide to join a full class - we'll deduct this from your fee! If you already know improv is for you then jump straight in with Intro to Longform!
