New Students

All new students should attend at least one show at The Free Association during their course. The show will give an overview of what you’re about to learn, and give you a great opportunity to meet your teachers, fellow, current and past students of all levels.

Existing Students

There is a requirement for existing students to attend shows during their courses. The requirements are as follows:

Scenework and Intro to Game: 1 x FA in house show

Advanced Game: 1 x Long form show

Harold: 2 x Harold Night’s

Beyond Harold: 1 x Main House Show

Class Times

We aim to make your class days and times constant throughout each program. For all FA levels, plan to be with the same group at the same time and day for the duration of the program. We strongly encourage all students to re-enroll at least 2 weeks before the start of a new course to ensure that they will be able to continue with their ensemble.

Please aim to arrive 10 minutes before the class starts. There is a lot to get through in every class, and we need to start promptly.

Switching Class Times

More than 2 weeks prior to class start date, it’s free of charge to move you to another available class.

Within 2 weeks of class start date, moving classes incurs a £25 admin fee and can only be made to a course that runs concurrently over the same weeks.

Intensive classes are not possible to move from within 2 weeks of start date as there are no concurrently running classes. If you can no longer attend the intensive class it will count as a cancellation.

It is not possible to change class part-way through a course.

Instructors

The Free Association will provide an appropriate teacher for your level. A substitute teacher may sometimes be necessary due to the fact that our faculty is comprised of working artists. When possible, students will be notified by their instructor in advance. However, sometimes advance notice is not possible.

Valuables

Although we promote a safe space, the building has public thoroughfare. Never leave your belongings unattended. The Free Association is not responsible for any lost or stolen articles.

Tuition Policy

Tuition is non-refundable, non-transferable. The Free Association reserves the right to accept or deny any application.

Assumption of Risk for Physical & Performance Activities

Participants acknowledge that improv training involves physical movement and performance-based activities, which carry inherent risks. By attending, participants accept full responsibility for their well-being and any potential injuries. The organisation and its trainers shall not be held liable for accidents or injuries occurring during sessions.

FA improv classes are designed to be spaces that are fun to learn and try stuff out. However, we do ask students to adhere to a few points on etiquette in class. These are designed to make sure everyone feels comfortable in class to play and develop their improv skills at their best.

• Be kind, mindful, and respectful to one another in class
• Be respectful of fellow students’ personal space and contact. Some people are happy to be touched but some or not. Assume that your classmates do not want to be touched at all.
• Be supportive of your classmates both onstage and off.
• More talkative people, try to be aware of that and allow space for others.
• Quieter people, your contribution is valuable and we love to hear it, so do speak up (but you are free to be quiet too).
• If personal things are shared, the learning can be kept/shared, but please respect the confidentiality of the person who shared it.
• Please do not bring pets in class
• Please do not bring pets in class
• Please do not run, or put yourself or others at risk.
• Only people who have signed up to the FA class (or who are swapping from another class) are allowed to attend

If you feel uncomfortable about something in class please do tell us about it. If you feel happy to bring it up in class as it happens then you can and your teacher will address it.

However, if you would rather you can contact the teacher in between classes over email or catch them in the break.

Or if you would rather not discuss it with the teacher directly you can contact our student liaison emails.
STUDENT LIAISON - studentliaison@thefreeassociation.co.uk
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION LIAISON - mariam@thefreeassociation.co.uk

PAYMENTS

Outstanding class fees should be settled before the first class. If you paid a deposit you can find the link to pay in your attached tax invoice contained in your tax invoice email.

REFUND POLICY

• You can cancel your purchase up to 2 weeks prior to class start date for a full refund. 

• Your deposit (which is 25% of the full class price) is non-refundable within 1 week of class start date.

• If you cancel within 2 weeks of class start date, we will refund half of the deposit.

• For one-off workshops and short courses, half of the fee is refundable if cancelled within 2 weeks of class start date and non-refundable within 1 week.

• Under certain circumstances we may be able to defer your tuition to a future class, but this is done so at our discretion. 

• If you drop out during a course, you are not eligible for a refund and will be required to pay any outstanding fee owed.

Making Up Classes

Students are expected to attend all classes. Missing more than two of your scheduled class times can be grounds for repeating a class. Even though a student may make up their missed classes, the student is also required to be part of an ensemble. Missing their regularly scheduled class jeopardises their involvement within the ensemble.

If you are enrolled in an 8 week programme, you can make up a maximum of two missed classes by going to another class time during the same week. Please speak to your Instructor to see what day and time options are available for you to make up a class. Make-up classes are for your benefit, and the classes you attend may be full. Each instructor has the right to inform any student who is making up a class whether they may participate or only observe the class.

You are only permitted to do 2 make-up classes per course, and these will still count as an absence from your original class.

Repeating Classes

The Free Association reserves the right to require students to repeat classes as needed. Should an individual not complete any required class, The Free Association reserves the right to hold the student back until the requirement is satisfied. If you are required to repeat a class by a tutor you will be offered a 40% discount. If you choose to repeat a class, or are required to do so due to absences, you are not entitled to any discount.

Students Returning from Hiatus

Sometimes a student may wish or need to take time off from their training due to personal reasons. Should this occur, please contact the Free Association immediately. Please note that when you return, The Free Association reserves the right to place you in an appropriate level at its discretion. Returning students must pay the tuition rate that is applicable at the time of re-joining the training. Any student returning after more than one 1 year of absence is required to rejoin the program at a level determined by The Free Association.

Training Location

Please check details on how to get to each venue before class. If you are unsure where your class is, please check with us. Any changes to location will be made clear with ample time to prepare.

You will receive the contact details of your trainer in your welcome email. Please be respectful of their privacy, and only use this for the duration of your class.

Please be aware that trainers are contracted to work during class time only, and will be able to reply to specific out of class performance-related queries at their discretion.

We advise all students ask any performance-related questions during their class time or breaks.

If a trainer does not reply to your request, they will have seen the email and will attempt to incorporate a response into your notes in the next applicable exercise.

If you have any special requirements or anything you feel your trainer would benefit from knowing please do one of the following

1) Enter them at time of booking

2) Contact your teacher directly after receiving your welcome email

3) Contact the Headteacher - Alex@thefreeassociation.co.uk

Each member of the FA training team has been specifically trained in the level they are teaching and comes with a wealth of personal improv experience.

The FA training programme is taught from a core syllabus, so rest assured whoever is leading your class, the quality of tuition will be the same.

As freelancer professionals, we offer our trainers a degree of flexibility. On occasions, we may be required to change your trainer at the last minute to cover sessions. if this happens, there will have been a handover conversation to ensure the new teacher is up to speed.

If we cannot cover a class (due to last minute sickness) we will contact all class members as soon as possible, and reschedule the class for the following week.

Harold Team Auditions are held intermittently throughout the year. Our Harold Team auditions are exclusively for graduates of our Harold and Beyond Harold classes.

House Team Auditions are open to improvisers who have trained elsewhere, however our shows will always closely reflect our teaching, so those who have completed Beyond Harold may find themselves at a natural advantage.

Audition dates and sign-up procedures vary, but specific instructions will be posted approximately one month prior to each upcoming audition date. Students must pay off any past- due balances in order to be eligible to audition for a Harold Team.

It is important that for any audition you represent your training and show experience with us correctly and honestly. For example, performing in The Free Association for a Harold Class Show show does not allow you to put “The Free Association” on your actor’s resume. For example, a student who has completed The Harold at The Free Association should list the experience as:

Harold Class Show - -Ensemble - -The Free Association, London

And someone who has completed up to Advanced Game in their training may list

The Free Association Improv - Levels 1-3

Standards of Conduct

By their very nature, improv theatre and comedy are artistic pursuits in which the boundaries of what is deemed socially “appropriate” and/or politically correct are often blurred and subject to interpretation. Words and/or conduct that offend one person may have no effect on another. The Free Association does not endeavour to shield students from ideas and/or behaviour that they may find unwelcome, disagreeable or even offensive; indeed, the free exchange of ideas between students and their instructor(s) – even those that some may find objectionable – is vital to the creative process underlying great improv. As such, students should approach their classwork with an open mind, and take into account the diversity of viewpoints, beliefs and backgrounds that make the programs at The Free Association such a rich learning experience. By the same token, students should exercise good judgment when participating in class activities, and avoid engaging in conduct that rises to the level of abuse, such as targeted attacks directed at a particular individual.

As a general rule, The Free Association will not intervene to enforce social standards of civility. If, however, you feel that certain conduct – whether by an instructor or a student – has overstepped the bounds of what is acceptable even in an improv theatre /comedy setting, you may decline to participate and report the behaviour to the Student Liason (studentliaison@thefreeassociation.co.uk) or Head Teacher (alex@thefreeassociation.co.uk) . The Free Association will investigate the matter and address the issue, as needed.

There will be no retaliation against any student who in good faith raises a concern, reports an incident and/or participates in an investigation under this policy. Any student who believes that he or she has been retaliated against in any manner should report it immediately to the Student Liason or Head Teacher.

Anti­-Harassment Policy

Harassment of any kind, including sexual harassment, is strictly prohibited. The Free Association will not tolerate harassment by anyone, including instructors, staff, students, visitors, vendors, contractors and third parties. Harassment is defined as unwelcome conduct, whether verbal, physical or visual, that is so severe or pervasive that it unreasonably interferes with an individual’s participation in The Free Association’s programs, or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive educational environment. Examples of prohibited harassment include, but are not limited to epithets, slurs or negative stereotyping; threatening, intimidating or hostile acts; denigrating jokes directed at an individual based on his or her personal characteristics, which do not serve any class-related function and/or fall outside the bounds of what is acceptable in the classroom, as set forth in the Standards of Conduct.

Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment in particular is strictly prohibited. Sexual harassment encompasses a range of conduct from sexual assault (which is also a criminal act) to conduct such as unwanted touching or persistent unwelcome comments, sexual advances, propositions and/or requests for sexual favours, depending on the specific circumstances and context in which the conduct occurs. For example, sexual advances, requests for sexual favours, or sexually-directed remarks or behaviour constitute sexual harassment when (i) submission to or rejection of such conduct is made, explicitly, or implicitly, a basis for an academic decision or professional advancement, or a term or condition of either; or (ii) such conduct is directed against an individual despite its rejection. On the other hand, sexual innuendo or suggestive comments, gestures or jokes made in the course of a class exercise or performance may not be considered impermissible sexual harassment, if they serve an educational and/or artistic purpose.

Please note that due to the unique nature of the improv theatre/comedy setting, a person’s subjective belief that behaviour is offensive, intimidating or hostile does not necessarily render that behaviour harassment under this policy. Rather, the behaviour must be objectively unreasonable in light of the surrounding circumstances and context. Such expression will not constitute impermissible harassment unless (in addition to satisfying the above definitions) it is targeted at a specific person or persons, is abusive and/or serves no educational purpose.

Complaint Procedure

Any student who experiences or witnesses harassment of any kind, including sexual harassment, whether from a fellow student or a faculty member, should feel free to discuss the problem with the Student Liaison on studentliaison@thefreeassociation.co.uk or Head Teacher (alex@thefreeassociation.co.uk) and, if desired, request that they speak informally to the person complained about.

No one at the Free Association – whether a faculty member or a student – may reprimand, retaliate or discriminate against an individual for raising a concern, making a complaint and/or participating in an investigation under this policy. Any individual who believes that he or she has been retaliated against in any manner should report the matter to the Student Liaison on studentliaison@thefreeassociation.co.uk or Head Teacher (alex@thefreeassociation.co.uk)

All concerns and complaints will be treated with confidentiality to the extent practicable without compromising the investigation and/or resolution of the matter, and will be investigated thoroughly and promptly. Where possible, the Free Association will attempt to resolve the issue informally (for example, by speaking to the alleged harasser and/or Counselling the parties). However, this does not preclude more formal corrective or disciplinary action.

Sexual Assault Policy

Sexual assault is a criminal act that violates the standards of our community and is unacceptable. The Free Association’s Sexual Assault policy applies to students, instructors, staff, and visitors, as well as vendors, contractors and third Parties.

Sexual assault is defined as:

• Any intentional or knowing touching or fondling by an individual, either directly or through the clothing, of the genitals, breasts, thighs, or buttocks of the victim without the consent of the victim;

• Touching or fondling of an individual by the victim when the victim is forced to do so against his or her will; or

• Any non-consensual acts involving sexual penetration of the sex organs, anus, or Mouth.

Reporting Procedure

Any student who believes he or she has been sexually assaulted, whether by a fellow student, faculty member or visitor, should report the incident to Student Liaison on studentliaison@thefreeassociation.co.uk or Jonny Collis on jonny@thefreeassociation.co.uk. The student is also encouraged to report the incident to the police and seek medical care as soon as possible. No one at the Free Association– whether a faculty member or a student – may reprimand, retaliate or discriminate against an individual for raising a concern, making a complaint and/or participating in an investigation under this policy.

Any individual who believes that he or she has been retaliated against in any manner should report the matter to Student Liaison on studentliaison@thefreeassociation.co.uk or Jonny Collis on Jonny@thefreeassociation.co.uk. All concerns and complaints will be treated with confidentiality to the extent practicable without compromising the investigation and/or resolution of the matter, and will be investigated thoroughly and promptly. Depending on the severity of the incident and the individuals involved, the Free Association may pursue the matter through internal disciplinary procedures without the cooperation of the victim. Under such circumstances, The Free Association will inform the victim of its decision to proceed in this manner.

Violence

The Free Association maintains a zero-tolerance policy for violence. Acts or threats of physical violence which involve or affect Free Association faculty, students and staff or which occur on the premises, will not be tolerated. Examples of prohibited threats or acts of violence include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Hitting or shoving an individual
• Physically injuring another individual
• Threatening an individual or his/her family, friends, or property with harm, or otherwise engaging in behaviour that creates a reasonable fear of injury in another person • Intentional destruction or threatening to destruct FA property
• Making/sending harassing or threatening phone calls, text messages, and emails
• Harassing surveillance or stalking
• Unauthorized possession or use of firearms or weapons

Every student is encouraged to report incidents of threats or acts of physical violence of which he/she is aware. The report should be made to Briony Redman or Jonny Collis. Please note that this policy does not apply to fictitious “threats” or simulated “acts” of violence made in the course of your work at the FA.

Drug and Alcohol Policy

The use, sale, manufacture, cultivation, distribution, dispensation, possession of illegal drugs or other unauthorized, intoxicating, or controlled substances while on The Free Association property, or while otherwise engaged in The Free Association activities, is strictly prohibited. The term “controlled substances” is defined as any substances that are illegal or controlled by the law, including lawful substances (such as prescription drugs) which have been improperly obtained and/or used in violation of their lawful prescription.

Students are prohibited from having any such illegal or unauthorised controlled substances in their systems while attending class and/or engaged in The Free Association Activities. Outside alcohol consumption or illegal drug activity that impacts a student’s class work or participation in The Free Association activities and/or threatens the reputation of The Free Association will not be tolerated.

Students who violate the Drug and Alcohol policy may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including permanent expulsion from The Free Association and/or referral for prosecution of criminal violations.

Student Whistleblower Policy

Students must immediately report to Student Liaison on studentliaison@thefreeassociation.co.uk or Jonny Collis on Jonny@thefreeassociation.co.uk any activity or conduct that they suspect is:

• Illegal, or a violation of any state or federal law and/or regulation; or
• A serious violation of Free Association’s policy and/or procedure, including the above-stated policies regarding violence, use of drugs and/or alcohol and weapons; or
• Otherwise inappropriate and/or unethical.

The Free Association will not retaliate against any student as a result of his or her report of inappropriate conduct under this policy, or because he or she has refused to follow an illegal, inappropriate and/or unethical request.

Confidentiality

Reports of inappropriate conduct under the policy may be submitted on a confidential basis by the student directly or may be submitted anonymously using the form at the bottom of this page. The Free Association will endeavour to investigate the reported conduct as discreetly as possible under the applicable circumstances. Reports of violations or suspected violations will be kept confidential to the extent possible, consistent with the need to conduct an appropriate investigation.

Open Door Policy

The Free Association is committed to providing a safe, productive and fun educational environment for all students. Part of this commitment is encouraging an open and frank atmosphere in which any problem, concern or question can be addressed and discussed. Students who have a question, problem, suggestion and/or complaint should feel free to discuss the issue with Student Liaison on studentliaison@thefreeassociation.co.uk or Head Teacher on Alex@thefreeassociation.co.uk. There will be no retaliation for raising a concern under this policy. Any issues raised or discussions held pursuant to the Free Association’s Open Door Policy will be treated with confidentiality unless the student agrees to include others in the discussion or an investigation into the matter is warranted, in which case, confidentiality will be maintained to the extent practicable without compromising the Investigation.

Please note that The Free Association’s Student Whistleblower and Open Door policies do not apply to complaints of harassment or sexual assault. Students who wish to report an incident of harassment or sexual assault must follow the complaint procedures set forth in the Anti--Harassment and Sexual Assault policies.

The Free Association reserves the right to remove anyone from class, and refuse access to further training if necessary.

Immediate Dismissal or Expulsion

If at any point during class, the instructor feels that a student is engaging in behaviour which is threatening, dangerous and/or highly disruptive to the classroom ensemble, the instructor may require that the student leave the classroom for the remainder of that day's class. Students dismissed from class in this manner may not return to their regular class until they have spoken with someone from the Free Association Management team. Behaviour which would result in immediate dismissal includes, but is not limited to threats or acts of violence, inebriation and/or severe impairment due to use of drugs and/or other controlled substances, violation of the Anti -Harassment and/or Civility policies or other actions which are disruptive to the work of the class, in the discretion of the Free Association. If behaviour is deemed excessively disruptive or dangerous to the training environment, the Free Association reserves the right to permanently expel a student from training, and shows.

Warnings

Students who display behaviour that an instructor deems to be detrimental to the progress of their ensemble may be issued a warning. The instructor gives the warning verbally and then notifies The Free Association Management. If a student receives more than one warning for similar issues, the Head Teachwe will be notified and appropriate action will be taken. Depending on the circumstances, students may be required to transfer classes, repeat a term, take a leave of absence or to leave the training permanently. Examples of conduct considered detrimental to the progress of the ensemble include, but are not limited to, excessive lateness, missing more than two of the scheduled classes (even excused absences), inappropriate classroom behaviour (including being under the influence of drugs and/or other controlled substances), harassment of another student or Free Association employee, and/or inability to keep up with class progress.

The Free Association reserves the right to remove any student from class who is negatively impacting the ensemble.