Improvisational theatre trainings

for improv enthusiasts, professionals and other performers.

Custom trainings for beginners and those with some experience

Below are examples of possible workshops. More themed workshops can be customized.

IMPROV ABC & X

The workshop explores the principles of improvisational theatre through exercises and scene work. The exercises strengthen deep listening, being influenced by the environment, and accepting and responding to offers. Participants learn to activate their creativity and increase confidence in themselves, the group, and the process. The workshop aims to let go of the fear of failure in a safe space and open up space for curiosity and playfulness. Duration: Workshop 2-6 hours or a course of several days

MUSIC IMPROV ABC & X

The workshop teaches music improvisation in the context of improvisational theatre. Participants learn to utilise the key elements of music and create interesting songs with catchy choruses in the moment. The exercises help to let go of unnecessary inhibitions and lead to a relaxed enjoyment of singing and the joy of co-creation. In this workshop, absolutely everyone with a voice is a singer and has the right to sing their songs without unnecessary criticism! Duration: Workshop 2-6 hours or a course of several days

Advanced trainings for experienced and professional improvisors

The trainings delve deeper into methods, formats and acting, and provide more personal feedback.
Below are examples of themed workshops.

A DEEP SCENE

The workshop focuses on creating deep and meaningful connections. We draw inspiration from personal life and bring true experiences into the world of fiction. The improvised scenes are an exploration of the spectrum of human life, its complexity and contradictions. In the scenes, we navigate a complex landscape of emotions, from joy and laughter to fear and heartbreak. Improvisers learn to connect with their co-actors in a way that goes below the surface, creating compelling and touching scenes for the audience.

INTUITIVE IMPROVSATION

The workshop explores, within the protection of a safe group, what happens when you let go of control, give up the fear of failure and surrender to living in the moment, sensing the offers of the environment. At its best, the group can achieve an experience of the collective subconscious, the intuitive group mind. The perspective shifts from immersion in one's own inner world to becoming sensitive to the environment. The workshop utilizes bodily impulses as well as curiosity and a willingness to play. The methods learned help to consciously tune into intuition and harness the subconscious mind in the creative process.

"Even though I've been doing improv for a long time, I realized a lot of new things in Julia's course. It was fun and touching to do and experience things together"

"I felt like the course was really good for group work. People focused intensely on the teaching, which shows that you were good at teaching and keeping the group together! We got a lot of tips and I realized some completely new things from improvisation. The best! Thank you. Logical, well-thought-out sequence of progress and a complete whole!"

“I enjoyed and was impressed! Julia's style of directing was pleasant and appropriately pushing the boundaries of my comfort zone.”

“Julia has been a great presence to have at our studio. The love for her craft is infectious, and she oozes enthusiasm and joy when teaching. Our students are always glowing with smiles after her classes. Her professionalism and insights into improvisation have been a wonderful addition at Actors Academy Finland.”

“Julia is a captivatingly warm performer! Even online, she was able to engage the participants wonderfully. There were groups from all over Finland and a total of about 130 participants at our event. There were many members of the audience who have a developmental disability or similar need for support. Julia conjured up a touching and magical performance from the topics and sentences shared together! Julia is a flexible and pleasant partner.”

“I really enjoyed the training! Julia was very good at synthesizing comments and bringing into the discussion improvisation principles that were already somewhat familiar, but clarifying and illustrating them in a slightly different way.”

“Julia conveys a captivating combination of professional expertise and curious wonder that stimulates one’s own thinking.”

Performances and presentations

Does your event need an inspiring presenter, a short interactive uplifting moment or an uplifting art experience? We can excite your event participants in many different ways! If your event still lacks a focal point, we will create a presentation that suits the theme and goals, which will make your event unforgettable.

An improvised presentation is a touching and impressive way to deal with any theme. The method is ideal for deepening the content of a seminar or development day, for example, and leaving a memorable experience for the participants. The duration of the presentation, theme and method of audience participation are fully customizable.

Contact us and book a performance for your event!
✓ Presentations & Uplifting Moments
✓ Improvisational Theatre Performances 20-60 min

Lahja

Lahja combines improvised poetry and music with improvisational theatre. Julia Petäjä and Enna-Matilda Kukkolan are a brave and sensitive duo who make the audience laugh and cry. Lahja's performance Present captures the moment and explores what is happening right now and here with this audience. Music, poetry and scenes create a weave that is a gift to the viewer. Present is a unique work of art that lives in the moment and only for a moment.

Kaisa & Julia

Kaisa & Julia is a duo specializing in musical improvisation. Kaisa Kokko-Palmer and Julia Petäjä have known each other for over 18 years and are dear friends, which is evident in their performances. They have performed abroad numerous times and, for example, their musical format “Stuck” has found its audience in Dublin, Gothenburg and Uppsala, among others. Kaisa and Julia conjure up a life-like theater on stage that does not leave the viewer indifferent.

Julia Petäjä

Julia Petäjä is an experienced professional in the fields of arts and education. She holds a Master’s degree from the University of Jyväskylä, with music education as her major. Julia is also a professional singer, having graduated from the Jyväskylä Conservatory, and she specializes in musical improvisation.

Julia has been dedicated to improvisational theatre for over 15 years and has performed internationally in cities such as Chicago, Dublin, Würzburg, Tallinn, Uppsala, Gothenburg, London, and Oslo. She has regularly taught improvisational theatre to actors at institutions including Impro Helsinki and the Actors Academy Finland.

Julia’s career reflects her passion for improvisation and her commitment to the art of teaching. In her master’s thesis, she researched improv professionals’ experiences of intuition in improvisation and has developed teaching methods based on academic research.

Pedai Oy | julia@pedai.fi | 041 505 2188 | LinkedIn

Overall grade 4,9/5

The professionalism of the trainers 5/5

98%

Recommends

Feedback on the teacher training project “Intuition, empathy and interaction as part of teaching” (1=weak and 5=excellent; 176 respondents). Kaisa Kokko-Palmer was the co-teacher in the training. There were a total of over 250 teachers from all over Finland.