Monkey Toast UK

Second City Mainstage and I.O. West alumnus, David Shore, is now offering improv classes In London

David Shore has recently relocated to the London area and is now offering classes in Long-Form Improvisation.  David was an instructor at The Second City Training Centre (Toronto), and The Bad Dog Theatre (Toronto), and has over ten years of teaching experience.  A thirteen-time Canadian Comedy Award nominee and two-time winner, David produced and hosted Monkey Toast:  The Improvised Talk Show (7 year run) and The Panel Show, and is the creator and original director of The Bad Dog Theatre’s Harold Night.

Here’s what former students have to say about David:

“Quite possibly the best improv eye in Toronto.” – Rob Baker, alumnus, The Second City Mainstage.

“David is a great instructor.  He doesn’t sugarcoat his notes and his clear set of goals plus his experience in improvisation will definitely help you grow.  Studying with David will make you a better improviser.”– Adam Cawley, alumnus, The Second City Mainstage.

“I’ve studied with lots of teachers but David was the best.  If I am up on stage and having fun and not worrying on the sidelines it is because of him.” – Stefanie Drummond, Improviser, The Bad Dog Theatre.

“Every student of improv needs a class with David Shore.  Not only is he knowledgeable and insightful, but he’s honest and will get to the heart of your improv issues without pulling any punches.  I am a better improviser because of his classes.” – Jan Caruana, 2009 Canadian Comedy Award winner for Best Female Improviser, and alumnus, The Second City National Touring Company.

In order to keep up with the demand for the classes, David has hired Monkey Toast Players’ Cariad Lloyd and Paul Foxcroft to teach the lower level classes.

Cariad Lloyd is an award-winning improviser and comedian, and was also nominated for Best Newcomer in the Fosters Edinburgh Comedy Awards in 2011. She has been improvising for seven years and is a founder member of Edinburgh hit Austentatious: The Improvised Jane Austen Novel, and Monkey Toast and Grand Theft Impro. She has made guest appearances with Baby Wants Candy, Showstopper: The Improvised Musical and Ken Campbell’s School Of Night. She performs annually in The London 50 Hour Improvathon and has also performed in Die-Nasty’s 53 Hour Soapathon in Canada and with The English Lovers in Austria. Cariad was artistic director of The Institute, resident at the Canal Cafe Theatre and led them to win the London Theatresports Cup and won the Comedy School Cup with GTI. She is also an actor and has appeared in Cardinal Burns, Fit and Funtime as well as My First Planet, The Guns of Adam Riches and Newsjack for Radio 4.  She is a character stand-up and performs regularly on the London circuit.

Paul Foxcroft has been performing & teaching professionally in the UK, Canada & Europe for seven years. During that time, he has survived a number of 50-hour improvised marathons, in Canada – with show creators Die-Nasty – and in the UK. He was co-founder of the award winning improv group, The Institute, who won the London Theatresports Cup. He is also a core cast member of Monkey Toast, and guests regularly with Grand Theft Impro. As a writer, Paul was a finalist in Montreal’s Just For Laughs International Comedy Festival scriptwriting competition in 2011. His material has been broadcast on TV & radio in Canada, and he writes & performs regularly with his own troupe, the exquisitely politely entitled Ladies and Gentlemen, who have just returned from a sell-out Edinburgh run.

Classes:

Level 1 – Long-Form Improv Foundation.  We will focus on  “yes, and”; who, what & where; listening; status; being in the moment; and finding the game of the scene.  No prerequisite.

Level 2 – The Scene.   This class will concentrate on scene work.  We will delve deeper into finding the game of the scene: work on tag-outs, editing, being an object, character work, servicing the scene, and techniques for getting out of your head.  Prerequisite:  Level 1, or by audition.

Level 3 – The Harold.   The Harold is the starting point of all Long-Form structures.  Students will learn the classic Harold as developed by Del Close.  There will be a class show at the end of this course.  Prerequisite:  Level 2.

Level 4 – Advanced Long-Form.    We will spend additional time on The Harold and move on to other Long-Form structures such as The Armando, and The Slacker.  There will be a class show at the end of this course. Prerequisite:  Level 3.

Level 5 – Master Class with David Shore.  In this class students will perform the different Long-Form structures that were learned in the previous levels and will receive detailed notes from David.  We will also focus on improving any weaknesses or holes in students’ individual game.  Prerequisite: Level 4.

Upcoming Classes:

Level 1 – Weekday Evenings
Dates:  Mondays, beginning May 20th, 8 classes over 8 weeks.
Time:  6:30pm-9:30pm
Location: West London Synagogue (School), 33 Seymour Pl., W1H 5AU.
Tube:  Marble Arch, Edgware Road, Marylebone.
Cost: £200
Maximum Class Size:  12
Instructor: Paul Foxcroft

Level 1 – Weekend
Dates:  Saturdays beginning May 25th, 8 classes over 8 weeks.
Time:  Noon-3pm
Locations: The Carpenter’s Arms, 12 Seymour Place, W1H 7NA.
Tube: Marble Arch, Edgware Road, Marylebone.
Cost:  £200
Maximum Class Size: 12
Instructor: David Shore

Level 2 – Weekday Evening
Dates:  Thursdays, beginning May 23rd, 8 classes over 8 weeks.
Time:  6:30pm-9:30pm
Location: West London Synagogue (School), 33 Seymour Pl., W1H 5AU.
Tube:  Marble Arch, Edgware Road, Marylebone.
Price £200
Maximum Class Size: 14
Instructor: Paul Foxcroft

Level 2 – Weekend
Dates: Sundays, beginning May 26th, 8 classes over 8 weeks.
Time: 12:15pm-3:15pm
Location: The Carpenter’s Arms, 12 Seymour Place, W1H 7NA.
Tube: Marble Arch, Edgware Road, Marylebone.
Cost: £200
Maximum Class Size: 14
Instructor: Paul Foxcroft

Level 3 – Evening Classes
Dates:  Wednesdays, beginning May 22nd, 8 classes over 8 weeks.
Time:  6:30pm-9:30pm
Location: West London Synagogue (School), 33 Seymour Pl., W1H 5AU.
Tube:  Marble Arch, Edgware Road, Marylebone.
Price £200
Maximum Class Size: 14
Instructor: David Shore

Level 4 – Evening Classes
Dates:  Tuesdays, beginning May 21st, 8 classes over 8 weeks.
Time:  6:30pm-9:30pm
Location: West London Synagogue (School), 33 Seymour Pl., W1H 5AU.
Tube: Marble Arch, Edgware Road, Marylebone.
Cost:  £200
Maximum Class Size: 14
Instructor: David Shore

Booking:  To book a class, please email David at contact@monkeytoast.com.

Please email David if you have any questions.

Free Placement Audition:
If you have a lot of improv experience and would like to audition to go straight into Level 2, please email David to arrange a free placement audition.