PhD / Postdoc / Improvisation skills for researchers

Improvisational theatre provides a rich source for the training of social skills, confidence and attentiveness. It can teach you to be more spontaneous, more connected, more in the moment with the people you meet. 

The exercises are carefully selected and aim to

• create a mental state of spontaneous production
• stop planning ahead and trust in the moment
• co-create wonderful dialogues and scenes with your partners
• let go of the “inner judge” from time to time
• overcome stage-fright and even enjoy the attention of others
• be more resilient towards disturbances when presenting something

The training does not require acting experience. All you need is an open mind and a fresh pair of socks.

Information about the instructors:
Gunter Lösel
Nicole Erichsen

The course serves the specific needs of researchers: As they need to “be in their heads” most of the time, they can counterbalance this by following their impulses, their bodies and their intuition without thinking ahead. They are taught to enter this state whenever appropriate, for example in informal meetings at conferences. Participants are able to make contact more easily and have more fun in building and maintaining their social networks.

Dr. Gunter Lösel is an actor and researcher in theatre studies at the Zurich University of the Arts and Nicole Erichsen is an actress in improvisational theatre and a coach in applied improvisation.

Early career researchers of all disciplines

1 ECTS (has to be recognized by your faculty)

Conditions of participation:

• A no-show will lead to a blocked account and the cancellation of all other booked GRC courses.   
• You may only register for two courses per semester.

-> Further conditions