Rediscover Play

Early bird prices for this term are available until the 28th of July

The Course

Step out of your comfort zone, build confidence, and connect with others in a low-stakes, high-fun environment. Rediscover Play is designed for those completely new to improvisation and more experienced players looking to firm up their confidence and spontaneity.

This course uses games and exercises from improvised theatre to give you practical experience:
🫰 Accepting our own and others’ ideas without judgment.
🫰 Feeling safe enough to be spontaneous with a group.
🫰 Adapting and thriving in uncertain situations.

Our courses are a cohort and term-based experience, so you’ll be part of a supportive and diverse group of people. Courses are offered over an eight week term, with two-hour classes held weekly on Thursday evenings. The course culminates with an optional theatrical performance where you can show off your new skills in front of a live audience.

The Detail

Dates: Eight Thursday evenings from the 31st of July to the 18th of September, followed by a Student Showcase performance in the subsequent week. The course runs a total of nine consecutive weeks.
Times: Classes run for 2 hours, from 6:00 - 8:00pm
Place: Centenary Park Main Hall (105 Daly St, Belmont)
Facilitator: Michael Becker
Cohort: Class size is strictly capped at 16 students

The Questions

Can I try improv before I register?

Yes! We have two options:

1. A $30 one-off class, The Entree, on the 24th of June. Enrol here. It’s small-group and focused on becoming more spontaneous.

2. Two free improv tasters on Saturday the 19th and Thursday the 24th of July. Enrol here. It’s large group and focused on fun.

Can I register for someone else?

Absolutely! You can purchase courses as a gift, or just enrol a friend to join you. When you register, just say “It’s for someone else,” and add their details. If you want it to be a surprise, please let us know when you register.

Why should I learn improvisation?

Improvisation is a social experience and a great opportunity to meet new people, have fun, and explore your boundaries. We learn that being a good improviser is often just about being a radically excellent human — we need to be able to be vulnerable, confident, supportive, and empathetic. Improvisation has a long history of being used not only to train actors and comedians, but as a self-development practice. Don’t worry if you’re not an aspiring actor or comedian — our courses are designed for people who are starting fresh. You can read more about our teaching philosophy here.

How we play is how we are, so learning how to show up in improvisation helps us show up better in real life.

What happens after the course finishes?

We recognise that many students want to commit to improvisation as a long-term practice. At the end of the course, your facilitators may recommend that you take our Make a Scene course or repeat Rediscover Play. Mastery takes time, and the course varies each term, so we encourage repetition to establish skills before moving forward. Facilitators use different exercises and games, so there is enormous value in learning these skills from multiple perspectives.

For long-term improvisers — those that are comfortable with the fundamentals of Rediscover Play and Make a Scene — we have several advanced courses in rotation. Many of our advanced students have also gone on to put on Fringe shows, deliver keynote speeches, and start their own improvisation business!

More about our student journey and the specific outcomes from this course are available here.

What is expected of me as a participant?

You’re being asked to be playful, support growth for yourself and your classmates, and respect boundaries. We also ask that you make people feel welcome, respected, and included. As Improvisation is a practice founded on creative self-expression, discrimination and harassment won’t be tolerated. More details on all of this is available in our Conditions of Participation.

We also expect you attend a minimum of six classes to perform in the showcase, though we may make exceptions on a case-by-case basis.

I have inclusion and/or mental health considerations. Can I attend this course?

We strive to create a welcoming, trusting, and safe environment where marginalised folks can find joyful, creative self-expression. Historically our courses have been particularly popular with neurodivergent people, those with social anxiety, or those who speak English as a second language.

However, as our courses are delivered in a group coaching environment, we cannot provide one-on-one support. This means participants need to demonstrate a certain level of self-awareness and self-management. This means our courses may not be appropriate for people with an acute mental health condition, trauma, or complex inclusion needs. Improvisation can support our wellbeing, but it is not theraputic intervention. We cannot coach individual students through personal challenges and our facilitators are not healthcare professionals.

If you’re unsure whether or not this course is for you, feel free to email us directly at inquiries@onlythehuman.com to discuss your needs.

Will the same course be available in the future?

Yes. We run our Rediscover Play course four times a year.  The subsequent term starts Oct 21st and will be available for registration soon after this course begins.

Do you offer any payment plans or scholarships?

If you’d like to enrol but cannot afford the up front cost, our payment plan allows 50% to be paid upfront, with the remaining balance due by week five of the term. These plans are offered on a no questions asked basis - just enter the code “PLAN” at checkout and the discount will be applied automatically. We will then email you in Week four to seek the remaining payment directly through bank transfer.

Each term we offer two partial scholarships for Rediscover Play to students who face marginalisation, discrimination or financial hardship. These scholarships discount the course cost by $150 and are offered on a no questions asked basis - the discount code for this course is “HELPPLAY” to be applied at checkout.