Synopsis:
'Tabloids' is a long-form improv format developed as part of the international 'V4 Improv Connect' project. This project showcases the collaborative efforts of theatres from the Visegrad countries, including Slovakia, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and North Macedonia. The format was conceived during an intensive 6-day retreat in Bratislava in April 2024.
In 'Tabloids,' each performance begins with the host selecting three different headlines from local popular tabloids or magazines. This approach helps integrate local news, stories, and happenings into the show. We deliberately avoid headlines related to gruesome murders, deaths, celebrity scandals, and political or war news.
Instead, our focus is on light-hearted, amusing, and unusual local stories.
The performers reinterpret these headlines, creating new narratives spontaneously inspired by the audience's choice of headline. At the performance's conclusion, the host provides a summary of the actual news articles related to the chosen headlines for the audience's information.
Important information:
Workshop participants may be invited to perform in a related show.
Requirement: A minimum of 3 years of improv performing experience is necessary.
There will be a mandatory additional 3-hour rehearsal following the workshop for those intending to perform.
The related show may feature a smaller cast. Please note that the instructor has the final say on who will be performing.
The ‘Tabloids’ show is scheduled to take place on Sunday, 29th September, at 1:00 pm at the same venue (Stamford Arts Centre Black Box).
About the Teacher - Hon Chong (Malaysia / Slovakia)
Hon Chong is a multifaceted artist with skills spanning improvisation, acting, directing, and storytelling. He is the driving force behind the international V4 Improv Connect Project. Hon is the founder and artistic director of Funnylicious Theater, a pioneering theatre company based in Bratislava, Slovakia. Under his leadership, Funnylicious Theater has grown into a vibrant hub for improv and theatre enthusiasts, offering a wide range of performances, workshops, and international projects.
Over the past 15 years, he has built an international portfolio, performing and teaching in North America, Europe, and Asia. In Slovakia, Hon has played a pivotal role in establishing the International Society for Arts and Culture, o.z. (ISAC), a grassroots non-profit organization also based in Bratislava.
Drawing on his extensive experience, Hon has developed comprehensive curricula and conducted enriching improv workshops for various organizations, nonprofits, and schools across Europe and Asia.