Keith Johnstone (1933–2023) was a pioneering British and Canadian theatre director, playwright, and educator, celebrated as the father of modern theatrical improvisation. His work moved improv from a mere training exercise to a distinct art form. His books, particularly Impro: Improvisation and the Theatre, are considered foundational texts for improvisers, actors, writers, and creative thinkers worldwide.

On Spontaneity and Creativity

  1. "Go onto the stage to make relationships. At least you’ll be doing something." - Impro: Improvisation and the Theatre. This is a core instruction to get improvisers out of their heads and into the present moment with their scene partners.
  2. "The improviser has to be like a man walking backwards. He sees where he has been, but he pays no attention to the future." - Impro. This beautifully illustrates the idea of discovering the scene as it happens, rather than planning it.
  3. "Don't be interesting. Be average." - Impro. This counter-intuitive advice is meant to relieve the pressure of trying to be brilliant, which often blocks creativity. By being "average," you allow the scene to emerge naturally.
  4. "If you're clever, you'll steal the best ideas you can. You’ll still be you, but you'll be you with all the good ideas." This encourages learning from others without fear of being unoriginal.
  5. "Mygames are designed to release the latent ability which all people have for fantasy." - Impro. This quote states the purpose behind his many exercises and theatre games.
  6. "There are people who prefer to say 'Yes', and there are people who prefer to say 'No'. Those who say 'Yes' are rewarded by the adventures they have. Those who say 'No' are rewarded by the safety they attain." - Impro. This highlights the improviser's need to embrace offers and possibilities.
  7. "It’s not the offer, it’s what you do with it." A common Johnstone-ism emphasizing that even a "bad" offer can be turned into something wonderful with a creative response.
  8. "To be spontaneous, you must be in a state of grace." - Impro. This refers to a state of relaxed awareness and acceptance, free from the ego's desire to control.
  9. "The obedient child is a dead child." - Impro. A provocative statement arguing that strict, rule-based education crushes the natural spontaneity and creativity of children.
  10. "You can't learn anything without failing." - Impro for Storytellers. A fundamental principle for creating a safe space for improvisation, where mistakes are seen as opportunities.

On Fear and Blocks

  1. "The good improviser is the one who is failing." This reframes failure as a sign that the improviser is taking risks and operating at the edge of their ability.
  2. "Our originality is that part of us that we are afraid of showing." - Impro. Johnstone believed that true creativity lies in the parts of ourselves we typically censor.
  3. "Trying to be witty is the most certain way of being dull." - Impro. The pressure to be clever is a major creative block. Authenticity and obviousness are often more compelling.
  4. "The part of the mind that's on duty is the censor, and its function is to keep you out of trouble." - Impro for Storytellers. He taught exercises to bypass this internal critic.
  5. "Fear is the great creative engine." Johnstone didn't see fear as something to eliminate, but as a source of energy that, if channeled, could lead to exciting work.
  6. "The stupidest people are the most interesting." He encouraged playing "stupidly" to avoid the trap of intellectualizing a scene.
  7. "The moment you're having a good time, you're not in control." - Impro. This speaks to the joy of letting go and allowing the scene to take over.
  8. "A student of mine once said, 'I wish I were a cannibal. Then I would know where my next meal was coming from.' I think that's the improviser's state of mind." This quote humorously captures the improviser's comfort with uncertainty.

On Status

  1. "Status is the thing that you do all the time. It's the way that you're relating to other people." - Impro. His definition of status as a fluid, moment-to-moment interaction, not just a social class.
  2. "Every inflection and movement implies a status." - Impro. Johnstone taught that status transactions are constant and physical, often happening subconsciously.
  3. "One of the best ways to raise your own status is to lower the other person's." - Impro. A key observation about human behavior that is incredibly useful for actors and improvisers.
  4. "Playing high status is saying 'Don't touch me.' Playing low status is saying 'Don't hurt me.'" A simple, physical way to understand the two ends of the status spectrum.
  5. "If you get the status right, you can relax and the scene will play itself." - Impro. Johnstone argued that status dynamics create automatic conflict and narrative.
  6. "Most people are terrified of status transactions, and so they try to keep the status quo." This explains why many scenes can feel static or boring. The key is to play the status shifts.
  7. "A good improviser is someone who is ready to be changed." This applies directly to status; being willing to have your status raised or lowered makes for dynamic scenes.

On Narrative and Storytelling

  1. "The story 'advances' when an assumption is challenged." - Impro for Storytellers. A clear and practical definition of how to move a narrative forward.
  2. "Go for the obvious. The audience will think you're a genius." - Impro. Your "obvious" is unique to you. Trying to be clever often leads you away from the most powerful and relatable choice.
  3. "Enter the scene with a problem. Don't enter it with a solution." This creates immediate action and purpose for the characters.
  4. "Accepting an offer means nothing until you have been changed by it." This is the essence of "Yes, and..."—the offer must have an impact.
  5. "A story is a sequence of events, but a good story is a sequence of events that are connected." He stressed the importance of causality in narrative.
  6. "Don't make it a 'funny' scene. Make it a 'true' scene, and the humor will come." Truthful human behavior is inherently interesting and often humorous.
  7. "When in doubt, make a physical offer." Action is often clearer and more interesting than dialogue.
  8. "Establish a routine, then break it." A simple and effective formula for creating a story.
  9. "The audience wants to see the characters in trouble." Conflict is the engine of story. Don't protect your characters.
  10. "Every line should be a brick that builds the story." This encourages economy and purposefulness in dialogue.

On Teaching and Education

  1. "My job as a teacher is to make myself unnecessary." His goal was to give students the tools to continue learning and creating on their own.
  2. "The teacher's job is to lead the student into the darkness." This means guiding students into the unknown and uncomfortable places where real learning and creativity happen.
  3. "When a student is blocked, it's not the student's fault. It's the teacher's." He took responsibility for creating an environment where students felt safe enough to be spontaneous.
  4. "Never judge a student's idea." The moment you introduce judgment, you shut down creativity.
  5. "The school system is designed to produce mediocrity." A harsh critique of an educational model he believed rewarded conformity over originality.
  6. "I try to get people to see the world as a source of infinitely varied experiences." - Impro.
  7. "A good teacher makes you want to go home and do something." Inspiration, not just instruction, is the goal.
  8. "We have been taught to be careful. We have been taught to be good. We have been taught to be right. We have not been taught to be alive." This summarizes his philosophy of un-educating people from their inhibitions.

On Observation and Life

  1. "Pay attention. It's all there." The world is full of offers. The key is to be present enough to see them.
  2. "The world is a stage, but the play is badly cast." A witty observation on human behavior and status.
  3. "If you can't be a genius, be a good observer." Observation is the raw material for all creativity.
  4. "The improviser is a person who is open to all possibilities." This mindset extends beyond the stage and into everyday life.
  5. "To be boring is the ultimate sin." - Impro. This was not a command to be "interesting," but a plea to be engaged, present, and truthful.
  6. "We are all telling ourselves a story." He understood that narrative is fundamental to how we understand ourselves and the world.
  7. "Be prepared to be a fool." Embracing foolishness is liberating and is often the gateway to profound creativity and connection.

For further exploration of Keith Johnstone's work:

  • Books: His essential books, Impro: Improvisation and the Theatre and Impro for Storytellers, are the primary sources for his philosophy and are widely available.
  • The International Theatresports Institute: This organization, founded by Johnstone, carries on his legacy. Their website often has resources and information related to his work (theatresports.com).
  • Documentaries and Interviews: Numerous interviews and clips of Johnstone teaching can be found on platforms like YouTube, offering a direct glimpse into his unique and inspiring style. A good starting point is the short documentary Keith Johnstone: A Life in Impro.