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Who are we?
We're a Dublin-based bunch of team players dedicated to making things happen (both onstage and off) with a unique spirit, philosophy and style of IMPRO theatre.
What do we do?
We train players in The IMPRO System (our approach, method and techniques) and The IMPRO Playbook (our favourite show formats). Players progress from training onto the teams who share onstage opportunities and offstage responsibilities for making TheatreSports™, Maestro™ IMPRO and Gorilla Theatre™ shows happen.
We also offer a range of workshops with FOCUS IMPRO, bespoke Team-Building and Corporate Training programmes, and sessions for young people aged 11-17.
Why do we do it?
We believe we are all born creative. We believe we are all capable of brilliance. We believe that fear is the barrier between us and greatness, and that fear is the root of all of our hardships, and we believe fears can be dissipated through deep connection, mutual trust and high-spirited play — and it's all to play for!
IMPRO has changed our lives with an ideology to truly live by, a community to truly belong to, and personal growth to be truly proud of — and that's the truth.
Who's involved?
Team Players
We don't have a "cast" or "ensemble" to aspire to. We've come to realise that it doesn't quite fit our ethos to limit ourselves so much. Instead, we grow dedicated show teams around the many-splendoured show formats in The IMPRO Playbook.
There is no audition process. Once a player has been trained up in a particular show format, they're made welcome on the team who share onstage opportunities and behind the scenes responsibilities for making that show happen.
Darren Yorke
I am — for all intents and purposes — an improviser. With a diverse skill-set and multiple passions, I’ve enjoyed a rich interdisciplinary practice (both onstage and behind the scenes) throughout my 10 years’ professional experience in the performing arts. Hailing from Longford, I hold a BA in Drama & Theatre Studies from Trinity College Dublin. I trained extensively in improvisational theatre with Vancouver TheatreSports™ from 2014-2016, and held a position as coordinator for VTS’ Education & Outreach programmes throughout that time.
All of this has culminated in Grand Stretch, and it has been a pleasure and privilege to sport so many of my favourite hats with this company — from designing and delivering training programmes to directing and performing in ambitious productions. And I'm so grateful for the new hats I've acquired along the way, gaining invaluable skills in running all aspects of the business of play.
At the moment, we’re quietly developing Keith Johnstone’s world-renowned show formats for Irish audiences. We look forward to presenting them to live audiences again when it’s safe to do so. In the meantime, a range of safe new ways to play are taking shape with Focus Impro.
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TRAINING HIGHLIGHTS
Since moving home, I've pursued every opportunity to train abroad with distinguished practitioners – including Keith Johnstone, Patti Stiles, Steen Haakon Hanson, Shawn Kinley, Nadine Antler, Dan O Connor, Steve Jarand, Joe Bill, Armando Diaz, Leon Deuvel and The Showstoppers — The Improvised Musical. Closer to home, he collaborates with Anna Newell on her theatre adventures for young audiences (most recently in BLUE!), and has trained with Theatre Lovett (Theatre for Young Audiences) and Annie Ryan of Corn Exchange (Commedia dell'arte).
Our Mission
Darren Yorke founded Grand Stretch in 2017 with a view to:
- Launching an Irish contingent of the International Theatresports™ Institute — an organisation dedicated to connecting, supporting, developing and promoting the growing community of improvisers who work with Keith Johnstone’s improvisational techniques and formats (including Theatresports™, Gorilla Theatre™, Maestro™ Impro, and The Life Game©)
- Cultivating a diverse community around the IMPRO philosophy and spirit — creating safe, supportive and inclusive spaces; providing equal opportunities both onstage and behind-the-scenes
- Delivering innovative training for all ages, means and abilities — inspiring a culture of creativity, supporting artistic expression, and enhancing personal and professional lives with fully transferrable skills
- Producing ambitious shows for live audiences conceived, developed and / or presented through improvisation — striving to create meaningful, memorable stories that explore truthful relationships and authentic perspectives
- Collaborating on bespoke events — extending the varied talents of our individual players, our collective interdisciplinary expertise, and our production resources to making momentous experiences of special occasions
Grand Stretch is a member of the International TheatreSports™ Institute and holds a licence to perform TheatreSports™.
"Grand Stretch"
The Washing Line
"Grand Stretch"
'Grand Stretch' is inspired by a quintessentially Irish idiom. "There’s a grand stretch in the evenings" echoes 'round the country as Spring breaks — with Winter is at your back, and Summer on your doorstep. It’s the boring, obvious and unoriginal 'go-to' that creates an honest platform for meaningful conversation. It's terribly bright-si
'Grand Stretch' is inspired by a quintessentially Irish idiom. "There’s a grand stretch in the evenings" echoes 'round the country as Spring breaks — with Winter is at your back, and Summer on your doorstep. It’s the boring, obvious and unoriginal 'go-to' that creates an honest platform for meaningful conversation. It's terribly bright-sided. It's clear skies. It light triumphing over dark, and times of positive change, and time for sport, and time for play, and for taking risks, and for making things happen... it's perfect!
The Tag Line
The Washing Line
"Grand Stretch"
The tagline 'it's all to play for!' is a favourite in rural Irish Bingo Halls. It's the thrill of the gamble, its all-inclusive, its a leap-of-faith, its a sky's-the-limit values, and reinforces what "Grand Stretch" ignites in us — and also, we find ourselves saying it literally all the time.
IT'S ALL TO PLAY FOR!
(LET US PLAY!)
The Washing Line
The Washing Line
The Washing Line
Our logo is tribute to our spirit animal, Nanny Mac — Darren's grandmother (and personal favourite) Rita McDermott. She's a National Treasure. Never one for an RTE weather report, Nanny Mac makes her own assessment of the sky over her head. Forever in the moment (and never a moment wasted), Nanny Mac has "The Spirit" in spades. Long may she reign!
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