I remember Nick giving me a lift to Flinders Street after a workshop. It was Autumn, 2013 I think and he was teasing out an idea for a show based on family portraits that come alive.

All sorts of synapses went off in that ten minute car drive as he explained his idea. 

Being a big Sondheim fan, I immediately thought of "Sunday in the Park with George" - the wonderful musical inspired by the Georges Seurat painting. Then all those old photos of folk long gone in my family albums. What was going on there? What was the moment before and after?

When I eventually saw the show at Club Voltaire as part of the Winter Impro Box season, I was super pleased to see what it had evolved into - a tightly directed, subtle show about a family trying to figure out who they were as a unit now one of them was gone. But the best part of that debut was the fields of potential left to discover. All good ideas have that - a simplicity that invites us to burrow deeper.

So, what does "family" mean to you?

I mean, every one else's family is nuts right? And ours?... super-nuts.  The way we' both love and scream at each other. The dreaded favourite sibling you'd like to drown, the dark horse who surprises you with the kindest things, the family clown who makes mum laugh, and just who was that guy who always turned up to big family events with his pipe and chocolates and made dad nervous?

To be asked by our Artistic Directors, Patti and Katherine to mentor Nick through the next evolution of "The Family", and to have the opportunity to to lead and teach a class that will be at the coal-face of that evolution is nothing short of a privilege. 

So... 

 How deep can we go with impro? My view? Pretty deep. Laughs? They're DNA wired into spontaneity, so that's the easy part. The challenge for us is to trust that and connect and discover each moment on stage for what it wants to be, and the crucible of The Family is the perfect vehicle for that. Relationships, alliances, break-downs, make-ups, shifting status, nonsensical rage and blithe forgiveness. Nothing happens without consequence in a family.

This term in Impro Gym, we can promise students a real ride. Not only the chance to perform the show at Club Voltaire in an Impro Melbourne produced premiere showcase, but also the week by week challenge and tuition in playing with spirit, focus and vulnerability.

Jump on board. It's going to be a unique nine weeks!

- Tim Redmond

Meet Nick Gardiol...

Nick Gardiol has trained with Impro Melbourne for seven years. He regularly performs as an ensemble member there, as well as with other groups such as The Big Hoo Haa. Nick was one of the founding members of The Impro Box, an improv troupe in which he created and directed The Family, a show that explores family dynamics. Nick believes that good improvised theater can be funny, while at the same time move, thrill, surprise and delight.