Consent in Improv
Post-2015, accelerated post-2017 #MeToo
The practice of explicitly negotiating physical, emotional, and thematic boundaries before scenes and rehearsals, displacing the assumption that 'Yes, And' overrides performer comfort.
Known for
- 2015 'Women of UCB' group sparked the first major reckoning; cascading in 2017-2018 across iO, UCB, and Second City.
- Modern classes open with 'Physical Boundaries' discussions — what performers are and aren't comfortable with in scenes.
- 'Yes, And' does not override consent: a performer can reject an endowment that crosses their stated boundaries without violating improv principles.
Connected to
Schools & Theaters