#6: Create a Safe Space with Inbal Lori

Improvise Till You Make It!

Inbal Lori, whose self-proclaimed very small head precludes her from wearing literal hats, nevertheless wears many metaphorical ones as an actress, writer, and improvisor. Like so many immigrants who settle here, her love affair with Berlin started as nothing more than a quick visit. She reveals some of the things that she loves most about this charged city before turning this podcast completely on its head in what is without a doubt our most dangerous episode yet.

In a very unexpected twist, Inbal blows our notion of safe spaces away, and instead speaks of the role, potentially the necessity, of outright danger in theatre, and it's power to move people to tears of joy, as well as sadness. In a dialogue as hilarious as it is explosive, we explore what it means to create a safe space, how to make sure people feel empowered to give it their all, and how to safely push the envelope to touch people while having them wriggling in their seats.

We crank the danger up several notches when we venture backstage on opening night to find a director who, after encouraging his lead actors to speak their minds, gets caught up in a form of self-expression which more closely resembles a hostage situation, and leave the notion of safe spaces far behind in the board meeting of a no-frills company down on its luck whose board members are being coaxed away from the ledges with the help of adorable bobbleheads.

And in case our listeners aren't on the edge of their seats by the end of our conversation, we wrap the show up with an electric and X-rated round of "Mind Meld," racing against the clock to finish the game before our recorder runs out of recording time.

Inbal's improv workshops for corporate teams and individuals, as well as theatre groups and actors of all levels, are designed to maximize creative development. When she's not busy creating safe spaces in which for her clients to learn, grow, and connect, she's on stages all across Berlin, as well as the whole of Europe. Check out her website, inballori.com, to find out more about her workshops, and where you can see her play next!
As always, thanks for listening, and be sure to follow us on instagram at @henriandblake for a sneak peek of the next episode of "Improvise Till You Make It!" and to keep posted on all the exciting ways we continue to spread the improv mindset.