The Laughter Project – Abel Mathews Entertainment Pvt. Ltd

Teaching the art of improv comedy

to improve team communication,

collaboration, creativity and confidence,

while reducing conflict.

What is The Laughter Project?

Why Use Improv Comedy?

It is scientifically proven that laughter improves motivation and learning. It does this by releasing Dopamine in the brain, which is a reward hormone, having a positive effect on mood, motivation and learning.

It’s FUN! Training can often be seen as something that they feel they are ‘supposed’ to do. With improv comedy, the team spends a lot of time laughing, but crucially this is directly linked to LEARNING the principles of powerful communication and collaboration.

TRANSFORMATIVE – The principles we teach are not simply useful models or frameworks to apply but rather they have the power to truly transform the way a team works together.

We love Improv! Improv Comedy is one of the most fascinating & entertaining art forms. We love watching it and even more so performing!

What does the course look like?

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Introduction

The day starts with….. well…. some Stand-up and Improv Comedy performed by highly seasoned comedians. This sets the tone for the day, loosens up the participants, gets lots of oxygen into their blood through laughter and releases Dopamine and Seratonin, bringing them to a place where they are excited and open to learning.

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Module 1 – Self Confidence

It is highly likely that your team has never done Improv Comedy before. So we start the day by building their confidence – not just to do Improv, but by teaching them tools that will enhance their confidence for any challenge they face in the future.

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Module 2 – Yes, And….

We normally find it very easy to pick holes in an idea or suggestion. However, with this principle, we train the team to first accept a new idea and then building on it with their own contribution. We call this ‘Yes….and….’ Suddenly, it isn’t just the loudest ideas that get traction, but every idea is followed and built upon till the best one emerges.

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Module 3 – Outcome-focused Listening

In Improv Comedy, we teach some powerful listening techniques. Empathetic listening is good, but in Improv, we take it one step further and look for outcomes with our listening.

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Module 4 – Make your co-actor look good

Once we learn this principle and make the mindset shift to take responsibility for the success of our co-actors, we are actually building into our own success and that of the entire group.

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Module 5 – Ask Questions that Build

Although we encourage teams to be far more accepting of ideas, better at listening and make their colleagues look good, we also recognise that questions are equally important. However, it is not just about how you ask the question, or even what question is, but here we look at the intent of the question. In Improv Comedy, we ask questions that build or give more than they take.

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Module 6 – Pulling it all Together

Having taught the above principles, each with their own specific practice exercises and fun role plays, we then bring it all together.
We take tailored business examples of situations where communication is a challenge, collaboration is lacking, creative thinking seems to be stuck and we pull all the principles together.
Our facilitators are on hand to help guide, correct, enhance the implementation of these techniques.

What Are The Outcomes?

At the end of the day participants will

Have had fun! This is a training that they are not going to forget!

Have learnt tools to help build self-confidence for any situation they face

Be challenged and trained to have a mindset of acceptance and collaboration

Know how to use tools to practice outcome-focussed listening

Recognise the power in taking responsibility for their colleagues’ success

Have the tools to facilitate discussions that lead to innovative solutions

Have had a lot of practice and role play and feedback on the implementation of these principles

Who are the facilitators?

Abel Mathews is a multi-faceted entertainer; a stand-up & improv comedian, actor, MC, voice-over artist & writer. He has more than 10 years of experience in entertainment, having shared the stage with a wide variety of acts & artistes ranging from Grammy award winning artists like John Schlitt; to being a part of India’s first ever improv group to perform internationally at the Sweden International Improv Festival; to performing at shows across India – from Siri Fort Auditorium, Delhi to Greenfield International Cricket Stadium, Trivandrum; not to mention being the anchor at high profile events hosted by the biggest multinational companies in the region. He has also been the voiceover talent behind over 25 popular commercial brands in India. His speciality as a multi-cultural comedian has allowed him to travel globally, performing across Asia & Europe. He also performs with The Improv, by Centerstage, India’s no.1 live improvisational comedy act. Abel is currently working on a super secret comedy property that will be unveiled during the course of the year.

Peter Roxburgh has over 14 years of experience helping organisations become more effective in their mission. His career started with a $2m family-run business where he was central to increasing turnover by 200% in 4 years with a miniscule budget. He was a consultant for the British Government for a number of years, then moved to work with a multi-million dollar L&D company providing training to organisations such as HSBC and Prudential in the UK. Most recently he was a CXO for a growing multi-million dollar INGO where he oversaw HR and Training. He has a passion for seeing people achieve their potential, and enjoys working collaboratively. In India he designed and delivered for organisations including PwC, Novo Nordisk and National Instruments.