The Flummery Room is a forum for the practice of improvisational performance skills. It was founded in 1998 by Brenda Waite , who leads the sessions. Amy and Jenny were active supporters and participants from early days and Bocadalupa produced it in Bristol between 2001 and 2004.

Using improvisation as a source of creativity, the Flummery Room is a space for opening the imagination and developing a sense of play and invention. We explore movement, voice and composition in performance. Individual, partner and group work. The atmosphere is one of creativity, humour and exploration.

The Flummery Room usually runs as a series of 4-6 weekly sessions although it is available in other formats, for example, an intensive weekend with a guest artist teacher or a series focussing on site-responsive performance. In general, each session begins includes a personal warm-up and follows on with physical and vocal exercises, structures, games and scores. This usually culminates in longer scores where these skills are applied in performance.

Depending on the series format, the sessions may include time at the end for participants to experiment with work of their own, either pre-prepared or improvised. There is an opportunity to give and receive constructive feedback.

Every so often, the flummery room opens its doors to the public and presents informal improvisational performances, sometimes with guest practitioners. There is a small charge on the door, a festive atmosphere, great performances and free snacks!

Brenda Waite is an experienced performer, improvisor and teacher who has worked extensively with Julyen Hamilton , Andrew Morrish , Al Wunder and the Australian based Born in a Taxi. She divides her time between Berlin and Bristol.

Our experience with Brenda and The Flummery Room forms the core of much of Bocadalupa’s creative practice and we draw from it in extensively in The Utility Room .