Our Fall 8-week series of Improv Theatre Workshops for teens and adults with autism concluded on November 10. We will not be offering this workshop series in 2025. You can download our Summer/Fall In-person Improv flyer in English or combined In-person and Virtual Improv flyer in Spanish here.
For more information about our workshops, contact our office at info@pacthouse.org or call 760-815-8512. Our workshops are offered at no cost. If you would like to donate, please see our Donation Page.
PACT’s Improv Theatre Workshops met once weekly for a series of eight weeks in Encinitas and provided an opportunity to study and express improvisational theatre. They also provided an opportunity to be part of a community. Some participants developed lasting friendships, and all experienced the joy of sharing art with others. We utilized improvisational theatre activities rather than preparing a production, because we have found that improv provides on-going opportunities to master social interaction.
The workshops were led by two of PACT’s experienced workshop directors and two assistant directors, all young adults with autism. All four are part of PACT’s theatre troupe as well.
We welcomed teens and young adults of all abilities, and we were always looking for good volunteers. Volunteers served as peer mentors while participating as equals with the group. Our goal was to bring out the best in people with autism and other unique needs.
Results For over 10 years program evaluations showed a consistent improvement in our participants’ social/communication skills, as well as greater optimism about their future. Our programs provided many moments of joy in lives challenged by autism and other disabilities.
Workshop Activities
Our Improvisational Theatre Workshops began with ice breaker activities where everyone got to know each other. In the process, they also exercised social skills like listening, memory, eye contact and dialogue. The rest of the workshop consisted of enjoyable improvisational theatre activities that were designed to help participants master an art while improving their social skills.
Participants grew in confidence by receiving acknowledgement from their peers when they performed the improvisational activities, they learned to cooperate through the camaraderie building theatre activities, they improved their fitness through active theatre games, and they learned to ‘think on their feet’ and solve problems creatively in the spontaneity of the theatre activities.
The workshops were provided at no cost, and were were held at Dance North County in Encinitas.