Get Schooled
The Playground specialises in both scripted and unscripted theatre!
Whether you’re just a beginner or an experienced theatre kid, we host courses in stage acting, long-form and free-form improv for all levels.
See below for a list of courses and extra activities you can join as a member of our association!
Welcome to our curriculum* for the first trimester of 2026, from January to April!
Classes begin January 12th, with enrollment open until December 29th. Reserve your spot now!
*Every course is followed by an optional showcase with your classmates at our Improv Marathon on April 25th
Here’s a look at the courses we’re offering this trimester. We recommend checking the full curriculum here to get a better sense of the program
Winter 2026
ESSENTIALS I
Join our basic course to master the basics of improv, where you'll dive into the "yes, and..." principle. Discover the art of listening, accepting, and collaborating as you build a strong foundation in improvisational skills. Perfect for beginners, this course will equip you with essential techniques to enhance your personal and improv skills.
Timing: 12 weeks (Mondays 19:00-21:00)
Requirements: none
Participants: 12
Showcase: The Townmodel
SCENE WORK i (TIER II)
Leave overthinking behind and start inhabiting your scenes through emotion, silence, and authentic presence. Tune into your scene partner and learn to read the scene instead of trying to write it. Develop your director’s improv brain, discovering how your stage position, your pauses, and your intentions shape the entire moment.
Timing: 12 weeks (Wednesdays 19:00-21:00)
Requirements: Tier I
Participants: 8-10
Showcase: The Apartment
IMPROV GYM
Welcome to the Improv Gym, a weekly 90 mins session gathering to drill one specific improv skill 🏋️♂️✨ Perfect for improvisers eager to sharpen their abilities, review resources, build confidence in their improv toolbox, and get instant feedback in a supportive environment.
No commitment, walk-in friendly class
Timing: Wednesdays (17:00-18:30)
Requirements: Essentials I
Min: 4 people / Max: 8 people
ESSENTIALS II
Keep drilling the groundwork for improv (yes, and…) while delving into the core values of generosity, trust, and creativity. Over these sessions, you'll not only practise foundational improv techniques but also experience the transformative power of a playful, safe and creative collective environment.
Timing: 12 weeks (Thursdays 19:00-21:00)
Requirements: Essentials I
Participants: 12
Showcase Format: The Townmodel
WORLD BUILDING (tier iii)
Step beyond empty stages and start living inside the worlds you create. Build environments through characters, patterns, object work, and shared imagination. Develop your world-builder’s improv brain, discovering how your gestures, focus, and physical choices shape not just the moment, but the entire reality you’re playing in.
Timing: 12 weeks (Mondays 17:00-19:00)
Requirements: Storytelling I
Participants: 8-10
Showcase: A day in the life of
STAND-UP COMEDY (MONTHLY WORKSHOP)
Explore stand-up through playful games, smart theory, and gentle experimentation that makes writing feel natural instead of daunting. Learn to listen to your instincts, shape your stories, and refine your timing without overthinking it. Whether you’re taking your first steps or sharpening your seasoned skills, this monthly workshop helps you build material, confidence, and stage presence.
Timing: First Sunday of the month
Requirements: none
Participants: 12-14
characters (TIER ii)
Throughout the course, you'll delve into techniques for crafting unique, multi-dimensional characters and bringing them to life on stage. Learn to explore and develop characters through their body, voice and energy. Discover how to adapt and evolve your characters in real-time, making them resonate deeply with your audience.
Timing: 12 weeks (Tuesdays 19:00-21:00)
Requirements: Tier I
Participants: 8-10
Showcase: The Bench
ACTING
Students will improve the use of their body, voice, and emotion to create authentic performances while working on a scripted monologue or two-people scene. We will cultivate imagination, discover personal truth, and embrace vulnerability as powerful tools for acting. Personal feedback and coaching from diverse directors will be offered along the journey.
Timing: 12 weeks (Tuesdays 17:00-19:00)
Requirements: none
Participants: 10
Showcase: monologues / scenes
ARTS & CRAFTS
Start your morning by stepping into a creative space. Explore the craft of the day (drawing, stitching, building, painting, and more!) as you follow curiosity instead of expectations. This bi-weekly gathering is a gentle invitation to create, play, and reconnect with the simple joy of making something just because it feels good.
Timing: Every other Tuesday (11:00-13:00)
Requirements: none
Participants: 10
Meet Your Facilitators
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Founder / School Director
Rocío is a dynamic Spanish improviser based in Valencia, where she wears multiple hats as director, producer, and performer at VIP (Valencia Improv Playground). She is also the "benevolent" head-master of VIP School of Improv.
Her improv journey kicked off in Slovenia nearly a decade ago, performing in English—a challenge that fueled her passion for the international improv scene across Europe and beyond. She found a community of like-minded and open-hearted people in improv, and she is never looking back!
Inexplicably funny, emotionally available and introvertedly social, Rocío loves exploring the unknown through acceptance, trust, storytelling, a million resources and alternative dimensions of reality - whether it implies comedy, longform, freeform, abstract, sensitive improv or life. She's co-founded several groups to explore everything from abstract and sensitive improv to feminist comedy, always pushing the boundaries of what's possible on stage.
With a Master’s in Applied Theater, Rocío loves using spontaneous creativity not just for entertainment, but also as a powerful tool to facilitate workshops about personal development, learning, problem solving, etc.
When she's not transforming lives through improv, she’s enjoying the company of her two Slovenian cats, who are undoubtedly as quirky as their owner.
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Teacher
Catalina is a proud graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, holds a performing arts BFA from CSUS and has a Masters in applied theater. She’s spent the last 12 years as a theater dynamo, mostly dazzling audiences as an actress. She has acted in more than 40 plays and she's also ventured into IMPROV, stand-up, set/costume design, puppetry, dance and stage combat—a true theatre nerd.
Creative and hilarious, Catalina is basically a bitch- meaning playful and loving like a female dog.
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Teacher
Adrià has been performing on the screen and on the stage, nationally and internationally, for several years now. His jello physicality encourages him to focus mainly on character creation, getting inspired mostly by the body. His "full send" attitude forces him to wear, while improvising, thick safety knee pads. Even though he has never broken a bone in his whole life, he flexes them uncontrollably. And, not so surprising, his biggest inspirations are the tube man and renaissance baby angels.
The Playground is performing arts community that specialises in both scripted and unscripted theatre — all in English! Our holistic approach to learning encourages our members develop the body awareness and emotional intelligence needed to unleash their creativity and approach life and the stage with more ease and flow.
We focus on building trust, generosity and confidence while fostering a community that is playful, creative and open-minded.
For us, a safe environment means pure freedom to explore—so come laugh, learn, connect and let your imagination run wild with us!
Our Philosophy
Don’t take our word for it… here’s what our Members are saying!
“I love the focus on long form improv, it is often neglected in other communities I’ve been in!”
“Learning improv has impacted me really positively. I spend a lot of time in my head. During and after the classes I catch a break from that.”
“I enjoy the workshops a lot because they bring an outside perspective and do a deep dive into one very specific topic that we normally don’t get a chance to cover in a regular course. ”
“It’s really not as scary as one might think!”
“I feel like these courses have made me a better improvisor in both work and in life.”
“Do it! It’s great! It’s so multifaceted, it gets you out of your head, teaches you techniques to listen better and connect in many ways. ”