Building Characters: Creating Memorable Personas in Improv

The magic of improv lies in its spontaneity, but the heart of a truly great scene is a memorable character. Whether it's a nervous chaiwala on his first day or a world-weary grandmother from South Delhi, strong characters are the anchors that make our stories believable and engaging. But how do you create a person out of thin air?

It Starts with a Choice

Creating a character isn't about inventing a complex backstory in your head. It's about making one simple, strong choice and sticking to it. This choice can be physical, emotional, or based on a point of view. The rest of the character will reveal itself as you play the scene.

"Don't try to be interesting. Just be specific. A character who loves rainy days is more interesting than a character who is 'quirky'. Specificity is your best friend on stage."

— Sneha Patel, Delhi Improv Circle

Lead with the Body

Often, the quickest way into a character is through physicality. Before you even say a word, your body can tell the audience who you are. Try adopting a simple physical trait and see how it informs your character.

Exploring Physicality:

• Posture: Are you slumped over like a tired IT professional in Bangalore, or do you have the ramrod straight posture of a retired army colonel from Pune?
• Walk: Do you scurry like a busy shopkeeper in Chandni Chowk, or do you saunter with the slow, deliberate pace of a Goa local?
• Gesture: A character might constantly adjust their glasses, wring their hands, or use grand, sweeping gestures like a Bollywood director.

Find Their Voice

Your voice is another powerful tool for character creation. It's not about doing funny accents, but about finding a vocal quality that fits the persona.

• Pace: Does your character speak quickly and excitedly, or slowly and thoughtfully?
• Pitch: Is their voice high and chirpy, or low and gravelly?
• Volume: Do they whisper, or do they boom for everyone to hear?

A simple shift, like speaking slightly faster than you normally would, can completely change how you and your scene partner perceive your character.

What is Their Point of View (POV)?

Every great character has a strong point of view. This is their unique filter on the world. What do they love? What do they hate? What do they desperately want in this scene?

A character's POV is their engine. A person who believes that "all modern music is just noise" will react very differently at a concert than someone who believes "music is the key to life."

Examples of POV:

• "Cleanliness is the most important thing in the world."
• "I deserve to be treated like royalty."
• "Technology is fascinating and I must understand how everything works."

Common Character Traps

As you practice, watch out for these common pitfalls:

• Playing Yourself: It's easy to fall back on your own habits. Make a conscious choice to be someone different.
• Stereotypes: Avoid playing broad, offensive caricatures. Find the human truth in your character instead.
• The 'Gag' Character: A character built on one joke gets boring fast. A funny walk is a great start, but what else is going on with them?

Putting It All Together

The best way to develop characters is to play. In our workshops, we use exercises like "Character Walk," where you explore different physicalities, or "Day in the Life," where you monologue as a character to discover their unique perspective.

The next time you step on stage, don't worry about being clever or funny. Instead, pick a simple physical trait or a strong point of view. Let your body and voice follow. Your scene partner will see your choice, say "Yes, and..." to it, and together, you'll discover who this person is. Before you know it, a memorable character will have come to life, all because you made one simple choice.