WORKSHOP

In the Spirit of Ghibli

Studio Ghibli films transport us to worlds full of wonder, rich creativity, and unforgettable characters. This workshop explores how improvisers can recreate the magic of Ghibli on an improv stage through dedicated environmental scene-painting and sound-painting, movement, cooperation, no-dialogues, and fun exploration. A story where exploring the world and the beings that inhabit that world is the plot that drives the silent narrative. Participants will train:

• Worldbuilding: skills to create scenes that balance between the mundane and the fantastical by accepting, collaborating and exploring. Creating texture, sounds and places with their bodies, actions and movement

• Character work: exploring their physicality and creating individual and collective creatures that exist beyond our imagination through simple mechanics

• Diffuse awareness and acute listening: skills to be able to transition between the scenes, understand the heart of the scene, and follow the group smoothly

• The magic of silent improv: rich scene work and object work, leaving aside the need for storytelling and creating from a place of exploration and joy.

From the daily whimsy of My Neighbor Totoro to the emotional depth of Spirited Away, we will explore as artists themes of curiosity, transformation, and the extraordinary hidden in everyday life.

In the Spirit of Ghibli is a chance for participants to explore a more poetic improv. Perfect for improvisers who want to slow down their mind, embrace trust and discovery, co-explore with others, and create breathtaking, dreamlike scenes filled with heart and wonder.

SITE SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE

In the Spirit of Ghibli

This show embarks us on a journey to the magical hidden dimensions that exist in our world, in the pure style of a Ghibli movie. We will follow a character in pursuit of an encounter with their totem animal, jumping back and forth between reality and fantasy, discovering the day-to-day life of fantastic worlds inhabited by mystic creatures, and the magical elements inside our everyday reality.

Any place in Tolfa can be a portal to the magical world of Ghibli, will you dare to pick through it?

BIO

With over a decade of experience, Rocío Barquilla is a passionate improv performer, educator, and director at The VLC Playground, where she teaches and performs regularly as a permanent cast member. She oversees The VLC Playground School of Improv and teaches advanced students about storytelling and scene work. Holding a Master’s in Applied Theater, Rocío extends her expertise beyond the stage, using improvisation to teach public speaking, languages, personal development, and a variety of applied workshops across different fields. Her approach blends technique, creativity, and playfulness, making improv accessible and transformative for all. She’s been part of a few international improv festivals and in 2026 she became the Artistic Director of Narrativa Improv Festival in Valencia. She has two Slovenian cats, a passion for Japan since she was a child, and an introverted interest in humans.