About William Hall and The Playbook Team

The History of the Playbook

When we put together BATS Improv in San Francisco (1986), we started with Theatresports™ which is based on teamwork and alternating challenges.

It seemed that when we were in the moment of performing we reverted to just a few games (Speaking in Turn or In a (blank) with a (blank)). I wanted to collect different games in one place that could be used during performance and during workshops to remind us of all the variety improv has to offer. Improv is about risk....and the excitement of a ‘new’ game is thrilling.

It started as a few xeroxed pages stapled together and grew until we published it in 1988. Along the way all of the players and students at BATS Improv have contributed to The Playbook although none more than Paul Killam. Paul has been the co-editor of The Playbook since he arrived in San Francisco from Seattle. His influence and good sense is throughout the book. This is the 7th edition of The Playbook.

I also wanted a way to deliver the theories of Improv that have been so important to me. There is a little bit of advice on almost every page of the Playbook.

The irony is that Improv theatre is terrible if it’s only game-based. It’s like an evening of party games or college drinking games. The games are good for variety but they’re rarely enough for a full evening of satisfying theatre for an audience.

The Playbook offers an improv group a common language and an improv reference point. When you see so many games, it makes you create new ones. It’s inspiring.

The Playbook offers improv teachers a large source of games to build lesson plans and inspire students.

Valerie Weak
Director of Education Outreach*

Valerie Weak is an actor and theater educator.

Recent stage work includes Macbeth in Macbeth for Woman's Will, and Viola in Twelfth Night for North Bay Shakespeare.

As an educator, she teaches and directs teens and young people for El Cerrito's Contra Costa Civic Theater and the California Shakespeare Theater.

Valerie's on-camera and voiceover work includes commercials and industrials for clients such as On-Lok Lifeways, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, and Ghiradelli Chocolates.

•Working to get the Playbook into training schools, theaters, High Schools and Colleges

William Hall
Author & Editor

William is an actor, director, trainer and mask maker.

In 1986 his friend Rebecca Stockley said, “I’ve written a cool story, guess what it’s about?” After about 10 minuets William had guessed the whole story. When she revealed that he had written the story with his guesses…William’s life changed. He realized that there were stories in all of us and that storytelling could be effortless.

He worked with a few brave folks in San Francisco and started BATS Improv. Today BAT Improv is a thriving improv community with a 200-seat theatre, a full-time staff and a spirit of growth and exploration that make it a great place for actors, students and audiences.

He’s performed and taught improv all over the world and even directed The Life Game© in Lodz, Poland. He has been in a few movies, TV shows and commercials.

His company Fratelli Bologna designs and delivers improvisational based training. Fratelli Bologna helps people use the power of theater to tell their stories through trade shows, training and conference.

Theatresports™ and The Lifegame© were created by Keith Johnstone.