At Improving Playfully, we believe that the best learning happens when we feel safe, respected, and free to experiment. To maintain this environment, all participants, instructors, and guests are expected to follow this Code of Conduct.

1. The Core Principle: “Yes, And…”

We practice the fundamental rule of improvisation: accept what is offered and build upon it. This applies not just to our exercises, but to how we treat one another’s ideas, backgrounds, and boundaries.

2. Respect and Inclusivity

We are committed to providing a harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, race, age, religion, or technical ability.

Take care of yourself: You know yourself best. We ask you to communicate your needs and boundaries to the facilitator (or the group, if you are comfortable) so we can make informed decisions. This includes anything that could influence your safety or participation – such as physical injuries, medical conditions, or neurodivergence.

• Physical limits: Please be mindful of any injuries. Your long-term health is more important than any single improv scene.

• “No” is a complete sentence: You have permission to say no to any exercise or interaction, for any reason, without justification. Saying “no” to something might be saying “yes” to yourself.

Take care of your fellow improvisers: The safety of the “play space” is a shared responsibility. We look out for one another so that everyone feels bold enough to take risks.

• Be kind: Harassment, exclusionary jokes, or discriminatory language have no place in our workshops.

• Be mindful: Be aware of the space you take up and ensure others have the opportunity to contribute.

• Be respectful: Respect other people’s time and boundaries. Believe them when they share their limits, feelings, or a “no.” There is no need to ask “why” or try to persuade them otherwise.
• Our workshops are not your personal dating pool: It’s normal to want to connect and make friends – we encourage that, actually. However, be mindful that everyone is here to play and learn in a vulnerable space. Please do not use the workshops or our community contact lists to make unwanted romantic or sexual advances. If a fellow improviser is not reciprocating your interest, respect their space immediately and keep the focus on the work.

3. Psychological and Physical Safety

Play requires vulnerability. To protect this:

• Consent is key: Always ask for consent before initiating physical contact during an exercise. You have the right to opt-out of any activity at any time, no questions asked.

• Physical touch: There is to be no lifting, pushing, pulling of limbs, or dragging of fellow players in any session. These actions are prohibited unless they are specifically allowed and explicitly stated otherwise by the students involved in the moment.
  Jams and Drop-ins: In our jams and drop-in sessions, the default is no touching. If you do not know your scene partner or have not explicitly agreed on physical contact, please maintain physical distance.

• What happens here stays here: To encourage open play, we ask that specific personal stories or vulnerable moments shared in the room are kept confidential. You are welcome to share what you learned, but please respect the privacy of your fellow players.

4. Professional Integrity and Flexibility

• Punctuality: Play depends on the group. Please arrive on time so we can start our sessions together.

• Attendance & Make-up Sessions: We understand that life happens, especially with shift work (like 2-2-3 schedules) or unexpected conflicts. If you have to miss your regular class, we offer the courtesy of switching to another group during the same week or a subsequent week to make up the session.

• Coordination: Please coordinate any make-up sessions with the facilitator in advance. This ensures we can maintain a safe and comfortable group size for everyone in the room.

• Data privacy: We handle your personal information, including your email and kennitala, with strict confidentiality as outlined in our Privacy Policy. We expect participants to respect the contact details of others and not use them for unsolicited promotion.

5. Reporting and Accountability

If you feel unsafe, witness a violation of this code, or have any concerns, please speak to Teja or Gareth directly or email info@improving-playfully.com. You can also submit a report through our online form.

• All reports will be handled with discretion and a focus on the safety of the affected party.

• We reserve the right to remove any participant from a workshop, without a refund, if they consistently or severely violate this Code of Conduct.