Hi friends,

Thanks for subscribing (you probably subscribed to my Substack feed, I am now using Buttondown for all platforms). I'm Julien (helloooo), and this is where I share my tips, stories, musings about improv, theatre and many other topics that I’m keen about (food, traveling, mental health, quirky events, table tennis amongst others).

You can expect random updates (but I’ll try every week). I'll share projects, tips, exercises, applied improv topics, and pictures taken in Paris.

• My first update : I’m going to teach two improv workshops in the upcoming French improv festival in Nancy city (near Paris) in late April. I am very proud of this because I performed there only once last year (with my stage partner Léandre in a show called Digressions), and they accepted us again, only this time on the main stage! And we both have the honour of teaching two workshops on top of our performance, which we call “Digressions+” because Léandre’s real-life partner Laetitia is joining us (as she often does for festivals). You can follow our adventures on the FB page or the Instagram account. We sometimes perform in English (we did it for the 2025 edition of the Belfast Improv Festival).

• My second update : I wrote my first one-person show about my 15 years of adventures in China. It’s called Not Made in China. I am nervous about it, but proud of the work and my director Arnaud Pierre. I have booked my favourite Parisian under-50-seat theatre (La Comédie des 3 Bornes) for a show on June 3rd, 7:30pm. It’ll be in French, and if you want tickets, let me know.

My first improv tip: DO NOT CARE SO MUCH ABOUT IT.

It’s easy to be addicted to improv (I know I am) but putting too much pressure on yourself is going to ruin the first reason why you joined the cult — FUN. So relax, and enjoy the ride. But wait, what? How can I LOOOOOVE something so much and NOT CARE TOO MUCH about it? Well, my friends, this is to me called CONTENTMENT. Yes I sometimes like all caps.

CONTENTMENT is to be satisfied with things as they are, because you recognise them as intrinsically good for you, and you do not need more. It’s the perfect amount and appreciation of what is offered to you through your words and actions.

Before an important show, after a crappy class, during a strange performance you’re watching, just care about it the perfect amount. Sit back, breathe, relax, and find that sweet contentment spot so as to enjoy the true nature of improv… 

I hope to grow this newsletter so feel free to email me back for anything you’d like to read. I hope to share my experience as an improviser and improv coach of 15+ years (in China and France mainly). I am also eager to question everything and learn from others.

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That’s all for now,

Thanks for reading on,

Julien.