William Hall is an actor, director, trainer and mask maker.
In 1986, my friend Rebecca Stockley turned to me and said, “I’ve written a cool story. Guess what it’s about?”
So I guessed.
For the next ten minutes, I offered characters, plot twists, surprises, and possible endings. Eventually, we reached the end. It was clear the story was over.
Rebecca asked, “How did you like the story?”
I said, “It was good.”
Then she said a phrase that seemed to slow down time:
“Do you know who really wrote that story?”
And then she revealed the technique. There had been no finished story. I had created it as I guessed.
That moment changed my life.
I realized that stories are already inside us. They don’t always have to be dragged out, polished up, or wrestled into shape. Sometimes they appear when we are playing, listening, taking a leap, and saying yes to the next idea.
That discovery led me to Keith Johnstone’s Impro, and from there into a lifelong adventure in improvisation, performance, teaching, and human connection.
I co-founded BATS Improv in San Francisco in 1986, where I still teach and perform. Over the years, I’ve had the joy of teaching and performing improv around the world, including Theatresports, Gorilla Theater, Maestro, and The Life Game.
I also co-founded Fratelli Bologna, a Commedia dell’Arte company that spent more than a decade writing and performing original comedies. We brought masks, mischief, physical comedy, and a deeply interactive performance style to the stage—and eventually into business theater and training throughout Silicon Valley.
That theatrical spirit is still at the heart of my work today.
I work with major corporations around the world on innovation, leadership, collaboration, communication, and storytelling. I have also been part of a teaching team at Stanford Graduate School of Business for a course on power and status.
Along the way, I’ve appeared in a few feature films, written a book of improv games, and built a site for performers and teachers. The Playbook: Improv Games for Performers has become a trusted resource for many improvisers, and ImprovGames.com is where I continue to share games and activities for the classroom, rehearsal room, and stage.
At the center of all my work is a simple belief: people are more creative, connected, and capable than they think. Sometimes all it takes is a game, a question, a story, or a little theatrical permission to discover what’s already waiting to come alive.