Knife Throwing Description In a circle one person throws a “knife” to someone else. They catch the knife by clapping it in their hands, and throw it to someone else. Subscribe to Our Newsletter If you would like to receive our monthly newsletter containing helpful improv resources, casting calls for new shows and news[…]
Copy Dance Description Split the group into groups of around 5. In 5 minutes they pick a song they all know, practice singing it and create a dance routine. After 5 minutes each group performs, and after each performance another group gets up and copies the routine they’ve just watched. Teaching Purpose Used to teach[…]
Late for Work Description One player leaves the room. The host gets suggestions of why they were late for work, how they got there, and what their job is. When the person re-enters they apologise to their boss, while trying to guess the reasons suggested. The rest of the improvisers play their colleagues, and mime[…]
Zip Zap Zop Description Everyone stands in a circle. With a lot of energy the first person passes a “zip” across to someone else in the circle, that person then passes a “zap” to someone else, they pass a “zop”. Continue repeating and passing zip zap zop. It’s inevitable at some point you’ll “zip” a[…]
Xylophone Description We don’t actually know about a game called Xylophone, we just didn’t have anything to put under “X”. If you have any games please let us know! Subscribe to Our Newsletter If you would like to receive our monthly newsletter containing helpful improv resources, casting calls for new shows and news about[…]
3 Line Scenes Description A nice introduction to doing scenes. In two rows, people go pair by pair and do scenes with a total of three lines. Either one starts, the other responds, and the first person responds to that. The rest of the group enthusiastically applaud the pair. Variations Later on in the course[…]
Stop, Shuffle, Walk, Drop Description Everyone walks around the room. When the director says “stop” everyone stops, if they say “drop” they drop down and touch the floor. “Walk” means they start walking, “shuffle”, they shuffle along. After a while the director stops shouting out and the group start shouting out. Then nobody shouts out,[…]
Is There Any More? Description In pairs one person does a sound and action, their partner asks if there is any more and they say yes and increase the sound/action. Example Simon – does small sound and action Tamara – That’s great! Simon – Thank you Tamara – Is there anymore? Simon – Yes! Escalates[…]
8 Things Description Everyone stands in a circle. Someone jumps in to the middle and is given a category. They say 8 things from that category, and after each one the rest of the group counts and supports the idea enthusiastically. They don’t need to be correct, they could be unrelated or imaginary. Example Gary[…]
Character Bench Description Five actors sat in a row. They are all the same character type, for instance they all went to school together or they all were in a space station together. Teacher asks them questions which they answer, and they all agree with the first answer rather than distract from it. Improvisers encourage[…]
Piece of Cheese Description In a circle one person jumps in and stands in the shape of cheese and says “I’m a piece of cheese”. Someone else jumps in with something obvious that goes with that offer (“I’m a cracker”), another person adds to it and creates a united picture (“I’m a glass of wine”).[…]
Synchronised Clapping Description Everyone stood in a circle. Two people next to each other turn and face and clap at the same time. One turns to the next person, and they also clap at the same time. This continues around the circle. If people clap twice it changes the direction, and people can also clap[…]