Arnie Description A remake of a famous film where every character is played by Arnie. Example Film suggestion: Harry Potter Improviser A (Hagrid): UH, you are a wizard Harry Improviser B (Harry): OH, I will kill Voldemort Improviser C (Voldemort): You think you can kill me, but I’ll be back. Teaching Purpose Commitment Bold choices[…]
Agony Aunt Description A word-at-a-time game. Ask the audience what problems they are having. The players respond to the problem a word at a time, as one Agony Aunt. Example Problem: “My housemate won’t clean their dishes, they just leave them in the sink!” Improviser A: Dear Improviser B: Derek, Improviser C: Your Improviser A:[…]
Toaster Description All the players duck down, and the host claps or says “toast up”. Whoever jumps up does a scene. Host claps or says “toast down”, and the players duck down. This repeats, and whoever jumps up does another scene. If the same players pop up, they can play the same characters as in[…]
Netflix & Chill Description In this game, there is a couple watching Netflix. The other players act out the programmes/films. They pause and comment on the programmes, making suggestions of new shows to watch or getting suggestions from the audience. Variations Exflix & Chill – if you have fewer players, the viewer can have recently[…]
Instruction Manual Die Description Inspired by Storyteller Die, the players get a a suggestion of an object that wouldn’t normally come with an instruction manual. One player gives the chapter title (e.g. The History of OBJECT), and points at the players in the line. When pointed at, the players must continue what the previous player[…]
Pan Left Description A game of changing channels through TV. 4-6 actors on stage in a square like formation. Two actors near front of stage. Remaining actors are lined up along back of stage. Whatever two actors are at front is the scene we see at that time. When the host says “PAN LEFT” all[…]
Underscore Description Two actors on stage. They perform a scene in silence, no words or sound effects from them just movement and physical interaction. The scene is underscored by the host using movie sound tracks or other music played over the pa system. The actors match the emotion of the music and use the music[…]
Honkasaurus Rex Description This game is basically the same as New Choice but instead of the host shouting “New Choice” three members of the audience on the front row honk horns whenever they want and that makes the actors change their last line. For more details please see the New Choice page. Show Introduction[…]
New Choice / Change Description 2 improvisers up on stage. Whenever the director/host shouts “New Choice” (or “Change”) they have to change the last thing they said and then go along with that change in the scene. There may be multiple new choices in a row. Example Derek: Hello I’ve come to clean your windows.[…]
Move On Description About 5 – 8 improvisers line up along back of the stage. Two jump forwards and start an improvised scenes from suggestion. The director/host at some point shouts “move on, keep….” and then says something they have spotted from that scene to inspire the next scene. The original two people go to[…]
Hoopla are the UK’s first improv theatre with fun and friendly shows, courses and classes every day of the week in London and across the UK. Improv Exercise Example Description Work in progress. Helpful improv things coming soon. Work in progress. Helpful improv things coming soon. Work in progress. Helpful improv things coming soon. Work[…]
In addition to our own improv blog we also recommend the following: Hoopla’s Improv Blog Chris Mead, Hoopla teacher: https://www.chrismead.co/blog Katy Schutte, Hoopla teacher: http://www.katyschutte.co.uk/improvblog Will Hynes, Improv Nonsense Blog: http://improvnonsense.tumblr.com/ Jimmy Carane: http://jimmycarrane.com/blog/ Mick Napier, Annoyance Theatre: http://micknapier.com/blog/ Patti Styles: http://pattistiles.com/category/impro-blog/ The Phoenix Remix: https://thephoenixremix.com/ Stephen Davidson: https://impromiscuous.com/blog/ People and Chairs: https://peopleandchairs.com/ Dan Goldstein:[…]