This is a fantastic game from Augusto Boal with additional variations from Patti Styles. Everyone in pairs, facing each other at a 2 metre distance or so. One person raises one of their hands so their palm faces the other person. The second person looks at the palm of the first person’s hand. The first[…]
A fun exercise to help improvisers to explore their environment in scenes. Start a scene from suggestion. Before a new line is said the improvisers must establish a new object in the scene either by miming, activity or mentioning it. The teacher/director may have to remind them to put in the objects. For instance: Audience[…]
Teaches object work on stage. Everyone sat in a circle. Four people mime an object to the person next to them. The person next to them then picks the mimed object up, uses it in a slightly different way, and then passes it on to the person next to them. When all four objects have[…]
An exercise for establishing location/where of the scene through object and space work. Teacher gets a suggestion for a location, for example an office. First improvisers goes up and mimes one object in the office and interacts with it, for instance a photocopier, then leaves the stage. Second improviser gets up and interacts with the[…]
A simple name game and get to know you game. Everyone in a circle. Take it in turns to say your name and your favourite life hack or little life tip. For instance “Hi everyone I’m Steve, and my life hack is to eat pak choi as it full of nutrients and fixes everything.”
A fun way to end a workshop or rehearsal. Everyone stood in a circle. Anybody at any time says something they remembered and enjoyed about the session. Everyone else shouts “yeah” and mimes throwing that thing into a cauldron into the middle of the circle. Everyone else takes turns throwing their favourite memories into the[…]
This is probably one of the most popular warm up games ever. The whole group stand in one massive circle. Level 1: One person says “Bunny Bunny” while miming bunny ears with their hands to themself, and then says “Bunny Bunny” again while miming bunny hands pointing to someone else in the circle. The person[…]
This is a great game for practicing Yes And, especially for beginners. Two improvisers. Both of them are working for a TV Shopping Channel and they are selling a product live to the audience. Each line starts with “That’s Right Bob” or any other name, and they are going line by line accepting and building[…]
This is a lovely game to get the group connected together and supporting each other. It also teaches giving up control on stage and finding offers from what’s happening around you. A group of around 5 improvisers enter the stage and take a formation as if they are a professional dance outfit about to compete[…]
This is a lovely game to get the group connected together and supporting each other. It also teaches giving up control on stage. A group of around 5 improvisers stand in formation on stage as if they are doing a Tai Chi class. They are all facing the same direction. Whoever is in front moves[…]
This is a fantastic exercise for bringing together a new group and helping each other get to know each other through scenes. It is also excellent at encouraging trust, support and teamwork in a group. This game also helps people to learn how to bring their scene partner joy on stage and to make each[…]
This game is really good for teaching immediate support and agreement on stage. It teaches the spirit of improvisation, it’s not necessarily how you would start every scene and game. 5 people are on the sides of the stage. One person steps on stage and says and does something that immediately establishes a location or[…]