This encyclopaedia features over 500 drama games, carefully curated to inspire drama, theatre, and performing arts teachers and their students. Whether you’re looking to energise a classroom, spark new ideas for a rehearsal, or dive into the playful world of improvisation, these games offer endless opportunities for learning, laughter, and connection. Each game includes goals, ability level (beginner, intermediate, advanced), rules, and skills. Enjoy!
Last update on 2026-03-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
A Day in The Life
Goal: To facilitate the practice of storytelling, character development, and ensemble work by constructing a sequence of interconnected scenes that collectively portray a day in the life of a single character.
Level: Intermediate
Rules:
- Participants must generate a series of interconnected scenes that depict various moments in a day of a designated character’s life.
- Each scene focuses on a different facet of the character’s life and personality.
- Participants will assume multiple roles throughout the exercise to enrich the main character’s narrative. This may include family members, friends, colleagues, or abstract entities like inner thoughts or emotions.
- The primary emphasis of this exercise is on storytelling, character development, and ensemble work. The collective efforts of the ensemble should aim to produce a dynamic, engaging sequence of scenes that provides a comprehensive insight into the main character.
- Continuity and consistency should be maintained throughout the scenes to ensure a coherent and plausible narrative structure.
Skills: Storytelling, Character Development, Ensemble Work, Creativity
Acapella
Goal: Practice vocal control, creativity, and teamwork by performing a song without musical accompaniment.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players collaborate to create and perform an original song without using musical instruments. Instead, players use their voices to create the melody, harmony, and rhythm. The focus should be on vocal control, creativity, and teamwork as players work together to create a cohesive and engaging musical performance.
Skills: Vocal control, creativity, teamwork, musicality
Accent Switch
Goal: Practice adaptability, vocal variety, and character development by switching accents within a scene.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene, each adopting a specific accent. A facilitator or another player can call out “switch,” prompting the players to switch accents with each other. Players must adapt to their new accents and incorporate them into their characters while maintaining a coherent and engaging scene.
Skills: Adaptability, vocal variety, character development, listening
Accepting Circle
Goal: To develop active listening, acceptance, and support within the group by reacting positively to each player’s contributions.
Level: Beginner
Rules: A group of players stands in a circle. One player starts by making a statement or sharing an idea, which can be real or fictional. The next player in the circle must respond with phrases such as “Yes, and…” or “I agree, and…” and build upon the initial statement, demonstrating acceptance and support. The game continues around the circle, with each player actively listening to and accepting the contributions of others, creating a positive and supportive environment.
Skills: Active listening, acceptance, support, cooperation
Act it Out
Goals: To encourage self-expression, develop acting skills, and promote creativity.
Level: Beginner
Rules: The teacher or facilitator prepares cards, each containing a word or phrase representing a character, action, or emotion. The children draw a card and act out the word or phrase without speaking. The rest of the group must guess the word or phrase based on the child’s performance. The game continues until all children have had a chance to act out a card.
Skills: Self-expression, acting, creativity, and non-verbal communication.
Action Figures
Goal: To practice physicality, adaptability, and creativity by performing a scene with players as action figures.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene like action figures, incorporating limited movement and exaggerated poses. The focus should be on physicality, adaptability, and creativity as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene.
Skills: Physicality, adaptability, creativity, ensemble work
Action Replay
Goal: To practice physicality, memory, and ensemble work by performing a scene and then recreating it exactly, including physical actions and dialogue.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene, paying close attention to their physical actions and dialogue. Once the scene is completed, they must recreate it exactly, including all physical actions and dialogue, as closely as possible to the original performance. The focus should be on physicality, memory, and ensemble work as players collaborate to recreate the scene precisely and accurately.
Skills: Physicality, memory, ensemble work, collaboration
Action Theatre
Goal: Practice physicality, character development, and ensemble work by performing exaggerated physical action scenes.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in which their characters engage in exaggerated physical action (e.g., fighting, dancing, acrobatics). The focus should be on physicality, character development, and ensemble work as players work together to create a dynamic, engaging scene showcasing their physical skills and creativity.
Skills: Physicality, character development, ensemble work
Actor’s Nightmare
Goal: To practice adaptability, quick thinking, and improvisation by integrating lines from a scripted play into an improvised scene.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene, with one player accessing a script from a published play. The scene begins with improvised dialogue, and at any point, the player with the script must integrate lines from the script into the scene. The other players must respond and adapt their dialogue and actions to incorporate the scripted lines, justifying their presence in the scene and maintaining the scene’s progression.
Skills: Adaptability, quick thinking, improvisation, justification
Adjective Scene
Goal: Explore character development and dialogue by focusing on adjectives describing the characters and their environment.
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene, each assigned a specific adjective by the facilitator or audience (e.g., grumpy, energetic, shy). Players must embody their assigned adjective throughout the scene, incorporating it into their dialogue, actions, and interactions with other characters. Players should explore how their adjective influences the scene and their relationships with other characters.
Skills: Character development, dialogue, exploration, interaction
Addicts Anonymous
Goal: To explore character work and create humorous situations by having players portray characters with bizarre addictions.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene set in an addict’s anonymous meeting. Each player portrays a character with a strange and humorous addiction. Players should interact and share their experiences, highlighting the absurdity of their addictions while maintaining a sincere commitment to their characters.
Skills: Character work, creativity, commitment, listening
Aerobics
Goal: To develop physicality, rhythm, and teamwork by leading and following an improvised aerobics class.
Level: Beginner
Rules: One player assumes the role of an aerobics instructor, while the others are the class participants. The instructor leads the class through improvised exercises and movements, with the participants following along in rhythm. The instructor should focus on creating engaging and fun movements, while participants should practice teamwork and active listening to follow the instructor’s directions.
Skills: Physicality, rhythm, teamwork, active listening
Alien Translator
Goals: To enhance communication skills, promote creativity, and develop problem-solving abilities.
Level: Beginner
Rules: The children form two lines facing each other. One line represents the “Aliens”, and the other represents the “Humans”. Each Alien is paired with a Human, creating several pairs of participants. The teacher or facilitator gives the Aliens a secret, nonsensical phrase or sound, which the Aliens then must “translate” to their Human partners using only gestures and body language. The Humans must attempt to decipher the Alien’s message and communicate it back to the Alien using the same gestures and body language. The game continues with new phrases and participants switching roles.
Skills: Non-verbal communication, creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork.
All in One Voice
Goal: To create a scene where multiple players speak in unison like one character.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players work together to portray a single character by speaking in unison. They must listen closely to each other and strive to match their words and timing to create the illusion that they are one person. The scene can involve other characters interacting with the “unified” character.
Skills: Listening, teamwork, commitment, character work
Alliterations
Goal: Practice language skills, creativity, and quick thinking by performing a scene using alliterations.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene where they must use alliterations in their dialogue. Each player is assigned a specific letter by the facilitator or audience, and all words they say should start with that letter. Players must think creatively to construct sentences and progress the scene while following the alliteration rule.
Skills: Language skills, creativity, quick thinking, dialogue creation
Alphabet Categories
Goal: To practice quick thinking, creativity, and focus by generating items related to a given category alphabetically.
Level: Beginner
Rules: A facilitator or audience member provides a category (e.g., types of fruit, animals, occupations). Players take turns generating items related to the category, starting with the letter ‘A’ and proceeding through the alphabet. The focus should be on quick thinking, creativity, and focus.
Skills: Quick thinking, creativity, focus, collaboration
Alphabet Soup
Goals: To enhance vocabulary, develop creativity, and promote quick thinking.
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Rules: The children sit or stand in a circle. The teacher or facilitator chooses a category (e.g., animals, food, or places). The first child says a word related to the category that starts with the letter ‘A’. The next child says a word related to the category, starting with the letter ‘B’, and so on. The game continues through the alphabet, with each child contributing a word corresponding to the next letter in sequence. If a child cannot think of a word, they can ask for help or the group can move on to the next letter.
Skills: Vocabulary, creativity, quick thinking, and communication.
Alphabet Soup
Goal: To enhance listening skills, quick thinking, and dialogue creation while adhering to a specific structure.
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene where each line of dialogue must begin with the next consecutive letter of the alphabet. Players start with a given letter and proceed through the alphabet until they return to the starting letter. If a player cannot think of a line for a specific letter, the scene can either end or the facilitator can provide a suggestion.
Skills: Listening, quick thinking, dialogue creation, structure
Alphabet Telethon
Goal: To practice creativity and quick thinking by engaging in a game where players must create a telethon based on alphabet letters.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players take turns hosting a telethon, each new host focusing on a different alphabet letter. The host must develop a cause, items for sale, and any other telethon-related elements based on their assigned letter. The focus should be on creativity and quick thinking, as players must develop unique and engaging ideas on the spot.
Skills: Creativity, quick thinking, adaptability
Alternating Monologues
Goal: Practice character development, storytelling, and active listening by performing alternating monologues.
Level: Advanced
Rules: Two players take turns delivering monologues, with each monologue building on or responding to the other. Players must actively listen to their partner’s monologue and use the information provided to tell their character’s story. The focus should be on character development, storytelling, and active listening as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging series of monologues.
Skills: Character development, storytelling, active listening, ensemble work
American Idol
Goal: To develop improvisational singing, character work, and performance skills by participating in a singing competition.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player acts as the host of a singing competition, while two or more other players take on the roles of contestants, either assigned by the facilitator or created on the spot. The host introduces each contestant, who performs an improvised song in a specific style or genre. The host and audience can provide feedback or judge the performances, and players should focus on character work, vocal expression, and engaging stage presence.
Skills: Improvisational singing, character work, performance, vocal expression
Animal Kingdom
Goal: To explore character development and physicality by embodying various animals in a scene.
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene, each adopting the physicality, characteristics, and behaviours of a specific animal, which the facilitator or audience can assign. Players must interact with each other while maintaining their animal characteristics, exploring how the animals’ traits influence the scene and character relationships.
Skills: Character development, physicality, commitment, interaction
Animal Party
Goals: Encourage imaginative play, develop physical expression, and build social skills.
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Rules: The teacher or facilitator assigns each child an animal to portray. The children must then interact with each other while staying in character as their assigned animal, using gestures, movement, and sounds to communicate. The goal is for the children to explore the characteristics of their animals and engage in playful interactions with their peers.
Skills: Imagination, physical expression, communication, and social skills.
Animal Relay
Goals: Encourage physical activity, develop creativity, and promote friendly competition.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Divide the children into two teams and have them line up at one end of the room. The teacher or facilitator calls out an animal, such as a “frog” or “kangaroo”, and the first child in each team must race to a designated point and back, mimicking the movements of the called animal. Once the child completes the relay, they tag the next team member, who continues the race with a new animal movement. The game continues until all children have participated.
Skills: Physical activity, creativity, friendly competition, and coordination.
Arms Expert
Goal: To practice physicality, collaboration, and adaptability by performing a scene with one player providing another player’s arms.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player stands behind another player and provides their arms, while the front player provides the dialogue and facial expressions. The focus should be physicality, collaboration, and adaptability as players work together to create a cohesive and engaging scene.
Skills: Physicality, collaboration, adaptability, ensemble work
Artful Dodger
Goals: To promote physical activity, enhance coordination, and develop quick thinking.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Set up a playing area with various obstacles, such as cones, hoops, or beanbags. The children take turns navigating the obstacle course, trying to complete it as quickly and efficiently as possible. The rest of the group can cheer on their peers and offer advice on overcoming the obstacles. The game continues until all children have had a chance to complete the course.
Skills: Physical activity, coordination, quick thinking, and teamwork.
Artist Model Clay
Goal: Practice communication, listening, and collaboration by guiding a partner to create a specific pose or object through physical manipulation.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players form groups of three, with one player assuming the role of the “Artist,” another as the “Model,” and the third as the “Clay.” The Artist must guide the Model to pose or shape the Clay player into a specific form using only verbal instructions. The Model should carefully listen to the Artist’s directions and physically manipulate the Clay player accordingly. The goal is for the Artist to communicate, the Model to follow directions, and the Clay player to trust and cooperate with their partners.
Skills: Communication, listening, trust, collaboration
Asides
Goal: To develop the ability to express a character’s inner thoughts and emotions through brief monologues or asides.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene. At any point, one player can leave the scene and deliver an “aside” to the audience, sharing their character’s inner thoughts, feelings, or motivations. The other characters in the scene should not react to or acknowledge the aside. Players should use asides to provide insight into their character and further develop the story and relationships.
Skills: Monologues, character development, emotional expression, storytelling
Assassin
Goal: To practice observation, focus, and nonverbal communication by attempting to eliminate other players through subtle gestures.
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Rules: A group of players stands in a circle or moves around the space. One player is secretly designated as the “Assassin” by the facilitator. The Assassin must attempt to “eliminate” other players by making eye contact and giving them a subtle, pre-determined signal, such as a wink or a nod. When a player receives the signal, they must “die” dramatically after a few seconds. Players must observe and attempt to identify the Assassin before they eliminate everyone. If the Assassin is caught, the game starts over with a new Assassin.
Skills: Observation, focus, nonverbal communication, subtlety
Association Jump
Goal: To develop quick thinking and connect words by jumping from one-word association to another.
Level: Beginner
Rules: A group of players stands in a circle. One player starts by saying a word, and the next in the circle must immediately say a word associated with the previous word. However, the next player should “jump” to a new association instead of continuing with the same association. The game continues around the circle, with players alternating between making associations and jumping to new associations.
Skills: Quick thinking, word association, mental agility, focus
Audience Soundtrack
Goal: To enhance listening skills, incorporate audience participation, and adapt a scene based on external input.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene while the audience provides a soundtrack by humming or singing a tune, clapping, or making sound effects. The players must adapt the scene to fit the audience’s soundtrack’s tone, pace, and mood, using it to influence their actions and dialogue.
Backwards Scene
Goal: To practice storytelling, concentration, and adaptability by performing a scene in reverse order.
Level: Advanced
Rules: Players perform a scene starting from the ending and working their way back to the beginning. The focus should be on storytelling, concentration, and adaptability, as players work together to create a cohesive narrative while maintaining the reverse order.
Skills: Storytelling, concentration, adaptability, ensemble work
Backwards Interview
Goal: To develop listening, quick thinking, and creativity by conducting an interview in reverse order.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two players perform a scene as an interviewer and interviewee. Instead of a typical interview, the scene proceeds in reverse order, with the interviewee providing answers before the interviewer asks the corresponding questions. The interviewer must then create a question that fits the given answer. Players should focus on active listening, quick thinking, and justifying the answers with appropriate questions.
Skills: Listening, quick thinking, creativity, justification
Balladeer
Goal: To practice improvisational singing, storytelling, and collaboration by performing a ballad inspired by a given topic or situation.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player takes on the role of the “Balladeer,” while other players create a scene or situation based on a suggestion from the facilitator or audience. The Balladeer must create and perform an improvised ballad inspired by the scene, incorporating the characters, emotions, and story elements. The players in the scene should react and interact with the Balladeer’s performance, helping to shape the narrative and musical direction.
Skills: Improvisational singing, storytelling, collaboration, character development
Balloon Relay
Goals: To develop coordination, promote teamwork, and encourage friendly competition.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Divide the children into two teams and have them line up at one end of the room. Give the first child in each team a balloon. The children must race to a designated point and back, carrying the balloon between their knees without using their hands. If the balloon is dropped, the child must start over. Once the child completes the relay, they pass the balloon to the next team member, and the game continues until all children have completed the relay.
Skills: Coordination, teamwork, friendly competition, and physical activity.
Bar Pro
Goal: To explore character relationships and emotions in a bar setting, focusing on character-driven storytelling.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene set in a bar, with one player acting as the bartender and the others as patrons. Players should create characters with strong emotions, desires, or conflicts, and use the bar setting to explore these elements through dialogue and interaction. The bartender can act as a mediator, confidante, or catalyst for change, helping to guide and support the character development and storytelling.
Skills: Character development, emotional exploration, storytelling, interaction
Bartender
Goal: To practice giving and receiving advice, active listening, and character development by engaging in conversations as a bartender and patron.
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Rules: One player takes on the role of a bartender, while other players enter the scene as patrons with various problems or dilemmas. The bartender must listen to the patrons’ issues, provide advice or guidance, and engage in conversations that explore the characters’ emotions and relationships. Players should focus on active listening, empathy, and character-driven dialogue.
Skills: Active listening, giving and receiving advice, character development, empathy
Beatnik Poet
Goal: To develop improvisational poetry skills, performance, and creativity by performing an impromptu poem inspired by a given topic or situation.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player assumes the role of a “Beatnik Poet,” while other players create a scene or situation based on a suggestion from the facilitator or audience. The Beatnik Poet must create and perform an improvised poem inspired by the scene, incorporating the characters, emotions, and story elements. The poem should be performed in the style of beat poetry, with a focus on rhythm, imagery, and wordplay. The players in the scene should react and interact with the poet’s performance, helping to shape the narrative and poetic direction.
Skills: Improvisational poetry, performance, creativity, rhythm, wordplay
Big Blob
Goal: To encourage teamwork, communication, and adaptability by moving together as a cohesive unit.
Level: Beginner
Rules: A group of players forms a “blob” by connecting their bodies through physical contact. The players must then navigate around the space as a single unit, staying connected at all times. The facilitator can call out various challenges or obstacles for the blob to navigate, forcing players to communicate, adapt, and work together to maintain their connection and progress through the space.
Skills: Teamwork, communication, adaptability, physical coordination
Big Fish, Small Fish
Goal: To practice physicality, focus, and status dynamics by assuming the roles of “big fish” and “small fish.”
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players move around the space, alternating between the roles of “big fish” and “small fish.” When playing a big fish, players should embody a sense of confidence, power, and high status through their movement and posture. When playing a small fish, players should assume a more timid, low-status physicality. The facilitator can call out “big fish” or “small fish” to prompt players to switch roles or add challenges to explore status dynamics further.
Skills: Physicality, focus, status dynamics, character exploration
Bippety Bop
Goal: To develop quick thinking, focus, and concentration by responding to prompts and avoiding elimination.
Level: Beginner
Rules: A group of players stands in a circle, with one player in the center as the “caller.” The caller points to a player in the circle and says either “Bippety,” “Bop,” or “Bippety Bop.” If the caller says “Bippety,” the targeted player must respond with “Bop” before the caller says “Bop.” If the caller says “Bop,” the targeted player must remain silent. If the caller says “Bippety Bop,” the targeted player must respond with “Bippety Bop” before the caller finishes the phrase. If a player responds incorrectly or too slowly, they switch places with the caller.
Skills: Quick thinking, focus, concentration, reaction time
Black Box
Goal: To practice storytelling, adaptability, and creativity by using a “black box” filled with random objects to inspire a scene.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: A facilitator or audience member prepares a “black box” containing various random objects. Two or more players perform a scene, periodically pulling objects from the box and integrating them into the scene as props, plot devices, or character motivations. Players must think creatively and adapt their scene to incorporate the objects in a cohesive and engaging way.
Skills: Storytelling, adaptability, creativity, prop work
Blind Association Circle
Goal: To develop listening, quick thinking, and word association skills by responding to words in a circle without seeing the speaker.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players form a circle, then close their eyes or wear blindfolds. One player starts by saying a word, and the player to their left must immediately respond with a word associated with the previous word. The game continues around the circle, with players focusing on listening and quickly associating words without visual cues. If a player hesitates or repeats a word, they are out of the game, and the circle continues until only one player remains.
Skills: Listening, quick thinking, word association, focus
Blind Date
Goal: To practice character work and incorporate audience suggestions by portraying characters on a blind date.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two players perform a scene as characters on a blind date. Before the scene begins, the audience provides suggestions for each character’s personality, quirks, or traits. Players must incorporate these suggestions into their characters while reacting to and interacting with each other.
Skills: Character work, incorporation of audience suggestions, listening, commitment
Blind Dubbing
Goal: To practice listening, adaptability, and ensemble work by performing a scene in which players provide the dialogue for other players who cannot hear them.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two players perform a scene without speaking, while two other players provide the dialogue for them. The performing players wear headphones or earplugs so they cannot hear the dialogue being spoken for them. The focus should be on listening, adaptability, and ensemble work, as the players providing the dialogue must create a cohesive and engaging scene based on the physical actions of the performing players.
Skills: Listening, adaptability, ensemble work, collaboration
Blind Freeze
Goal: To practice focus, quick thinking, and adaptability by jumping into a frozen scene and creating a new one.
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Rules: Two players start a scene, and at any point, another player calls out “freeze.” The players in the scene immediately freeze their positions, and the player who called “freeze” taps one of the frozen players on the shoulder, takes their exact position, and starts a new scene inspired by the frozen position. The game continues with players freezing and replacing one another, creating new scenes based on the frozen positions.
Skills: Focus, quick thinking, adaptability, physicality
Blind Line
Goal: To enhance listening skills, incorporate suggestions, and justify unexpected lines within a scene.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Before the scene begins, the audience or facilitator provides several random lines of dialogue. These lines are then scattered on the floor or placed in a hat. Two or more players start a scene and, at any point, must pick up a line (or draw from the hat) and immediately incorporate it into the scene, justifying its presence within the context of the scene.
Skills: Active listening, incorporation of suggestions, justification, adaptability
Blind Musical
Goal: To develop improvisational singing, trust, and active listening by performing a musical scene while blindfolded.
Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Rules: Two or more players perform a musical scene while wearing blindfolds. Players must rely on their listening skills, trust in their partners, and nonverbal communication to navigate the scene and create improvised songs. Players should focus on establishing strong relationships, clear objectives, and engaging musical moments to create a cohesive and engaging scene.
Skills: Improvisational singing, trust, active listening, nonverbal communication
Blind Sculptor
Goal: To practice communication, listening, and trust by guiding a “blind” partner to create a pose or object through physical manipulation.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players pair up, with one player assuming the role of the “Sculptor” and the other as the “Clay.” The Clay player closes their eyes, and the Sculptor must guide them to create a specific pose or shape using only verbal instructions and gentle physical manipulation. The goal is for the Sculptor to communicate clearly and effectively while the Clay player trusts and follows their partner’s guidance.
Skills: Communication, listening, trust, collaboration
Blindfold Walk
Goals: To develop trust, enhance listening skills, and promote teamwork.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Divide the children into pairs. One child in each pair is blindfolded, while the other child becomes their guide. The guide must lead their blindfolded partner around the room or a designated obstacle course, using only verbal instructions. The blindfolded child must listen carefully and rely on their partner’s guidance to navigate the space. After a set amount of time, the roles are switched, and the game continues.
Skills: Trust, listening, teamwork, and communication.
Blindfolded Cooking Show
Goal: To practice teamwork, communication, and creativity by performing a mock cooking show with one player blindfolded.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player is blindfolded and acts as the chef, while the other players act as assistants, describing the ingredients and tools needed for the recipe. The focus should be on teamwork, communication, and creativity, as players work together to create an entertaining and engaging cooking show.
Skills: Teamwork, communication, creativity
Blindfolded Dress Up
Goal: To practice non-verbal communication, trust, and teamwork by dressing up a blindfolded partner using only non-verbal cues.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players work in pairs, with one player blindfolded and the other player tasked with dressing them up using a variety of props and costumes. The sighted player must guide the blindfolded player through the process using only non-verbal cues, such as gestures or touch. Players should focus on building trust and teamwork as they navigate this non-verbal challenge.
Skills: Non-verbal communication, trust, teamwork
Blindfolded Make-Up Challenge
Goal: To practice trust, communication, and teamwork by applying makeup to a partner while blindfolded.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players work in pairs, with one player applying makeup to their partner while blindfolded. The partner receiving the makeup can give verbal directions but cannot physically assist. The focus should be on trust, communication, and teamwork, as players work together to create a final makeup look.
Skills: Trust, communication, teamwork
Blindfolded Obstacle Course
Goal: To practice trust, communication, and teamwork by guiding a blindfolded partner through an obstacle course using verbal instructions.
Level: Advanced
Rules: Players pair up, with one player in each pair blindfolded. The sighted player must guide their partner through an obstacle course using only verbal instructions. The focus should be on trust, communication, and teamwork as players work together to navigate the challenges of the course.
Skills: Trust, communication, teamwork
Blindfolded Scene
Goal: To develop trust, active listening, and nonverbal communication by performing a scene while blindfolded.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene while wearing blindfolds. Without the benefit of visual cues, players must rely on their other senses, active listening, and nonverbal communication to navigate the scene. Players should focus on establishing strong relationships, clear objectives, and engaging dialogue to create a cohesive and engaging scene.
Skills: Trust, active listening, nonverbal communication, relationship-building
Blindfolded Treasure Hunt
Goal: To practice teamwork, communication, and trust by guiding a blindfolded teammate through an improvised treasure hunt.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player is blindfolded while their teammate guides them through an improvised treasure hunt using only verbal cues. The focus should be on teamwork, communication, and trust, as players work together to navigate the scene and find the treasure.
Skills: Teamwork, communication, trust
Blindfolded Yoga
Goal: To practice trust, communication, and physical awareness by guiding a partner through a yoga routine while blindfolded.
Level: Beginner
Rules: In pairs, one player is blindfolded and must follow the verbal instructions of their partner to perform a series of yoga poses. The focus should be on trust, communication, and physical awareness, as players work together to navigate the challenges of the exercise.
Skills: Trust, communication, physical awareness
Blob Tag
Goals: To encourage physical activity, develop teamwork, and enhance coordination.
Level: Beginner
Rules: One child is designated as “It” and attempts to tag other children in a designated play area. When a child is tagged, they join hands with “It”, forming a “blob”. The blob continues to grow as more children are tagged and join hands. The game continues until all children have been tagged and joined the blob. The last child to be tagged becomes “It” for the next round.
Skills: Physical activity, teamwork, coordination, and spatial awareness.
Body Hide
Goal: To practice object work, creativity, and spatial awareness by using a partner’s body as a prop or set piece.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two players perform a scene in which one player’s body serves as a prop or set piece, such as a piece of furniture, a vehicle, or an object. The other player interacts with the “prop” as they would with a real object, exploring creative ways to use the partner’s body to enhance the scene. Players should focus on spatial awareness, creativity, and commitment to the object work.
Skills: Object work, creativity, spatial awareness, commitment
Body Spelling
Goals: To promote physical activity, enhance literacy skills, and encourage teamwork.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Divide the children into small groups. The teacher or facilitator calls out a word, and the children in each group must work together to form the letters of the word using their bodies. The groups can use various body positions, shapes, and movements to create each letter. Once the word is completed, the teacher calls out a new word, and the game continues.
Skills: Physical activity, literacy, teamwork, and creativity.
Breaking News
Goal: To practice storytelling, creativity, and collaboration by improvising a breaking news segment.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players take on the roles of news anchors, reporters, and interviewees, as they create a breaking news story on the spot. The focus should be on storytelling, creativity, and collaboration, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging news segment.
Skills: Storytelling, creativity, collaboration, ensemble work
Bucket
Goal: To develop concentration, focus, and quick thinking by responding to prompts and avoiding elimination.
Level: Beginner
Rules: A group of players stands in a circle. One player holds a “bucket” (imaginary or real) and starts the game by passing it to a player on their left or right, saying either “in the bucket” or “out of the bucket.” If the player says “in the bucket,” the receiving player must name an item that would typically be found in a bucket (e.g., water, sand). If the player says “out of the bucket,” the receiving player must name an item that is not typically found in a bucket (e.g. elephant). If a player hesitates, repeats an item, or names an incorrect item, they are out of the game, and the circle continues until only one player remains.
Skills: Concentration, focus, quick thinking, categorisation
Build a Room
Goal: To develop teamwork, spatial awareness, and creativity by constructing an imaginary room with objects and interactions.
Level: Beginner
Rules: A group of players works together to create a room by miming the construction and placement of various objects, such as furniture, appliances, or decorations. Players must maintain spatial awareness, remembering where each object is placed and interacting with them accordingly. The room should be filled with objects that inspire interactions and relationships between the players.
Skills: Teamwork, spatial awareness, creativity, mime
Build a Story
Goals: To promote creativity, enhance storytelling skills, and encourage collaboration.
Level: Beginner
Rules: The children sit or stand in a circle. One child starts by saying the opening line of a story, such as “Once upon a time, in a magical forest…” The next child in the circle must continue the story by adding a sentence, building upon the previous statement. The game continues around the circle, with each child contributing a sentence to develop the story. The goal is to create a coherent and engaging narrative as a group.
Skills: Creativity, storytelling, collaboration, and communication.
Bunny
Goal: To develop focus, coordination, and quick thinking by performing a series of physical and verbal challenges in a circle.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players stand in a circle and take turns performing three actions in sequence: 1) point to someone in the circle and say “Bunny”; 2) put both hands to their own ears and say “Wap”; and 3) point their hands to the player on their left or right and say “Doo.” The next player repeats the sequence, with the goal of maintaining a consistent rhythm and avoiding mistakes. If a player hesitates, breaks the rhythm, or performs an action incorrectly, they are out of the game, and the circle continues until only one player remains.
Skills: Focus, coordination, quick thinking, rhythm
Cards
Goal: To practice adaptability, character development, and storytelling by creating a scene inspired by randomly drawn cards.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: A facilitator or audience member prepares a deck of cards with various character traits, emotions, or scene suggestions written on them. Two or more players draw cards and use the information on the cards to create and perform a scene, incorporating the character traits, emotions, or scene elements into the narrative. Players should focus on adapting their characters and storytelling to the drawn cards, exploring the connections and dynamics between the characters.
Skills: Adaptability, character development, storytelling, creativity
Card Status
Goal: To explore status dynamics and character relationships by assigning each player a “status” based on a randomly drawn card.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: A facilitator or audience member prepares a deck of cards, with each card representing a different status level (e.g., Ace = high status, 2 = low status). Players draw a card and assume a character with the corresponding status. Players then perform a scene, exploring the relationships, conflicts, and interactions between characters with different status levels. Players should focus on physicality, vocal choices, and emotional reactions to convey their characters’ status.
Skills: Status dynamics, character development, physicality, vocal choices
Cat and Mouse
Goal: To practice focus, observation, and nonverbal communication by engaging in a silent “chase” between two players.
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Rules: Players form a circle, with two players (the “cat” and the “mouse”) standing inside. The cat must try to catch the mouse, while the mouse tries to avoid being caught. The catch is that both players must maintain complete silence and avoid making any noise or verbal communication. The game continues until the cat catches the mouse or a predetermined time limit is reached. The facilitator can add variations, such as switching roles or adding obstacles, to increase the challenge and further develop nonverbal communication skills.
Skills: Focus, observation, nonverbal communication, physicality
Catch ’em
Goal: To develop quick thinking, focus, and teamwork by “catching” and passing imaginary objects in a group setting.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players stand in a circle and take turns “catching” and “passing” imaginary objects to one another. The objects can be anything the players imagine, from mundane items like balls to more fantastical or unusual items. Players should mime the shape, size, and weight of the object as they catch and pass it, while also reacting to the object’s characteristics (e.g., a hot object might cause the player to react with surprise or discomfort). The game continues as players pass and catch various imaginary objects, focusing on quick thinking, focus, and teamwork.
Skills: Quick thinking, focus, teamwork, mime, creativity
Catch Phrase
Goal: To practice listening, quick thinking, and adaptability by incorporating catchphrases into a scene.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players are each assigned a catchphrase to incorporate into a scene. The focus should be on listening, quick thinking, and adaptability as players work together to create a cohesive and engaging scene that includes their catchphrases.
Skills: Listening, quick thinking, adaptability, ensemble work
Categories
Goals: To enhance vocabulary, promote quick thinking, and develop communication skills.
Level: Beginner
Rules: The children sit or stand in a circle. The teacher or facilitator calls out a category (e.g., “fruits,” “sports,” or “colours”), and the first child must say a word related to that category. The game continues around the circle, with each child contributing a word related to the category. The goal is to maintain a continuous flow of words without repetition or long pauses. If a child cannot think of a word, they can ask for help or the group can move on to the next participant.
Skills: Vocabulary, quick thinking, communication, and collaboration.
Celebrity Party
Goal: To practice character impersonation, quick thinking, and interaction by hosting a party with celebrity guests.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player is the “Host” of a party, while the other players take on the roles of various celebrities, either assigned by the facilitator or chosen by the players. The Host must guess the identity of each celebrity as they interact with them during the party. Celebrity players should use vocal and physical mannerisms, as well as hints in their dialogue, to help the Host identify their character.
Skills: Character impersonation, quick thinking, interaction, observation
Centrepiece
Goal: To practice focus, adaptability, and ensemble work by performing multiple scenes around a central player.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player takes the position of the “centrepiece” and remains stationary in the centre of the performance area. Other players initiate scenes around the centrepiece and must adapt to each new scene and character as they occur. Players can switch between scenes by tapping the centrepiece’s shoulder. The focus should be on focus, adaptability and ensemble work.
Skills: Focus, adaptability, ensemble work, character development
Chain Murder
Goal: To develop nonverbal communication and storytelling skills by conveying a narrative through mime and gesture.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: A line of players faces away from the stage, with only the first player watching as the facilitator or audience provides a series of three prompts: a character, an action, and a location. The first player then silently conveys this information to the second player using only mime and gesture. Each player in turn must interpret the information and pass it on to the next player, aiming to keep the narrative as consistent as possible. The final player shares their interpretation of the prompts, and the group compares it to the original.
Skills: Nonverbal communication, storytelling, mime, attention to detail
Chainsaw
Goal: To practice quick thinking, creativity, and collaboration by passing an imaginary chainsaw in a circle.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players stand in a circle and imagine they are holding a chainsaw. One player “throws” the chainsaw to another player, who must “catch” the chainsaw and perform an action with it before passing it on to someone else. The focus should be on quick thinking, creativity, and collaboration, as players work together to create new and interesting actions involving the imaginary chainsaw.
Skills: Quick thinking, creativity, collaboration, physicality
Change Letter
Goal: To practice quick thinking and linguistic skills by changing a specific letter in every word spoken.
Level: Advanced
Rules: Players perform a scene where they must replace a specific letter in every word they speak with another letter, as suggested by the audience (e.g. changing all instances of the letter ‘T’ to ‘P’). The scene must still make sense, and the players should focus on maintaining their character and scene work.
Skills: Quick thinking, linguistic skills, commitment
Change Your Character
Goal: To practice character development, adaptability, and quick thinking by changing characters within a scene.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene. At any point, a facilitator or another player can call out “change your character,” prompting the player who just spoke or performed an action to take on a new character with a different personality, voice, or physicality. Players must adapt to their new characters and the changes in their scene partners’ characters while maintaining a coherent and engaging scene.
Skills: Character development, adaptability, quick thinking, scene building
Changing Emotions
Goal: To explore the effect of shifting emotions on a scene and to develop the ability to adapt to emotional changes.
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene with a neutral emotion. At any point, the facilitator or audience can call out a new emotion, and all players in the scene must immediately adopt that emotion, adjusting their dialogue and actions accordingly. Players should explore how the new emotion affects their relationships and the overall story.
Skills: Emotional range, adaptability, character development, commitment
Channel Surfing
Goal: To practice adaptability, creativity, and ensemble work by performing a series of short scenes based on various television channels.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players take turns “surfing” through television channels, calling out different genres or shows. When a new channel is called, the other players must quickly adapt and create a scene based on that channel’s theme. The focus should be on adaptability, creativity, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a series of engaging and dynamic scenes.
Skills: Adaptability, creativity, ensemble work, storytelling
Character Hot Seat
Goal: To practice character development, commitment, and thinking on the spot by answering questions in character.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player assumes the role of a character (either predetermined or created on the spot) and sits in the “hot seat.” The other players take turns asking the character questions, which the player in the hot seat must answer in character. The focus should be on character development, commitment, and thinking on the spot.
Skills: Character development, commitment, thinking on the spot
Character Walk
Goal: To practice physicality, character development, and ensemble work by performing a series of walks that embody different characters.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players take turns walking across the stage, embodying different characters through their physicality and movement. The focus should be on physicality, character development, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging series of character walks.
Skills: Physicality, character development, ensemble work, creativity
Charades Relay
Goals: To improve non-verbal communication, encourage teamwork, and develop quick thinking.
Level: Beginner
Rules: The children are divided into two teams and line up at opposite ends of the room. The first child from each team is given a word or phrase to act out through gestures and body language. The second child in line must watch the performance, then turn around and relay the word or phrase through their own performance for the third child, who does the same for the fourth child, and so on. Once the last child in the line has guessed the word or phrase, the next round begins with a new word or phrase and a new starting performer.
Skills: Non-verbal communication, teamwork, quick thinking, and adaptability.
Circle of Characters
Goals: To foster creativity, enhance self-expression, and develop listening skills.
Level: Beginner
Rules: The children sit or stand in a circle. One child starts by introducing an imaginary character, describing their appearance, personality, and any unique attributes. The next child adds another character, building on the previous character’s story and creating connections between the characters. The game continues around the circle, with each child contributing a new character and weaving a collective narrative.
Skills: Creativity, self-expression, listening, and storytelling
Circle of Knots
Goal: To promote teamwork, problem-solving, and communication by working together to untangle a human knot.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players stand in a circle, close their eyes, and reach out to grab the hands of two other players across the circle. Once everyone has connected, players open their eyes and must work together to untangle the “knot” without letting go of each other’s hands. Players should communicate, strategize, and collaborate to return to a normal circle formation.
Skills: Teamwork, problem-solving, communication, physical coordination
Clap Snap Stamp
Goal: To develop focus, concentration, and rhythm by performing a sequence of actions in a group setting.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players stand in a circle and perform a sequence of three actions together: 1) clap their hands, 2) snap their fingers, and 3) stamp their feet. The sequence is repeated at an increasing pace, with players focusing on maintaining the rhythm and sequence. If a player makes a mistake or breaks the rhythm, they are out of the game. The circle continues until only one player remains or the group collectively achieves a predetermined speed.
Skills: Focus, concentration, rhythm, group coordination
Classified Ads
Goal: To practice creativity, storytelling, and ensemble work by performing a scene inspired by a series of classified ads.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players perform a scene inspired by a series of classified ads, either provided by the audience or pre-determined. The focus should be on creativity, storytelling, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that incorporates the elements from the classified ads.
Skills: Creativity, storytelling, ensemble work, collaboration
Column Call-Out
Goal: To develop spontaneity, listening, and justification skills by incorporating random suggestions into a scene.
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Rules: Two players perform a scene with two audience members or other players standing behind them as “Columns.” At any point during the scene, the players can tap the shoulder of the Column behind them, who will then provide a word or phrase. The player who tapped the Column must immediately incorporate the provided word or phrase into the scene, justifying its presence.
Comedy Roast
Goal: To practice humour, quick thinking, and creativity by participating in a comedic roast of another player.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players take turns being the subject of a comedic roast, where other players make light-hearted jokes and jabs at their expense. The focus should be on humour, quick thinking, and creativity, as players come up with funny and clever remarks.
Skills: Humor, quick thinking, creativity
Coming Home
Goal: To practice emotional expression, character development, and storytelling by creating a scene about returning home.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene in which one character is returning home after a significant absence. Players should explore the emotions, relationships, and conflicts that arise from the homecoming, focusing on developing rich and engaging characters and narratives. Players can experiment with different reasons for the absence, the nature of the homecoming, and the reactions of other characters to create a variety of scenes and stories.
Skills: Emotional expression, character development, storytelling, relationship-building
Commercial
Goal: To practice creativity, storytelling, and persuasive communication by creating an improvised commercial.
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Rules: A facilitator or audience member provides a product, service, or idea for the players to advertise. Players work together or individually to create an improvised commercial that promotes the given item, incorporating elements such as jingles, slogans, demonstrations, testimonials, and other persuasive techniques. Players should focus on creating engaging, humorous, or compelling content that showcases their creativity and storytelling abilities.
Skills: Creativity, storytelling, persuasive communication, collaboration
Concentration Circle
Goal: To develop focus, concentration, and listening skills by passing a clap or other sound around a circle.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players stand in a circle and maintain eye contact with one another. One player begins by clapping their hands, and the player to their left or right continues by clapping in turn. The clap is passed around the circle, with players focusing on maintaining a consistent rhythm and not getting distracted by external factors. Variations can be introduced, such as changing the direction of the clap or using different sounds, to increase the challenge and further develop focus and concentration skills.
Skills: Focus, concentration, listening, group coordination
Conductor
Goals: To enhance listening skills, develop coordination, and promote teamwork.
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Rules: The children form a circle, with one child acting as the “Conductor”. The Conductor starts by making a rhythmic sound or movement (e.g., clapping, stomping, or snapping) and the rest of the children must follow along, copying the Conductor’s rhythm. The Conductor can change the rhythm at any time, and the children must adapt quickly to the new rhythm. After a set time, a new Conductor is chosen, and the game continues.
Skills: Listening, coordination, adaptability, and teamwork.
Conductor
Goal: To promote teamwork and narrative building while maintaining a coherent story.
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Skills: Spontaneity, listening, justification, adaptability
Rules: A group of players stands in a line or semi-circle facing the audience. One person acts as the “Conductor.” The Conductor points to individual players, who then contribute to an ongoing story. The Conductor may switch between players at any time, and the players must continue the story seamlessly, picking up where the last player left off.
Skills: Storytelling, teamwork, listening, consistency
Costume Relay
Goals: To develop teamwork, promote creativity, and encourage physical activity.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Divide the children into two teams and have them line up at one end of the room. Place a box of assorted costume pieces and accessories at the opposite end of the room for each team. The first child in each team runs to their team’s box, puts on a costume item, and runs back to their team. The next child in line then runs to the box, puts on a costume item, and returns to the team. The game continues until all children have had a turn and are wearing a costume piece. The teams can then present their creative costumes to each other.
Skills: Teamwork, creativity, physical activity, and coordination.
Count to 100
Goal: To practice listening, focus, and group cooperation by counting to 100 as a group without any two players speaking at the same time.
Level: Advanced
Rules: Players stand in a circle and attempt to count to 100 as a group, with each number being spoken by a different player. If two players speak at the same time, the group must start over from one. The focus should be on listening, focus, and group cooperation as players work together to successfully reach 100.
Skills: Listening, focus, group cooperation
Count to 20
Goal: To practice listening, collaboration, and ensemble work by counting to 20 as a group, with each player contributing one number at a time.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players stand in a circle and attempt to count to 20 as a group, with each player contributing one number at a time. If two players speak at the same time, the group must start over. The focus should be on listening, collaboration, and ensemble work, as players work together to successfully count to 20 without interruptions.
Skills: Listening, collaboration, ensemble work
Count to 20 In Different Emotions
Goal: To practice emotional expression, active listening, and nonverbal communication by counting to 20 with different emotions.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players stand in a circle and take turns counting from 1 to 20. Each player must count their number with a different emotion. The focus should be on emotional expression, active listening, and nonverbal communication as players explore a range of emotions through counting.
Skills: Emotional expression, active listening, nonverbal communication
Countdown
Goal: To practice thinking on the spot and focus by performing a scene with a constantly decreasing time limit.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene, starting with a specific time limit (e.g., one minute). After the time is up, the director or audience calls out a shorter time limit (e.g., 30 seconds), and the players must perform the same scene again, but within the new time limit. This continues with progressively shorter time limits until the scene is performed in just a few seconds.
Skills: Thinking on the spot, focus, time management, brevity.
Couples
Goal: To explore the dynamics and relationships between couples in a scene.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene as two or more couples, with each couple having a unique relationship dynamic (e.g. newlyweds, long-term partners, bickering spouses, etc.). Players should focus on developing and portraying their characters’ relationships and exploring how they interact with the other couples in the scene.
Skills: Relationship building, character work, commitment, listening
Courtroom Scene
Goal: To create a humorous and engaging courtroom scene with various characters and storylines.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene set in a courtroom, with one or more players acting as the judge, lawyers, witnesses, and other characters involved in the trial. The audience can provide suggestions for the case, characters, and locations. Players should aim to create a coherent and entertaining courtroom scene, with funny and unexpected elements.
Skills: Character work, commitment, creativity, storytelling
Crazy Characters
Goal: To practice object work, creativity, and ensemble work by performing a scene in which players find creative ways to use a single prop.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in which they find creative ways to use a single prop (e.g., a broom, a hat, a chair). The focus should be on object work, creativity, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that showcases their ability to think outside the box and reimagine the use of everyday objects.
Skills: Object work, creativity, ensemble work
Crime Scene Improv
Goal: To practice storytelling, character development, and creativity by creating a crime scene investigation scenario.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in which they must investigate a crime scene and solve a mystery. The performers must create a clear and vivid picture of the crime scene, suspects, and evidence through their dialogue and interactions. The focus should be on storytelling, character development, and creativity.
Skills: Storytelling, character development, creativity
Dance Narrator
Goal: To develop physical expression and storytelling skills by performing a dance that tells a story, narrated by another player.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player performs a dance or movement piece, while another player provides narration for the story the dancer is telling through their movements. The dancer should convey emotions, actions, and events through their dance, while the narrator interprets and enhances the story with their words. Both players should adapt and respond to each other throughout the performance.
Skills: Physical expression, storytelling, interpretation, collaboration
Dancing Dialogue
Goal: To enhance physicality and explore the effect of movement on a scene’s energy and tone.
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene while continuously dancing or moving to an imaginary rhythm. Players must maintain their movement throughout the scene and explore how the dancing affects their dialogue, character choices, and scene progression.
Skills: Physicality, energy, character development, commitment
Date Night
Goal: To practice character development, storytelling, and improvisational humour by performing a scene set on a first date.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Two players create characters and improvise a scene set on a first date. The focus should be on character development, storytelling, and improvisational humour, as players create engaging and entertaining date scenarios.
Skills: Character development, storytelling, improvisational humourr
Dating Profiles
Goal: To practice character development, storytelling, and stage presence by creating engaging and dynamic dating profiles for various characters.
Level: Advanced
Rules: Players take turns presenting their characters’ dating profiles to the audience, complete with a description of their interests, personality traits, and what they’re looking for in a partner. The focus should be on character development, storytelling, and stage presence as players create engaging and dynamic dating profiles for their characters.
Skills: Character development, storytelling, stage presence
Dead Bodies
Goal: To practice physicality, focus, and problem-solving by performing a scene with “dead” characters.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in which one or more of the characters are “dead.” The “dead” characters must be physically manipulated by the other players in the scene, who must also justify the presence of the “dead” characters within the scene’s context.
Skills: Physicality, focus, problem-solving
Deaf Replay
Goal: To practice nonverbal communication, focus, and listening by recreating a scene without sound.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene, then recreate the same scene in complete silence, using only nonverbal communication and physicality. Players should focus on nonverbal communication, focus, and listening in their silent scene.
Skills: Nonverbal communication, focus, listening
Death in a Minute
Goal: To practice focus, storytelling, and efficiency by performing a scene that ends in a character’s death within a one-minute time limit.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene that must end with a character’s death, all within a one-minute time limit. Players should focus on focus, storytelling, and efficiency in their scene construction.
Skills: Focus, storytelling, efficiency
Define That
Goal: To practice creativity, listening, and ensemble work by performing a scene in which players must define unknown words or phrases.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players perform a scene in which they must incorporate unknown words or phrases, either provided by the audience or pre-determined. When an unknown word or phrase is spoken, another player must provide a definition for it within the context of the scene. The focus should be on creativity, listening, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that incorporates new vocabulary.
Skills: Creativity, listening, ensemble work, collaboration
Ding!/Bell Switch
Goal: To practice adaptability and quick thinking by changing a line of dialogue when prompted by a bell or the word “ding.”
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene. The facilitator or an audience member has control over a bell or the “ding” command. At any point, the facilitator can ring the bell or call “ding,” and the last player who spoke must replace their previous line of dialogue with a completely different line. Players should explore how the new line affects the scene’s progression and their characters’ relationships.
Skills: Adaptability, quick thinking, dialogue creation, commitment
Dinner Party
Goal: To practice storytelling, character development, and relationship-building by creating a scene around a dinner party with distinct characters.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene set at a dinner party. Each player creates a unique character with a distinct background, personality, and relationship to the other characters. Players engage in conversation, conflict, and storytelling as their characters interact during the dinner party. The focus should be on character development, relationship-building, and creating engaging stories.
Skills: Storytelling, character development, relationship-building, emotional expression
Director’s Chair
Goal: To practice adaptability, collaboration, and creativity by performing a scene under the guidance of a “director.”
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player takes on the role of the director, guiding the other players as they perform a scene. The director may give specific instructions, make suggestions, or provide feedback during the scene. The focus should be on adaptability, collaboration, and creativity, as players work together to create a scene that meets the director’s vision.
Skills: Adaptability, collaboration, creativity, ensemble work
Director’s Cut
Goal: To practice adaptability, storytelling, and scene building by performing a scene that is periodically “edited” by a director.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene, while another player takes on the role of a director. The director can call “cut” at any time, offering suggestions or changes to the scene, which the performers must incorporate immediately. The focus should be on adaptability, storytelling, and scene building, as players work together to create a cohesive and engaging scene.
Skills: Adaptability, storytelling, scene building, collaboration
Do Run
Goal: To practice rhythm, rhyme, and storytelling by performing a scene in the style of a doo-wop song.
Level: Advanced
Rules: Players perform a scene using the structure of a doo-wop song, with one player providing a rhythmic backing while the others sing their dialogue in rhyme. The focus should be on rhythm, rhyme, and storytelling, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene.
Skills: Rhythm, rhyme, storytelling, musicality
Doo-Wop
Goal: To perform an improvised doo-wop song based on an audience suggestion.
Level: Advanced
Rules: Players create an improvised doo-wop song using an audience suggestion as inspiration. Players must work together to develop harmonies, rhythms, and lyrics that capture the spirit of doo-wop music while also creating an entertaining and engaging performance.
Skills: Singing, harmony, teamwork, creativity, commitment
Double Endowment
Goal: To practice adaptability, character development, and collaboration by accepting and incorporating two contrasting endowments from other players.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene where each player is endowed with two contrasting characteristics by the other players (e.g., one player might be endowed as both very tall and very short). Players must accept and incorporate these endowments into their character and actions throughout the scene. Players should focus on adaptability, character development, and collaboration.
Skills: Adaptability, character development, collaboration
Dramatic Freeze
Goal: To practice physicality, focus, and commitment by freezing in dramatic poses during a scene.
Level: Advanced
Rules: Players perform a scene in which, at any time, one player can call out “freeze,” causing all players to hold their current position. Players must maintain their freeze until another player calls “unfreeze” and the scene continues. The focus should be on physicality, focus, and commitment as players create interesting and dynamic poses that enhance the scene.
Skills: Physicality, focus, commitment
Drunk History
Goal: To practice storytelling, character development, and adaptability by retelling a historical event as if the narrator is intoxicated.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player takes on the role of a drunken narrator, attempting to recount a historical event. Other players act out the scenes as the narrator describes them, adapting to any inaccuracies or embellishments introduced by the narrator’s intoxicated state. The focus should be on storytelling, character development, and adaptability.
Skills: Storytelling, character development, adaptability, ensemble work
Dual Dialogue
Goal: To practice multitasking, active listening, and ensemble work by performing two separate conversations simultaneously.
Level: Advanced
Rules: Two pairs of players perform two separate scenes, with each pair engaging in their own conversation while also listening and responding to the other pair’s dialogue. The focus should be on multitasking, active listening, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging dual dialogue.
Skills: Multitasking, active listening, ensemble work, storytelling
Dubbed Scene
Goal: To practice nonverbal communication and convey meaning through physicality.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two players perform a scene without speaking, using only physicality and facial expressions to convey meaning. Two other players off-stage provide the dialogue for the silent performers, dubbing the scene with their voices. The physical performers must adapt to the dialogue provided by their voice actors, while the voice actors must adapt to the actions of the physical performers.
Skills: Nonverbal communication, physicality, adaptability, teamwork
Duelling Sound Effects
Goal: To practice listening, quick thinking, and creativity by creating sound effects that correspond to an imaginary duel or confrontation.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two players stand opposite each other and create sound effects for an imaginary duel or confrontation. The focus should be on listening, quick thinking, and creativity, as players work together to create dynamic and engaging sound effects that enhance the imaginary scenario.
Skills: Listening, quick thinking, creativity
Duet
Goal: To perform an improvised duet between two characters.
Level: Advanced
Rules: Two players perform a scene that includes a musical duet between their characters. The audience can provide suggestions for the characters, setting, or context. Players should focus on developing their characters, exploring their relationship, and creating an engaging and entertaining musical moment within the scene.
Skills: Singing, character work, commitment, relationship building, storytelling
Echo Scene
Goal: To develop active listening and repetition skills while maintaining a coherent narrative.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene in which each line of dialogue must be repeated by the following player before they can add their own line. Players must listen carefully to their scene partners, accurately repeat their lines, and maintain the progression of the scene despite the repetition.
Skills: Active listening, repetition, storytelling, coherence
Elimination
Goal: To practice adaptability, focus, and ensemble work by performing a group scene in which players are gradually eliminated based on audience votes.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a group scene, and after each round, the audience votes on which player they would like to see eliminated from the scene. The remaining players must then continue the scene without the eliminated player, adapting their characters and actions to fill the void. The focus should be on adaptability, focus, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene despite the changing cast.
Skills: Adaptability, focus, ensemble work, creativity
Emotion Charades
Goals: To develop emotional awareness, enhance non-verbal communication, and encourage empathy.
Level: Beginner
Rules: The teacher or facilitator prepares a set of cards, each containing an emotion, such as “happy”, “angry”, or “surprised”. One child draws a card and must act out the emotion without using words. The rest of the group observes and tries to guess the emotion based on the child’s performance. The game continues until all children have had a chance to act out an emotion.
Skills: Emotional awareness, non-verbal communication, empathy, and acting.
Emotion Exercise
Goal: To practice emotional expression, listening, and ensemble work by performing a scene in which players must react to a series of emotions.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players perform a scene in which they must react to a series of emotions, either provided by the audience or pre-determined. The focus should be on emotional expression, listening, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that incorporates the various emotions.
Skills: Emotional expression, listening, ensemble work, collaboration
Emotion in Motion
Goal: To practice emotional range and physicality by performing a scene in which emotions are directly tied to specific movements.
Level: Advanced
Rules: Players perform a scene in which their emotions are directly tied to specific movements (e.g., spinning in circles creates excitement, stomping creates anger). The focus should be on emotional range and physicality as players explore how their movements influence and inform their character’s emotions.
Skills: Emotional range, physicality
Emotions Only
Goal: To practice emotional expression, active listening, and nonverbal communication by engaging in a scene where dialogue is replaced by emotional expressions.
Level: Advanced
Rules: Players engage in a scene where all dialogue is replaced by emotional expressions. The focus should be on emotional expression, active listening, and nonverbal communication as players work to convey meaning and develop the scene without using words.
Skills: Emotional expression, active listening, nonverbal communication
Emotional Family
Goal: To practice emotional range, character development, and commitment by portraying a family of characters, each with a distinct emotion.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players create and portray a family of characters, with each character embodying a different emotion (e.g., one character might be perpetually angry, while another might be constantly sad). Players should focus on emotional range, character development, and commitment in their performance.
Skills: Emotional range, character development, commitment
Emotional Hot Potato
Goal: To practice emotional control and adaptability by changing emotions on the fly.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene where they pass an invisible “hot potato” to each other. When a player catches the hot potato, they must immediately adopt a new emotion (e.g., sadness, anger, joy, etc.) and maintain it until they pass the hot potato to another player.
Skills: Emotional control, adaptability, listening
Emotional Hotspot
Goal: To practice emotional expression, adaptability, and reacting to emotional shifts by performing a scene with different emotional hotspots.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene in a space divided into distinct “hotspots,” each associated with a specific emotion (e.g., happiness, sadness, anger, fear). As players move through the scene, they must adopt the emotion of the hotspot they are in. The focus should be on emotional expression, adaptability, and reacting to emotional shifts while maintaining a coherent scene.
Skills: Emotional expression, adaptability, reacting to emotional shifts, scene building
Emotional Objects
Goal: To practice physicality, emotion, and ensemble work by performing a scene in which everyday objects trigger strong emotions in the characters.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in which everyday objects, either provided by the audience or pre-determined, trigger strong emotions in their characters. Players must use physicality and emotion to convey the impact of the objects on their characters. The focus should be on physicality, emotion, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that explores the emotional power of everyday objects.
Skills: Physicality, emotion, ensemble work, collaboration
Emotional Relay
Goals: To develop emotional expression, enhance communication skills, and foster teamwork.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Divide the children into two teams and have them line up at one end of the room. The teacher or facilitator calls out an emotion (e.g., “happy,” “angry,” or “scared”). The first child in each team must convey the emotion through their facial expressions and body language as they walk, run, or move to the other end of the room and back. Once the first child returns to their team, they tag the next child in line, who then expresses the same emotion. The game continues until all children have had a turn. The teacher or facilitator can introduce new emotions for each round to challenge the children and encourage a variety of emotional expressions.
Skills: Emotional expression, communication, teamwork, and adaptability.
Emotional Statues
Goals: To explore emotions, develop empathy, and encourage physical expression.
Level: Beginner
Rules: The teacher or facilitator calls out an emotion (e.g., happiness, sadness, anger, or fear) and the children must instantly freeze in a pose that represents that emotion. They must hold their pose for a few seconds before the facilitator calls out a new emotion, prompting the children to change their poses accordingly. This continues with various emotions until the facilitator decides to end the game.
Skills: Emotional expression, empathy, physical expression, and adaptability.
Emotional Statues
Goal: To practice emotional expression, physicality, and nonverbal communication by portraying statues that embody specific emotions.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players take turns entering the scene as statues that embody a specific emotion. The focus should be on emotional expression, physicality, and nonverbal communication, as players work to convey their assigned emotion through their statue poses.
Skills: Emotional expression, physicality, nonverbal communication, creativity
Emotional Switcheroo
Goal: To practice emotional range, adaptability, and ensemble work by performing a scene with shifting emotions.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in which they must change their character’s emotion when prompted by an off-stage director. The focus should be on emotional range, adaptability, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that explores different emotions.
Skills: Emotional range, adaptability, ensemble work, storytelling
Emotional Symphony
Goal: To develop emotional expression, vocal variety, and group coordination by creating a “symphony” of emotions.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players stand in a circle or line, and a facilitator assigns each player a specific emotion (e.g., happiness, sadness, anger, fear). On the facilitator’s cue, players begin expressing their assigned emotion vocally, creating a “symphony” of emotions. The facilitator can then “conduct” the emotional symphony by pointing to individual players to increase or decrease the intensity of their emotional expression. The focus should be on emotional expression, vocal variety, and group coordination.
Skills: Emotional expression, vocal variety, group coordination, listening
Emotional Word Association
Goal: To practice emotional expression and creativity by associating words with specific emotions.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players stand in a circle and take turns saying a word while expressing a specific emotion. The next player must say a new word and express a different emotion. The focus should be on emotional expression and creativity, as players try to convey a variety of emotions through their word choices and delivery.
Skills: Emotional expression, creativity, adaptability
Endowments
Goal: To develop the ability to quickly accept and justify character traits or behaviours assigned by scene partners.
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene, during which they assign each other specific character traits or behaviours, known as “endowments.” Players must accept the endowments given to them and incorporate them into their character for the duration of the scene, justifying the assigned traits within the context of the scene.
Skills: Acceptance, justification, character development, listening
Enneagram
Goal: To practice character development, empathy, and ensemble work by performing a scene based on the enneagram personality types.
Level: Advanced
Rules: Players are assigned an enneagram personality type and must create a character based on that type. The focus should be on character development, empathy, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that explores the different personality types.
Skills: Character development, empathy, ensemble work, storytelling
Energy Circle
Goal: To practice focus, energy, and group connection by passing a clap around a circle of players.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players stand in a circle and pass a clap around the circle, making eye contact and maintaining focus. The goal is to keep the energy flowing and maintain a strong group connection. Players can increase or decrease the speed of the clap to challenge themselves and their group connection.
Skills: Focus, energy, group connection
Explanations
Goal: To create a scene in which characters provide explanations for unusual or unexpected situations.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in which they must provide explanations for strange or unexpected situations, which can be suggested by the audience or other players. Players should aim to develop logical, creative, and humorous explanations that add depth and entertainment to the scene.
Skills: Creativity, quick thinking, commitment, storytelling
Family Feud
Goal: To practice teamwork, quick thinking, and improvisational humour by performing a mock version of the game show “Family Feud.”
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players form two teams and compete in a mock version of “Family Feud,” with one player acting as the host. The focus should be on teamwork, quick thinking, and improvisational humour, as players work together to create entertaining and engaging game show scenarios.
Skills: Teamwork, quick thinking, improvisational humour
Family Portraits
Goal: To practice character development, physicality, and ensemble work by creating a series of “family portraits” using physical poses and expressions.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players work together to create a series of “family portraits” by striking physical poses and expressions that represent different characters within a family. The focus should be on character development, physicality, and ensemble work, as players collaborate to create a dynamic and engaging tableau of characters.
Famous Last Words
Goal: To practice creativity, quick thinking, and character development by improvising the famous last words of various characters.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players take turns stepping forward and delivering the famous last words of a character, either real or fictional. Players must fully commit to the character and the moment, creating a vivid and engaging portrayal. The focus should be on creativity, quick thinking, and character development.
Skills: Creativity, quick thinking, character development, commitment
Fashion Models
Goal: To create a scene involving characters who are fashion models or involved in the fashion industry.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene featuring characters who are fashion models or are involved in the fashion industry. The audience can provide suggestions for the characters, setting, or context. Players should focus on developing their characters, exploring the relationships between them, and creating a humorous and entertaining scene.
Skills: Character work, commitment, creativity, relationship building
Fast Food Laban
Goal: To practice physicality, movement, and character development using Laban movement techniques in a fast-food setting.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene set in a fast-food restaurant, using Laban movement techniques (e.g., float, glide, punch, slash) to inform their characters’ physicality and actions. Players should focus on physicality, movement, and character development in their performance.
Skills: Physicality, movement, character development
Fast Food Stanislavski
Goal: To practice character development, emotional connection, and commitment using Stanislavski acting techniques in a fast-food setting.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene set in a fast-food restaurant, using Stanislavski acting techniques (e.g., emotional memory, objectives, subtext) to inform their characters’ emotions, motivations, and actions. Players should focus on character development, emotional connection, and commitment in their performance.
Skills: Character development, emotional connection, commitment
Find The Leader
Goals: To develop observation skills, enhance concentration, and foster teamwork.
Level: Beginner
Rules: The children sit or stand in a circle, with one child designated as the “Detective” and temporarily removed from the room. While the Detective is outside, the group chooses a “Leader” who will initiate a series of movements or actions, such as clapping, stomping, or waving. The other children must mimic the Leader’s actions while maintaining a poker face. The Detective returns to the room and must observe the group to determine who the Leader is. Once the Leader has been identified, a new Detective and Leader are chosen, and the game continues.
Skills: Observation, concentration, teamwork, and non-verbal communication.
Film Noir
Goal: To practice storytelling, character development, and improvisational humour by performing scenes in the style of a film noir.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players create scenes in the style of a film noir, complete with dramatic lighting, hard-boiled detectives, and femme fatales. The focus should be on storytelling, character development, and improvisational humour, as players create engaging and entertaining noir-inspired scenes.
Skills: Storytelling, character development, improvisational humour
Film Trailer
Goal: To create a humorous and engaging film trailer based on audience suggestions.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in the style of a film trailer, incorporating characters, settings, and plot elements suggested by the audience. Players should aim to create a coherent and entertaining trailer, highlighting key moments and generating excitement for the “film.”
Skills: Creativity, storytelling, commitment, character work
Finish the Scene
Goal: To practice storytelling, collaboration, and creativity by completing a scene started by another player.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player starts a scene by setting up a situation and introducing characters. After a few lines of dialogue, another player jumps in and takes over the scene, working to resolve the situation and bring the scene to a close. The focus should be on storytelling, collaboration, and creativity, as players work together to create a cohesive and engaging scene.
Skills: Storytelling, collaboration, creativity
First Line, Last Line
Goal: To practice storytelling, structure, and ensemble work by performing a scene in which the first line and last line are pre-determined.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in which the first line and last line are pre-determined, either provided by the audience or chosen in advance. The focus should be on storytelling, structure, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that begins and ends with the given lines.
Skills: Storytelling, structure, ensemble work, collaboration
Fishbowl
Goal: To practice improvising from audience suggestions, adaptability, and ensemble work by performing scenes based on prompts written by the audience.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Audience members write down suggestions for scenes, characters, or situations, which are placed in a fishbowl. Players then take turns drawing a suggestion from the fishbowl and performing a scene based on that prompt. The focus should be on improvising from audience suggestions, adaptability, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging series of scenes.
Skills: Improvising from audience suggestions, adaptability, ensemble work, creativity
Five Things
Goal: To practice quick thinking, creativity, and improvisational singing by generating lists of five things based on a given category.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: A facilitator or audience member provides a category (e.g., types of fruit, animals, occupations). Players take turns generating a list of five things related to the category, singing each item to a simple, repetitive tune. Other players can provide support by singing along or adding harmonies. The focus should be on quick thinking, creativity, and improvisational singing.
Skills: Quick thinking, creativity, improvisational singing, teamwork
Fixed Expression
Goal: To practice committing to a character choice and exploring how it affects a scene.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Each player is assigned a specific facial expression by the audience or an off-stage player (e.g. happy, sad, angry, surprised, etc.). Players must maintain their assigned expression throughout the scene and justify their character’s emotions based on that expression.
Skills: Commitment, character work, emotional exploration
Flock Dance
Goal: To practice movement, listening, and ensemble work by performing a group dance in which players must follow a leader’s movements.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players stand in a group and follow the movements of a designated leader. The leader’s movements should be simple and easy to follow, and players must try to match the leader’s movements as closely as possible. The focus should be on movement, listening, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging group dance.
Skills: Movement, listening, ensemble work, collaboration
Foreign Film Dub
Goal: To practice improvisational dialogue, creativity, and listening by dubbing a foreign language scene.
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Rules: Two players perform a scene in a fictional foreign language or gibberish, while two other players provide the English “dubbing” offstage or from the sidelines. The players performing the scene must maintain their foreign language dialogue, while the dubbing players must listen carefully and create corresponding English dialogue that makes sense and fits the actions and emotions of the scene.
Skills: Improvisation, creativity, listening, dialogue creation
Forward/Reverse
Goal: To develop flexibility, listening skills, and the ability to quickly adapt to changes in the scene.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene, while a facilitator or audience member has control over the “Forward” and “Reverse” commands. When “Forward” is called, players proceed with the scene as normal. When “Reverse” is called, players must perform the scene backwards, retracing their dialogue and actions. The facilitator can switch between the commands at any time, and players must quickly adapt.
Skills: Adaptability, quick thinking, listening, memory
Four Corners
Goal: To practice creating distinct characters and navigating multiple storylines by performing scenes in four different locations.
Level: Advanced
Rules: Players divide the stage into four distinct locations, each representing a different scene. One player begins in each corner, with the remaining players offstage. The scenes progress simultaneously, with players rotating in and out of each location as needed. The focus should be on creating distinct characters and navigating multiple storylines as players seamlessly transition between the four corners.
Skills: Character development, multitasking, ensemble work
Four Square Emotions
Goal: To practice emotional range, focus, and adaptability by switching between four different emotions during a scene.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene while standing in a square formation. Each corner of the square is associated with a different emotion. When a player moves to a different corner, they must immediately adopt the emotion associated with that corner. Players should focus on emotional range, focus, and adaptability in their performance.
Skills: Emotional range, focus, adaptability
Free Association
Goal: To practice active listening, quick thinking, and spontaneity by engaging in an exercise where players respond to each other’s words with the first word that comes to mind.
Level: Advanced
Rules: Players stand in a circle and take turns saying a word. The next player must respond with the first word that comes to mind. The focus should be on active listening, quick thinking, and spontaneity as players respond to each other’s words without hesitation or planning.
Skills: Active listening, quick thinking, spontaneity
Freeze and Rewind
Goals: To develop creative movement, enhance observation skills, and promote adaptability.
Level: Beginner
Rules: The children move freely around the room, dancing, walking, or performing various actions. The teacher or facilitator calls out “Freeze!” and the children must stop in their current position. The teacher then calls out “Rewind!” and the children must retrace their steps and actions in reverse order until the teacher calls out “Play!” The game continues with various freeze and rewind commands.
Skills: Creative movement, observation, adaptability, and memory.
Freeze Dance
Goals: To encourage physical expression, develop coordination, and promote active listening.
Level: Beginner
Rules: The teacher or facilitator plays music while the children dance freely around the room. When the music stops, the children must instantly freeze in their current position. The game continues with the music starting and stopping at random intervals, with the children adjusting their movements accordingly.
Skills: Physical expression, coordination, active listening, and adaptability.
Freeze Tag
Goal: To promote quick thinking and character-building while reacting to new and unexpected situations.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: The children form a circle, with one child standing in the centre. The child in the centre begins to act out a scene, using physical movements and dialogue. At any point, another child from the circle can call out “Freeze!”, causing the child in the centre to freeze in place. The child who called “Freeze” then tags the frozen child, takes their place in the centre, and continues the scene from the frozen position but with a new narrative.
Skills: Listening, creativity, teamwork, and adaptability.
Fruit Basket
Goal: To practice focus, listening, and adaptability by quickly changing seats and characters based on assigned fruit names.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players sit in a circle, and each player is assigned the name of a fruit. One player stands in the middle of the circle and calls out the name of one or more fruits. The players with the called fruit names must quickly switch seats, while the player in the middle tries to take one of the vacated seats. Players should focus on focus, listening, and adaptability in this fast-paced game.
Skills: Focus, listening, adaptability
Funeral
Goal: To practice character development, emotional commitment, and ensemble work by performing a scene set at a funeral.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene set at a funeral, taking on the roles of various characters attending the funeral. The focus should be on character development, emotional commitment, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that explores the relationships and emotions of the characters.
Skills: Character development, emotional commitment, ensemble work
Fuzzy Ducky
Goal: To practice focus, listening, and quick thinking by participating in a fast-paced word game.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players stand in a circle and take turns saying either “fuzzy” or “ducky.” If a player says “fuzzy,” the next player must also say “fuzzy,” and so on, until a player says “ducky.” When “ducky” is said, the direction of play reverses, and the previous player must say “ducky” before play can proceed with “fuzzy” again. Players should focus on focus, listening, and quick thinking in this fast-paced game.
Skills: Focus, listening, quick thinking
Game Show Host
Goal: To practice quick thinking, humour, and character development by hosting an improvised game show.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player takes on the role of a game show host and must create a game show format on the spot, complete with rules, challenges, and contestants (played by other performers). The focus should be on quick thinking, humour, and character development, as the host guides the game and interacts with the contestants.
Skills: Quick thinking, humour, character development
Genre Rollercoaster
Goal: To practice adapting a scene to different genres and styles.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene while an off-stage player or audience member changes the genre of the scene at random intervals by calling out different genres (e.g. horror, western, romance, sci-fi, etc.). The players must adapt their characters and the scene to fit the new genre while maintaining the basic structure of the scene.
Skills: Adaptability, quick thinking, commitment, genre awareness
Get Out of Here
Goal: To practice adaptability, focus, and ensemble work by performing a group scene in which players must find creative ways to exit the scene.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a group scene, and throughout the scene, each player must find a creative and justified reason to exit the scene. The focus should be on adaptability, focus, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that evolves as characters leave and re-enter the scene.
Skills: Adaptability, focus, ensemble work, creativity
Giant Steps
Goals: To promote physical expression, develop spatial awareness, and encourage problem-solving.
Rules: The children stand on one side of a designated play area, with the teacher or facilitator standing on the opposite side. The teacher calls out a type of “giant step” (e.g., “giant leaps” or “giant crab walks”) and the children must cross the play area using that specific movement. The teacher can introduce obstacles, such as cones or other objects, to challenge the children and require them to adapt their movements and problem-solve as they navigate the space.
Skills: Physical expression, spatial awareness, problem-solving, and adaptability.
Gibberish Conversation
Goals: To enhance non-verbal communication, foster creativity, and promote active listening.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Children pair up and engage in a “conversation” using only gibberish or nonsensical sounds. They must rely on gestures, facial expressions, and tone of voice to convey their message to their partner. After a set time, the pairs can switch partners and continue with new conversations.
Skills: Non-verbal communication, creativity, active listening, and adaptability.
Gibberish Interviews
Goal: To practice nonverbal communication, listening, and creativity by performing interviews in gibberish.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player interviews another player, who can only respond in gibberish. The interviewer must interpret the gibberish and continue the conversation. The focus should be on nonverbal communication, listening, and creativity, as players create engaging and entertaining interview scenarios.
Skills: Nonverbal communication, listening, creativity
Gibberish Scenes
Goal: To practice nonverbal communication, physicality, and emotional expression by performing a scene using only gibberish.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene using only gibberish for dialogue. Players must rely on non-verbal communication, physicality, and emotional expression to convey the story and their characters’ intentions. The focus should be on nonverbal communication, physicality, and emotional expression.
Skills: Nonverbal communication, physicality, emotional expression, storytelling
Gibberish Storytime
Goals: To promote creativity, enhance non-verbal communication, and develop active listening skills.
Rules: The children sit or stand in a circle. One child starts by “telling” a story using gibberish, a made-up language consisting of nonsensical words and sounds. The child uses facial expressions, gestures, and body language to convey the story’s emotions and events. The next child continues the story in gibberish, building upon the previous child’s performance. The game continues around the circle, with each child contributing to the collective gibberish story.
Skills: Creativity, non-verbal communication, active listening, and collaboration.
Gibberish Translator
Goal: To practice nonverbal communication, listening, and creativity by translating nonsensical language into meaningful dialogue.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene, with one player speaking in gibberish and another player acting as the translator. The gibberish-speaking player must use physicality, facial expressions, and tone to convey meaning, while the translator must interpret the gibberish and provide corresponding English dialogue. The scene should maintain a coherent storyline despite the language barrier.
Skills: Nonverbal communication, listening, creativity, adaptability
Gift Giving Game
Goal: To practice object work, creativity, and storytelling by improvising a scene in which players give and receive imaginary gifts.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in which they exchange imaginary gifts with each other. Each player must mime the act of giving or receiving a gift and then describe the gift and its significance to the other players. The focus should be on object work, creativity, and storytelling, as players create a narrative around the imaginary gifts.
Skills: Object work, creativity, storytelling
Going on a Date
Goal: To practice character development, storytelling, and ensemble work by performing a scene about two characters going on a date.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two players perform a scene about their characters going on a date. The focus should be on character development, storytelling, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that explores the characters’ relationship and the events of their date.
Skills: Character development, storytelling, ensemble work
Good, Bad, Worst Advice
Goal: To practice creativity, listening, and ensemble work by providing advice in the form of good, bad, and worst possible solutions to a problem.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players take turns providing advice on a specific topic or problem, with one player offering good advice, another player offering bad advice, and a third player offering the worst possible advice. The focus should be on creativity, listening, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging conversation that explores different perspectives on a given issue.
Skills: Creativity, listening, ensemble work, collaboration
Good Cop, Bad Cop
Goal: To practice character development, contrast, and scene building by performing a scene with two opposing characters.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two players perform a scene as a classic “good cop, bad cop” duo, with one player adopting a supportive, empathetic character and the other a hostile, aggressive character. The scene can involve an interrogation, negotiation, or any situation that highlights the contrasting personalities. The focus should be on character development, contrast, and building a coherent and engaging scene.
Skills: Character development, contrast, scene building, adaptability
Greatest Hits
Goal: To perform a series of improvised “greatest hits” songs based on audience suggestions.
Level: Advanced
Rules: Players take turns performing improvised songs inspired by audience suggestions, presented as “greatest hits” from various fictional artists or bands. Players should strive to create unique and entertaining songs that showcase their creativity and musical abilities.
Skills: Singing, creativity, commitment, character work
Green Screen
Goal: To practice environment work, imagination, and ensemble work by performing a scene in front of an imaginary “green screen.”
Level: Advanced
Rules: Players perform a scene in front of an imaginary “green screen,” using environment work and imagination to create the setting and incorporate various visual elements. The focus should be on environment work, imagination, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that takes full advantage of the “green screen” concept.
Skills: Environment work, imagination, ensemble work, collaboration
Greetings
Goal: To practice character development, physicality, and commitment by creating and performing unique character greetings.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players take turns creating and performing unique character greetings, using their voices, bodies, and imaginations to convey the character’s personality and backstory. Players should focus on character development, physicality, and commitment in their performances.
Skills: Character development, physicality, commitment
Group Juggle
Goals: To develop hand-eye coordination, promote teamwork, and enhance concentration.
Level: Beginner
Rules: The children stand in a circle and are given a soft ball or beanbag. One child starts by gently tossing the ball to another child in the circle while saying their name. The receiving child must catch the ball, then toss it to another child while saying their name, and so on. The goal is to maintain a continuous flow of tossing and catching without dropping the ball. As the children become more comfortable, additional balls or beanbags can be introduced to increase the challenge.
Skills: Hand-eye coordination, teamwork, concentration, and communication.
Group Mind
Goal: To practice group collaboration, ensemble work, and adaptability by creating a scene with a shared focus.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players stand in a circle and create a scene with a shared focus or theme, taking turns adding lines or actions to the scene. The focus should be on group collaboration, ensemble work, and adaptability, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene with a shared focus.
Skills: Group collaboration, ensemble work, adaptability, creativity
Group Mirror
Goal: To practice focus, nonverbal communication, and group cooperation by mirroring the movements of a designated leader.
Level: Advanced
Rules: Players stand in a circle, with one player designated as the leader. The leader initiates a series of movements, which the rest of the group must mirror as accurately as possible. The focus should be on focus, nonverbal communication, and group cooperation as players work together to closely follow the leader’s movements.
Skills: Focus, nonverbal communication, group cooperation
Growing Shrinking Machine
Goal: To practice physicality, object work, and ensemble work by performing a scene involving a machine that can make objects grow or shrink.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene involving a machine that can make objects grow or shrink. The focus should be on physicality, object work, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that showcases their creativity and physical skills.
Skills: Physicality, object work, ensemble work
Guess The Object
Goals: To improve descriptive language, enhance listening skills, and foster curiosity.
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Rules: The teacher or facilitator chooses a mystery object and hides it from the children’s view. One child is selected to ask yes-or-no questions about the object, while the rest of the group listens. The teacher answers the questions, providing clues about the object’s characteristics. The game continues until the child correctly guesses the object, or a set number of questions have been asked. A new mystery object is then chosen, and another child takes a turn asking questions.
Skills: Descriptive language, listening, curiosity, and problem-solving.
Haiku Scene
Goal: To practice creativity, language skills, and scene building by engaging in a scene where players must communicate using haiku (a form of Japanese poetry consisting of three lines with syllable counts of 5, 7, and 5).
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players engage in a scene where they must communicate using haiku. The focus should be on creativity, language skills, and scene building as players work to maintain the context of the scene while adhering to the haiku format.
Skills: Creativity, language skills, scene building
Hair Salon
Goal: To practice character development, storytelling, and ensemble work by performing a scene set in a hair salon.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players take on the roles of hair stylists, customers, and other characters, as they create a scene set in a hair salon. The focus should be on character development, storytelling, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene.
Skills: Character development, storytelling, ensemble work, relationship building
Half-Life
Goal: To challenge players to maintain the essence of a scene while progressively shortening its duration.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene with a set duration, such as one minute. After the scene has been performed, the facilitator instructs the players to perform the scene again, but in half the time. This process continues, with each new iteration of the scene having its duration halved, until the scene is performed in just a few seconds. Players must maintain the essence of the story and their characters despite the decreasing time.
Skills: Timing, pacing, storytelling, adaptability
Half-Scripted
Goal: To practice listening, adaptability, and ensemble work by performing a scene in which one player is working from a script and the other is improvising.
Level: Advanced
Rules: One player performs a scene using a script, while the other player improvises their dialogue and actions. The focus should be on listening, adaptability, and ensemble work, as the improvising player must react and adapt to the scripted player’s lines while maintaining a cohesive and engaging scene.
Skills: Listening, adaptability, ensemble work, collaboration
Hangman Charades
Goal: To practice non-verbal communication, creativity, and quick thinking by engaging in a game that combines elements of Hangman and Charades.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player thinks of a word or phrase and, like in Hangman, draws blank spaces to represent the letters. The other players take turns guessing letters by acting out a clue related to that letter, without speaking. The guessing player must correctly identify the letter based on the acted-out clue. If the player guesses correctly, the letter is filled in; if not, a part of the hangman is drawn. The game continues until the word or phrase is completed, or the hangman is fully drawn.
Skills: Non-verbal communication, creativity, quick thinking
He Said, She Said
Goal: To practice listening, reacting, and storytelling by performing a scene in which players can only speak when quoting something they’ve heard.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in which they can only speak when quoting something they’ve heard from someone else (e.g., a line from a movie, a song lyric, a famous quote). Players must use these quotes to create a coherent scene and should focus on listening, reacting, and storytelling.
Skills: Listening, reacting, storytelling
Headlines
Goal: To practice storytelling, creativity, and ensemble work by creating scenes based on newspaper headlines.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players are given a newspaper headline and must create a scene that relates to the headline. The focus should be on storytelling, creativity, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene inspired by the given headline.
Skills: Storytelling, creativity, ensemble work, collaboration
Help Desk
Goal: To practice problem-solving, quick thinking, and character work by portraying a help desk employee dealing with a variety of unusual situations.
Level: Advanced
Rules: One player acts as a help desk employee, while the other players take turns presenting them with unusual problems or requests. The help desk employee must think quickly to provide creative solutions or responses to each situation. The focus should be on problem-solving, quick thinking, and character work as the help desk employee navigates a series of increasingly absurd scenarios.
Skills: Problem-solving, quick thinking, character work
Hey, You Down There!
Goal: To create a scene where one player acts as an authoritative narrator while others perform a scene based on the narrator’s instructions.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player acts as an authoritative narrator, providing instructions and commentary on a scene being performed by the other players. The other players must follow the narrator’s instructions, adjusting their actions and dialogue as necessary to incorporate the narrator’s input.
Skills: Listening, commitment, creativity, adaptability
Hijacker
Goal: To practice adaptability, focus, and collaboration by taking over another player’s character or action during a scene.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in which one player can “hijack” another player’s character or action at any point by calling out “Hijack!” and taking over the role or action. The original player must then take on the role of the hijacker’s character or action. Players should focus on adaptability, focus, and collaboration in their performance.
Skills: Adaptability, focus, collaboration
Historical Impersonations
Goal: To practice character development, storytelling, and improvisational humour by performing scenes as historical figures.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players choose or are assigned historical figures and improvise scenes in character. The focus should be on character development, storytelling, and improvisational humour, as players create engaging and entertaining scenes based on their historical figures.
Skills: Character development, storytelling, improvisational humour
Hitchhiker
Goal: To practice character development, adaptability, and ensemble work by performing a scene involving a series of hitchhikers with distinct personalities.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player takes on the role of a driver who picks up a series of hitchhikers, each portrayed by a different player. As each hitchhiker enters the scene, the driver must adapt to their personality and quirks, while the hitchhiker must create a distinct and engaging character. The focus should be on character development, adaptability, and ensemble work.
Skills: Character development, adaptability, ensemble work, scene building
Home Shopping Network
Goal: To practice persuasion, creativity, and storytelling by improvising a sales pitch for a bizarre or unusual product.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One or more players take on the roles of hosts on a home shopping network, attempting to sell an unusual or bizarre product. The focus should be on persuasion, creativity, and storytelling, as players work to create engaging and entertaining sales pitches for their products.
Skills: Persuasion, creativity, storytelling, character development
Horror Movie Scene
Goal: To practice storytelling, character development, and genre conventions by creating a horror movie scene.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in the style of a horror movie, incorporating elements of suspense, fear, and surprise. The performers must create a clear and vivid picture of the horror movie setting, characters, and plot through their dialogue and interactions. The focus should be on storytelling, character development, and genre conventions.
Skills: Storytelling, character development, genre conventions
Hot Potato
Goals: To encourage physical activity, develop coordination, and promote quick thinking.
Level: Beginner
Rules: The children stand or sit in a circle, passing an object (e.g., a small ball or beanbag) like a “hot potato”. The teacher or facilitator plays music, and the children must pass the object around the circle as quickly as possible while the music plays. When the music stops, the child holding the “hot potato” must perform a task, such as naming three fruits, saying the alphabet backwards, or doing five jumping jacks. The game continues with the music starting and stopping at random intervals.
Skills: Physical activity, coordination, quick thinking, and adaptability.
Hotspot Scenes
Goal: To practice emotional expression, physicality, and adaptability by exploring different emotions through movement.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players walk around the space, adopting the physicality and emotional expression of a specific emotion called out by a facilitator or another player (e.g., happiness, sadness, anger, fear). Players must fully commit to the emotion and explore how it affects their movement, posture, and facial expressions. The facilitator can call out different emotions throughout the exercise, prompting players to adapt and switch emotions. The focus should be on emotional expression, physicality, and adaptability.
Skills: Emotional expression, physicality, adaptability, commitment
Hot Seat
Goal: To practice creating and embodying characters under pressure, while answering questions from the audience.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player sits in the “Hot Seat” and assumes a character, either created on the spot or assigned by the facilitator or audience. The audience then asks the player questions, and the player must answer in character, providing details about their life, opinions, and experiences. The player should aim to maintain the character’s essence and consistency throughout the questioning.
Skills: Character development, quick thinking, commitment, consistency
Human Knot
Goals: To encourage problem-solving, develop teamwork, and enhance communication skills.
Level: Beginner
Rules: The children stand in a circle and extend their hands towards the centre, grabbing hold of the hands of two different people who are not standing next to them. The objective is to untangle the “human knot” by twisting, turning, and stepping over or under each other’s arms without letting go of their hands. The game continues until the group has untangled themselves into a circle or determined that the knot is unsolvable.
Skills: Problem-solving, teamwork, communication, and cooperation.
I Am a Tree
Goal: To practice creativity, collaboration, and object work by building a tableau with a tree as the central image.
Level: Beginner
Rules: One player starts by standing in the centre of the stage and declaring, “I am a tree.” The next player adds to the tableau by becoming something related to the tree (e.g., a bird, a swing, a person sitting under the tree). Players continue to join the tableau, each adding something new and related to the existing elements. Once the tableau is complete, players can discuss their choices and the connections between them. The focus should be on creativity, collaboration, and exploring different relationships within the tableau.
Skills: Creativity, collaboration, object work, adaptability
I’m Sorry, I Haven’t a Clue
Goal: To practice thinking on your feet, humour, and creativity by participating in a game of improvised excuses.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player begins by presenting a scenario in which they need an excuse for a particular behaviour or situation. The other players must quickly come up with a creative and humorous excuse for that behaviour. The focus should be on thinking on your feet, humour, and creativity as players try to invent amusing and original excuses.
Skills: Quick thinking, humour, creativity
Identity Crisis
Goal: To practice adaptability, character development, and ensemble work by performing a scene in which players’ identities are constantly changing.
Level: Advanced
Rules: Players perform a scene in which their characters’ identities change whenever someone offstage calls out “switch.” When the command is given, the players must immediately take on a new identity and incorporate it into the scene. The focus should be on adaptability, character development, and ensemble work, as players work together to navigate the shifting identities.
Skills: Adaptability, character development, ensemble work, storytelling
If You Know What I Mean
Goal: To practice innuendo, wordplay, and comedic timing by performing a scene with suggestive language.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene using suggestive language and innuendo, often followed by the phrase “if you know what I mean.” They must maintain the scene’s structure and characterisation while incorporating comedic wordplay and innuendo.
Skills: Innuendo, wordplay, comedic timing
Imaginary Ball
Goals: To promote creativity, enhance non-verbal communication, and develop coordination.
Level: Beginner
Rules: The children stand in a circle. One child starts by pretending to hold an imaginary ball, then passes it to another child in the circle using a creative gesture or movement. The receiving child must observe the action and continue the motion, pretending to catch and pass the imaginary ball using a new gesture or movement. The game continues around the circle, with the children creating and responding to various imaginary ball movements.
Skills: Creativity, non-verbal communication, coordination, and observation.
Imitation Game
Goal: To practice character development, observation, and adaptability by imitating another player’s character.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene in which one player imitates the character of another player. The focus should be on character development, observation, and adaptability, as players work together to create engaging characters and a cohesive scene.
Skills: Character development, observation, adaptability, ensemble work
Impulse Lines
Goal: To practice active listening, spontaneity, and ensemble work by performing a scene in which players build on each other’s lines.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players perform a scene in which they must respond to each other’s lines by repeating the last word or phrase spoken and adding their own contribution. The focus should be on active listening, spontaneity, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that builds on each player’s contributions.
Skills: Active listening, spontaneity, ensemble work, collaboration
Improv 500
Goal: To practice improvisation, storytelling, and creativity by engaging in a game where players must create a story based on a given title and number of words.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player provides a title and a number of words (e.g., “The Lost Treasure” in 500 words). The other players take turns adding words to the story, keeping track of the total number of words used. The focus should be on improvisation, storytelling, and creativity as players work together to create a story that fits the given title and word count.
Skills: Improvisation, storytelling, creativity
Improv Auction
Goal: To practice creativity, storytelling, and selling by auctioning off imaginary items.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players take turns acting as an auctioneer, describing and selling an imaginary item to the audience. The item should be unique and creative, with the auctioneer providing a detailed description, backstory, and selling points for the item.
Skills: Creativity, storytelling, selling
Improv Detective
Goal: To practice storytelling, character development, and problem-solving by solving an improvised mystery.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player takes on the role of a detective, while the other players become characters in a mystery. The detective must ask questions and gather clues from the characters to solve the mystery. Players should focus on storytelling, character development, and problem-solving in their gameplay.
Skills: Storytelling, character development, problem-solving
Improv Eulogy
Goal: To practice storytelling, character development, and commitment by delivering an improvised eulogy.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player assumes the role of a character who has passed away, while another player delivers a eulogy for that character. The eulogy should reveal the character’s backstory, relationships, and other details, with the player focusing on storytelling, character development, and commitment in their delivery.
Skills: Storytelling, character development, commitment
Improv Interviews
Goals: To encourage self-expression, develop acting skills, and enhance communication.
Level: Beginner
Rules: The teacher or facilitator prepares a set of cards, each containing a word or phrase representing a character or occupation. The children take turns drawing a card and assuming the role of the character or occupation on the card. The rest of the group then asks the child questions related to their character or occupation, and the child must respond in character, improvising answers based on their understanding of the role. The game continues until all children have had a chance to participate in an improv interview.
Skills: Self-expression, acting, communication, and improvisation.
Improv in Space
Goal: To practice creativity, character development, and world-building by performing a scene set in a fictional, outer-space environment.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene set in a fictional, outer-space environment. They must create characters, relationships, and a storyline that fits within this unique setting. The focus should be on developing a believable and engaging world, while also maintaining a sense of humour and playfulness.
Skills: Creativity, character development, world-building
Improv Karaoke
Goal: To practice creativity, commitment, and thinking on the spot by performing an improvised song.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player selects a random song and starts singing along to the music, but with completely improvised lyrics based on a given theme or suggestion. The player should focus on creativity, commitment, and thinking on the spot in their improvised performance.
Skills: Creativity, commitment, thinking on the spot
Improv Montage
Goal: To practice storytelling, character development, and collaboration by creating a series of connected scenes.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players create a montage of improvised scenes, with each scene connected to the previous one through a character, location, or theme. Players should focus on storytelling, character development, and collaboration in their scene transitions and connections.
Skills: Storytelling, character development, collaboration
Improv Musical
Goal: To practice creativity, commitment, and musicality by performing an improvised musical.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players create and perform an improvised musical, complete with songs, dialogue, and choreography. The musical can be based on a given theme or suggestion and should have a clear storyline. Players should focus on creativity, commitment, and musicality in their performance.
Skills: Creativity, commitment, musicality
Improv Poetry
Goal: To practice creativity, storytelling, and collaboration by creating a group poem.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players take turns contributing one line to a group poem. The poem should tell a story or convey a theme, with each line building on the previous one. Players should focus on being creative and collaborative.
Skills: Creativity, storytelling, collaboration
Goal: To practice improvisational skills, creativity, and ensemble work by performing a series of short, fast-paced scenes.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players are divided into two teams and take turns performing short, fast-paced scenes based on a given theme or prompt. The focus should be on improvisational skills, creativity, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging series of scenes.
Skills: Improvisational skills, creativity, ensemble work, storytelling
Improv Rap Battle
Goal: To practice creativity, rhythm, and thinking on the spot by participating in an improvised rap battle.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players take turns participating in a rap battle, creating improvised rhymes based on a given theme or suggestion. Players should focus on creativity, rhythm, and thinking on the spot.
Skills: Creativity, rhythm, thinking on the spot
Improv Speed Dating
Goal: To practice character development, adaptability, and commitment by participating in improvised speed dating sessions.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players create and portray different characters in a series of short, improvised speed dating sessions. Each player must adapt to the different characters they interact with while staying committed to their own character. Players should focus on character development, adaptability, and commitment.
Skills: Character development, adaptability, commitment
Improvised Monologue
Goal: To practice storytelling, character development, and emotional commitment by performing a monologue as a character.
Level: Advanced
Rules: One player performs a monologue as a character, telling a story or sharing information about their character’s life, thoughts, and experiences. The focus should be on storytelling, character development, and emotional commitment, as the player fully inhabits their character and shares their story with the audience.
Skills: Storytelling, character development, emotional commitment
Improvised Spelling Bee
Goal: To practice quick thinking, creativity, and humour by engaging in a game where players must spell words given to them by the audience or other players, making up definitions and using the words in a sentence.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players take turns spelling words given to them by the audience or other players. After spelling the word, the player must make up a definition for the word and use it in a sentence. The focus should be on quick thinking, creativity, and humour as players work to invent definitions and sentences for the given words.
Skills: Quick thinking, creativity, humour
In The Dark
Goal: To practice trust, listening, and ensemble work by performing a scene in the dark, relying solely on vocal and auditory cues.
Level: Advanced
Rules: Players perform a scene in complete darkness, using only their voices and auditory cues to communicate with one another. The focus should be on trust, listening, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that relies on non-visual communication.
Skills: Trust, listening, ensemble work, collaboration
Inappropriate Laughter
Goal: To practice commitment, timing, and emotional control by incorporating inappropriate laughter into a scene.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in which they must incorporate inappropriate laughter, either in response to a prompt from the director or by finding a reason within the scene itself. Players should focus on committing fully to the laughter, even when it is inappropriate or unexpected, while also maintaining the storyline and character development.
Skills: Commitment, timing, emotional control
Informercial
Goal: To practice salesmanship, characterisation, and comedy by performing a scene as an infomercial.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in the style of an infomercial, selling a fictional product to the audience. They must use salesmanship, characterisation, and comedy to make the product seem as ridiculous and entertaining as possible.
Skills: Salesmanship, characterisation, comedy
Inner Monologue
Goal: To explore the contrast between a character’s inner thoughts and their external actions or dialogue.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene. At any point, the facilitator or an audience member can call “Inner Monologue” followed by a player’s name. The named player must then reveal their character’s inner thoughts, while the other players in the scene freeze. The scene continues once the inner monologue has concluded, and players should incorporate the revealed thoughts into the scene’s progression.
Skills: Character development, emotional depth, contrasting behaviours, listening
Innuendo
Goal: To practice subtlety, wordplay, and creativity by incorporating innuendos into a scene.
Level: Advanced
Rules: Players perform a scene and must incorporate innuendos and wordplay into their dialogue. The focus should be on subtlety, wordplay, and creativity, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that is both funny and appropriate.
Skills: Subtlety, wordplay, creativity, ensemble work
Insult Challenge
Goal: To practice quick thinking, wit, and ensemble work by engaging in a playful insult exchange between players.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players take turns exchanging playful insults, focusing on quick thinking, wit, and ensemble work. The goal is not to genuinely hurt the other player’s feelings, but to create a fun and engaging back-and-forth that showcases each player’s ability to think on their feet and come up with clever retorts.
Skills: Quick thinking, wit, ensemble work, collaboration
Interrogation
Goal: To practice character development, improvisation, and thinking under pressure by answering questions in character.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player assumes a character and is being “interrogated” by two or more other players, who ask questions about the character’s actions, motivations, and background. The interrogated player must answer the questions in character, providing details and justifications for their character’s choices while maintaining consistency.
Skills: Character development, improvisation, quick thinking, consistency
Interview With The Stars
Goal: To practice character development, storytelling, and improvisational humour by performing mock interviews with famous characters or celebrities.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player takes on the role of an interviewer while another player portrays a famous character or celebrity. The focus should be on character development, storytelling, and improvisational humour, as players create engaging and entertaining interviews with their chosen personas.
Jeopardy
Goal: To practice quick thinking, creativity, and teamwork by participating in a game of improvised Jeopardy.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players take turns being the host, contestants, or audience members in an improvised game of Jeopardy. The host comes up with categories and questions, while contestants buzz in with creative and improvised answers. The focus should be on quick thinking, creativity, and teamwork, as players work together to create an entertaining game show experience.
Skills: Quick thinking, creativity, teamwork
Job Interview
Goal: To practice character development and storytelling by performing a scene in which a character interviews for a job.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player takes on the role of the interviewer, while another player portrays a character interviewing for a job. The interviewer asks questions about the character’s experience and qualifications, while the character must respond with creative and engaging answers that showcase their unique personality. The focus should be on character development, storytelling, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene.
Skills: Character development, storytelling, ensemble work, creativity
Job Interview 2.0
Goal: To practice character development and justification by performing a scene in which one character interviews others for a unique or unusual job.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in which one character interviews others for a unique or unusual job (e.g., time-travel tour guide, professional dinosaur wrangler). The focus should be on character development, justification, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that showcases their characters’ skills, background, and personalities in the context of a job interview for an unconventional position.
Skills: Character development, justification, ensemble work
Joke’s On You
Goal: To practice improvisational humour, quick thinking, and audience interaction by creating jokes based on audience suggestions.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players take turns creating jokes based on audience suggestions. The focus should be on improvisational humour, quick thinking, and audience interaction, as players create engaging and entertaining jokes.
Skills: Improvisational humour, quick thinking, audience interaction
Jukebox Musical
Goal: To practice musical improvisation, creativity, and ensemble work by performing a musical scene based on audience song suggestions.
Level: Advanced
Rules: Audience members suggest popular songs, which the players must then incorporate into a musical scene. Players must adapt their scene to fit the theme and style of each song, creating a dynamic and engaging musical scene. The focus should be on musical improvisation, creativity, and ensemble work.
Skills: Musical improvisation, creativity, ensemble work, storytelling
Jump Start
Goal: To practice spontaneity, listening, and ensemble work by beginning a scene with a sudden, unexpected action or line.
Level: Beginner
Rules: One player begins the scene with a sudden, unexpected action or line, and the other players must immediately react and adapt. The focus should be on spontaneity, listening, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that begins with a surprising moment.
Skills: Spontaneity, listening, ensemble work, collaboration
Jumping Out of a Plane
Goal: To practice physicality, commitment, and ensemble work by performing a scene about characters jumping out of a plane.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene about their characters jumping out of a plane. The focus should be on physicality, commitment, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that captures the excitement and energy of skydiving.
Skills: Physicality, commitment, ensemble work
Just a Minute
Goal: To practice storytelling, focus, and public speaking by engaging in a game where players must tell a story or speak on a given topic for exactly one minute.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players take turns telling a story or speaking on a given topic for exactly one minute. Other players can act as timekeepers to ensure the speaker adheres to the one-minute limit. The focus should be on storytelling, focus, and public speaking as players work to maintain their story or topic for the full minute.
Skills: Storytelling, focus, public speaking
Justify That
Goal: To practice creativity, adaptability, and ensemble work by performing a scene in which players must justify unusual actions or statements.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in which they must justify unusual actions or statements, either provided by the audience or pre-determined. The focus should be on creativity, adaptability, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that incorporates unexpected elements.
Skills: Creativity, adaptability, ensemble work, collaboration
Justify The Emotion
Goal: To practice emotional range, adaptability, and commitment by justifying the emotions displayed in a scene.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in which they must justify the emotions they display, either in response to a prompt from the director or by finding a reason within the scene itself. Players should focus on demonstrating a wide range of emotions, adapting to the emotions of their scene partners, and committing fully to the emotional change.
Skills: Emotional range, adaptability, commitment
Killer Conversations
Goal: To practice character development, storytelling, and ensemble work by performing a scene about two characters having a conversation that takes a dark or unexpected turn.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two players perform a scene about their characters having a conversation that takes a dark or unexpected turn. The focus should be on character development, storytelling, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that explores the characters’ relationship and the surprising twists of their conversation.
Skills: Character development, storytelling, ensemble work
Killing Time
Goal: To practice character development, active listening, and ensemble work by performing a scene in which characters must pass the time together while waiting for something.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in which their characters must pass the time together while waiting for something (e.g., a bus, a job interview, a party). The focus should be on character development, active listening, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that explores their characters’ relationships, backgrounds, and personalities.
Skills: Character development, active listening, ensemble work
King of the Hill
Goal: To practice assertiveness, character development, and ensemble work by performing a scene in which characters compete for dominance.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in which their characters are competing for dominance or control of a situation. The focus should be on assertiveness, character development, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that explores power dynamics and character relationships.
Skills: Assertiveness, character development, ensemble work, storytelling
Kiss, Marry, Kill
Goal: To practice character development, storytelling, and ensemble work by performing a scene in which players portray characters in a game of “Kiss, Marry, Kill.”
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players portray characters participating in a game of “Kiss, Marry, Kill,” in which they must decide which of three other characters they would kiss, marry, or kill. The focus should be on character development, storytelling, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that showcases the relationships between the characters.
Skills: Character development, storytelling, ensemble work, collaboration
Lame Superpowers
Goal: To practice character development, storytelling, and ensemble work by performing a scene in which players portray characters in a game of “Kiss, Marry, Kill.”
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players portray characters participating in a game of “Kiss, Marry, Kill,” in which they must decide which of three other characters they would kiss, marry, or kill. The focus should be on character development, storytelling, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that showcases the relationships between the characters.
Skills: Character development, storytelling, ensemble work, collaboration
Last Letter
Goal: To practice focus, listening, and quick thinking by performing a scene in which each line of dialogue begins with the last letter of the previous line.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene, with each line of dialogue beginning with the last letter of the previous line. For example, if the first line ends with “t,” the next line must start with “t.” If a player hesitates or uses the wrong letter, they are replaced by another player. The goal is to maintain a coherent and engaging scene while following the letter rule.
Skills: Focus, listening, quick thinking, adaptability
Last Line First
Goal: To practice storytelling, structure, and ensemble work by performing a scene in which the last line of dialogue is known before the scene begins.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in which the last line of dialogue is pre-determined, either provided by the audience or chosen in advance. The focus should be on storytelling, structure, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that builds towards the given final line.
Skills: Storytelling, structure, ensemble work, collaboration
Last Word, First Word
Goal: To enhance listening skills and challenge players to create dialogue based on given words.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene in which the first word of each player’s line must be the last word of the previous player’s line. Players must listen carefully to their scene partners and create dialogue that maintains the scene’s progression while adhering to the rule.
Skills: Listening, dialogue creation, storytelling, structure
Late Night TV Host
Goal: To practice character development, storytelling, and adaptability by performing a scene as a late-night television talk show host and their guests.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player takes on the role of a late-night television talk show host, while the other players serve as their guests. The focus should be on character development, storytelling, and adaptability, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging talk show.
Skills: Character development, storytelling, adaptability, ensemble work
Laughing Game
Goal: To practice active listening, quick thinking, and ensemble work by performing a scene in which players try to make each other laugh without breaking character.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in which they try to make each other laugh without breaking character. The focus should be on active listening, quick thinking, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that tests their ability to maintain their composure and stay in character.
Skills: Active listening, quick thinking, ensemble work
Letter Writing
Goal: To practice storytelling, character development, and creativity by writing and performing a letter from one character to another.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players create a scene in which one character writes a letter to another character, either from the past, present, or future. The performers must create a clear and vivid picture of the characters and their relationship through their dialogue and interactions. The focus should be on storytelling, character development, and creativity.
Skills: Storytelling, character development, creativity
Lie Detector
Goal: To practice listening, quick-thinking, and ensemble work by performing a scene in which players must identify and correct lies.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in which one player is designated as the “lie detector.” Whenever another player says something that the lie detector believes to be a lie, the lie detector calls out “lie!” and the player must quickly correct their statement with a new, truthful statement. The focus should be on listening, quick-thinking, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that challenges their ability to adapt and stay truthful.
Skills: Listening, quick-thinking, ensemble work, collaboration
Life in Five Words
Goal: To practice storytelling, creativity, and conciseness by summarizing life experiences in just five words.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players take turns sharing a life experience or story, but they must condense it down to just five words. The focus should be on storytelling, creativity, and conciseness, as players come up with unique and engaging ways to convey their experiences.
Skills: Storytelling, creativity, conciseness
Life’s a Pitch
Goal: To practice storytelling, creativity, and persuasion by pitching movie ideas based on audience suggestions.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players take turns pitching movie ideas based on suggestions from the audience. The focus should be on storytelling, creativity, and persuasion, as players work to create engaging and unique movie concepts that capture the audience’s interest.
Skills: Storytelling, creativity, persuasion, improvisation
Line Dash
Goal: To practice thinking on your feet, adaptability, and ensemble work by performing a scene with lines written by the audience.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Audience members write down lines of dialogue, which are then scattered across the stage. Players perform a scene, incorporating the lines of dialogue as they pick them up from the stage. The focus should be on thinking on your feet, adaptability, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene.
Skills: Thinking on your feet, adaptability, ensemble work, creativity
Lip Sync Improv
Goal: To practice performance skills, creativity, and character development by improvising a lip sync performance to a pre-selected song.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players take turns performing a lip sync to a pre-selected song, using their creativity and performance skills to create a unique and engaging interpretation of the music. The focus should be on performance skills, creativity, and character development, as players bring their interpretation of the song to life.
Skills: Performance skills, creativity, character development
Living Scenery
Goal: To practice creativity, collaboration, and physicality by using players as living props in a scene.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two players perform a scene while other players serve as living props, creating the scenery and objects needed for the scene. The focus should be on creativity, collaboration, and physicality, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging environment.
Skills: Creativity, collaboration, physicality, ensemble work
Living Statues
Goal: To practice physicality, creativity, and commitment by becoming a living statue.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players become “living statues” and strike a pose. Other players interact with the statues, treating them as real objects or characters. The statues must remain completely still and in character, reacting only internally to the other players’ interactions.
Skills: Physicality, creativity, commitment
Location, Location, Location
Goal: To practice environment creation, object work, and storytelling by performing a scene that emphasizes the importance of the location.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in which the location plays a significant role in the story. Players must use object work and environmental creation to convey the specifics of the location and how it impacts the characters and narrative. The focus should be on environment creation, object work, and storytelling.
Skills: Environment creation, object work, storytelling, character development
Love Letters
Goal: To practice storytelling, character development, and emotional expression by improvising love letters between two characters.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two players take on the roles of characters who are writing love letters to each other. Players take turns delivering monologues in the form of love letters, focusing on storytelling, character development, and emotional expression. The focus should be on creating a genuine connection between the characters and portraying the emotions and experiences of their love story.
Skills: Storytelling, character development, emotional expression, connection
Lyrical Improv
Goal: To practice musical improvisation, creativity, and storytelling by performing a scene with improvised songs.
Level: Advanced
Rules: Players perform a scene in which they spontaneously break into song, creating improvised lyrics and melodies that fit the context of the story. The focus should be on musical improvisation, creativity, and storytelling, as players work together to create a cohesive narrative that includes musical elements.
Skills: Musical improvisation, creativity, storytelling, ensemble work
Machine
Goals: To encourage creativity, develop teamwork, and enhance physical expression.
Level: Beginner
Rules: One child begins by making a repetitive sound and movement, acting as a part of a “machine”. The next child adds another sound and movement, connecting to the first child and becoming another part of the machine. This continues until every child has joined the machine with their unique sound and movement. Once the machine is complete, the teacher or facilitator can guide the children in adjusting the speed or intensity of the machine, exploring the dynamics of the group performance.
Skills: Creativity, teamwork, physical expression, and coordination.
Magic Box
Goals: To encourage imagination, develop storytelling abilities, and expand vocabulary.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: The children sit in a circle, with an imaginary “Magic Box” in the centre. One child starts by opening the Magic Box and describing an object they “find” inside. They must use descriptive language to explain the object’s appearance, texture, and any other unique features. Then, the child passes the object to the next child, who adds something new to the object’s description before passing it along. The game continues until every child has had a turn to add to the description.
Skills: Imagination, storytelling, vocabulary expansion, and active listening.
Magic Words
Goal: To practice listening, quick thinking, and creativity by incorporating “magic words” into a scene.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in which they must incorporate “magic words” suggested by the audience or the director. These words can be integrated into the dialogue, used as inspiration for character names or scene locations, or serve as a theme for the scene. The focus should be on actively listening and creatively weaving the “magic words” into the scene.
Skills: Listening, quick thinking, creativity
Make a Monster
Goal: To practice physicality, nonverbal communication, and collaboration by creating a human monster with interconnected movements and sounds.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players work together to create a “monster” by connecting their bodies and performing synchronized movements and sounds. The focus should be on physicality, nonverbal communication, and collaboration, as players work together to create a cohesive and engaging monster.
Skills: Physicality, nonverbal communication, collaboration, creativity
Make it Rhyme
Goal: To practice listening, creativity, and ensemble work by performing a scene in which players must speak in rhyming couplets.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in which they must speak in rhyming couplets, with each player’s line rhyming with the previous line. The focus should be on listening, creativity, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that maintains the rhyming pattern.
Skills: Listening, creativity, ensemble work, collaboration
Master-Servant Disaster
Goal: To practice status, character development, and commitment by performing a scene between a master and a servant in which things go awry.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene between a master and a servant, with one player taking on a high-status role (the master) and the other taking on a low-status role (the servant). The scene should involve a series of mishaps or disasters, with the players reacting and adjusting their actions and status accordingly. Players should focus on status, character development, and commitment in their performance.
Skills: Status, character development, commitment
Matchmaker
Goal: To practice character development, relationships, and ensemble work by performing a scene in which one character tries to set up another character with a potential love interest.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in which one character tries to set up another character with a potential love interest. The focus should be on character development, relationships, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that explores the connections and conflicts between the characters.
Skills: Character development, relationships, ensemble work, collaboration
Meanwhile
Goal: To practice spatial awareness, parallel storytelling, and ensemble work by performing multiple interconnected scenes.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a series of scenes, each taking place in a different location. A facilitator or another player can call out “meanwhile,” prompting a transition to a different location or returning to a previous scene. Players must maintain awareness of the connections between scenes and develop a coherent overarching narrative. The focus should be on spatial awareness, parallel storytelling, and ensemble work.
Skills: Spatial awareness, parallel storytelling, ensemble work, scene building
Meat Market
Goal: To practice character development, relationship building, and storytelling by performing a scene set in a meat market.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players take on the roles of customers, butchers, and other characters, as they create a scene set in a meat market. The focus should be on character development, relationship building, and storytelling, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene.
Skills: Character development, relationship building, storytelling, ensemble work
Meet The Parents
Goal: To practice character development, relationship building, and storytelling by performing a scene in which one character introduces their partner to their parents.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two players take on the roles of a couple, while two other players portray the parents. The scene revolves around the couple’s introduction and interactions with the parents. Players should focus on character development, relationship building, and storytelling as they navigate the complexities of family dynamics.
Skills: Character development, relationship building, storytelling, emotional expression
Memory Chain
Goals: To enhance memory skills, develop concentration, and promote collaboration.
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Rules: The children sit or stand in a circle. One child starts by saying, “I went to the shops, and I bought…” and then adds an item, such as “an apple”. The next child in the circle must repeat the sentence and item, then add their own item: “I went to the shops, and I bought an apple and a banana.” The game continues around the circle, with each child repeating the previous items and adding their own. The goal is to maintain a continuous chain of items without forgetting any.
Skills: Memory, concentration, collaboration, and communication.
Mime in a Box
Goals: To encourage non-verbal communication, develop spatial awareness, and promote creativity.
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Rules: The children take turns pretending to be trapped inside an invisible box. They must use their bodies and facial expressions to communicate the size, shape, and limitations of their imaginary box without speaking. The rest of the group can try to guess the dimensions of the box based on the child’s performance. The game continues until all children have had a chance to create their own imaginary box.
Skills: Non-verbal communication, spatial awareness, creativity, and observation.
Mime Your Way Out
Goal: To practice nonverbal communication, pantomime, and problem-solving by miming solutions to imaginary problems.
Level: Advanced
Rules: One player presents an imaginary problem to another player, who must then mime a solution to the problem without using any words. The focus should be on nonverbal communication, pantomime, and problem-solving as the players convey complex ideas and solutions through movement and gesture.
Skills: Nonverbal communication, pantomime, problem-solving
Mimicry Madness
Goal: To practice observation, physicality, and commitment by mimicking another player’s actions and mannerisms.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene where one player must closely mimic the actions and mannerisms of another player, without the other player realizing it. Players should focus on observation, physicality, and commitment in their mimicry.
Skills: Observation, physicality, commitment
Mind Games
Goal: To practice mental flexibility, creativity, and quick thinking by performing scenes based on mental challenges provided by the facilitator or other players.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform scenes based on mental challenges provided by the facilitator or other players. The focus should be on mental flexibility, creativity, and quick thinking, as players create engaging and entertaining scenes.
Skills: Mental flexibility, creativity, quick thinking
Mind Meld
Goal: To practice active listening, synchronicity, and ensemble work by having players try to say the same word at the same time.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two players face each other and count down from three. On one, they say a random word. They then try to find a word that connects the two initial words and count down again, attempting to say the new word simultaneously. The process continues until they successfully say the same word. The focus should be on active listening, synchronicity, and ensemble work.
Skills: Active listening, synchronicity, ensemble work
Mind Reader
Goal: To practice listening, non-verbal communication, and ensemble work by guessing a word or phrase based on non-verbal cues from other players.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player is designated as the “mind reader.” The other players choose a word or phrase that the mind reader must guess. The mind reader leaves the room while the word or phrase is chosen. When they return, the other players can only give non-verbal cues to help the mind reader guess the word or phrase. The focus should be on listening, non-verbal communication, and ensemble work, as players work together to communicate the chosen word or phrase without speaking.
Skills: Listening, non-verbal communication, ensemble work
Mirror Mirror
Goals: To develop observation skills, improve concentration, and encourage collaboration.
Level: Beginner
Rules: The children pair up and face each other. One child is designated as the “Leader” and the other as the “Follower”. The Leader begins to make slow, deliberate movements while the Follower mirrors these movements as closely as possible. The goal is for the Follower to mimic the Leader’s movements so well that an observer would have difficulty determining who is leading. After a set time, the children switch roles.
Skills: Observation, concentration, collaboration, and body control.
Mission Impossible
Goal: To create a scene where characters attempt to complete a seemingly impossible mission.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in which their characters are tasked with completing a seemingly impossible mission, which can be suggested by the audience. Players should work together to develop creative and humorous solutions to the challenges they face, ultimately completing the mission or failing in a funny and entertaining way.
Skills: Creativity, problem-solving, teamwork, commitment
Mockumentary
Goal: To practice storytelling, character development, and ensemble work by performing a scene in the style of a mockumentary film.
Level: Advanced
Rules: Players perform a scene in the style of a mockumentary film, complete with interviews, narration, and “found footage” of the characters’ lives. The focus should be on storytelling, character development, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that satirizes documentary filmmaking.
Skills: Storytelling, character development, ensemble work, collaboration
Motivationals
Goal: To practice delivering motivational speeches, active listening, and adapting to various scenarios by engaging in a game where players give motivational speeches based on random prompts.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player receives a random prompt (e.g., “You’re motivating a group of aspiring astronauts”). The player must then deliver a motivational speech based on the given prompt, while the other players act as the audience. The focus should be on active listening, adapting to various scenarios, and delivering a convincing and engaging speech.
Skills: Active listening, adapting to various scenarios, delivering motivational speeches
Motown Group
Goal: To create an improvised Motown-inspired song performance.
Level: Advanced
Rules: Players work together to create an improvised song in the style of a Motown group, using audience suggestions as inspiration. Players must develop harmonies, rhythms, and lyrics that capture the essence of Motown music while delivering an engaging and entertaining performance.
Skills: Singing, harmony, teamwork, creativity, commitment
Movie Critics
Goal: To practice storytelling, character development, and genre exploration by improvising a movie review and corresponding scenes.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two players act as movie critics reviewing a fictional film. They describe the plot, characters, and scenes from the movie, with other players stepping in to perform the described scenes. The movie critics can provide commentary and analysis throughout the performance, and the focus should be on storytelling, character development, and exploring various genres.
Skills: Storytelling, character development, genre exploration, adaptability
Movie Director
Goal: To practice receiving and incorporating direction, adapting to changes, and exploring different performance styles.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene while another player acts as the “Director.” At any point, the Director can pause the scene and give notes or suggestions for changes in the scene, such as altering the style, emotion, or genre. The performers must then incorporate the changes into the scene as they continue.
Skills: Adaptability, taking direction, exploration, commitment
Movie Mashup
Goal: To practice creativity, adaptability, and storytelling by combining elements of two different movies into a new, original scene.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players are given the titles of two well-known movies and must create a scene that combines elements of both movies. The focus should be on creativity, adaptability, and storytelling, as players work together to develop a coherent and engaging scene that incorporates aspects of both films.
Skills: Creativity, adaptability, storytelling, collaboration
Movie Genre Rollercoaster
Goal: To explore different genres and styles, and to adapt a scene according to the new genre.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene, while a facilitator or audience member has control over the genre changes. The facilitator calls out different movie genres (e.g. horror, romantic comedy, action, etc.) and the players must instantly adapt the scene to fit the new genre while maintaining the essence of the story and their characters.
Skills: Adaptability, genre understanding, character development, commitment
Movie in a Minute
Goal: To practice storytelling, time management, and collaboration by condensing a movie plot into a one-minute improvised performance.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players are given the title of a well-known movie and must perform a one-minute version of the movie, hitting all the key plot points, characters, and moments. Players must work together to create a coherent and engaging performance while adhering to the time constraint. The focus should be on storytelling, time management, and collaboration.
Skills: Storytelling, time management, collaboration, adaptability
Movie Pitch
Goal: To practice storytelling, creativity, and improvisation by pitching a movie idea based on a given title.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players take turns pitching a movie based on a given title from the director or audience. The pitch should include a brief summary of the plot, main characters, and notable scenes. Other players can ask questions or make suggestions to expand on the idea.
Skills: Storytelling, creativity, improvisation
Movie Quotes
Goal: To practice creativity, quick thinking, and scene building by engaging in a scene where players must incorporate famous movie quotes into their dialogue.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players engage in a scene where they must incorporate famous movie quotes into their dialogue. The focus should be on creativity, quick thinking, and scene building as players work to seamlessly integrate the movie quotes into the context of the scene.
Skills: Creativity, quick thinking, scene building
Moving Bodies
Goal: To practice nonverbal communication, physicality, and teamwork by performing a scene with the players’ bodies controlled by other players.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two players perform a scene while standing completely still. Two additional players stand behind them and manipulate the actors’ bodies, moving their limbs, heads, and bodies to convey emotions, actions, and reactions. The players performing the scene must adapt their dialogue to the movements, while those controlling the bodies must listen and adjust to the dialogue. The focus should be on nonverbal communication, physicality, and teamwork.
Skills: Nonverbal communication, physicality, teamwork, adaptability
Musical Chairs
Goal: To create an entertaining scene while adapting to changing characters as players switch positions.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players form a circle with one less chair than the number of players. One player stands in the middle, while the others sit in the chairs. Music plays as the players in chairs perform a scene, taking on different characters. When the music stops, the player in the middle attempts to take a seat, and the player left standing moves to the middle. As players switch chairs, they must also switch characters, adapting to the new role they’ve taken on.
Skills: Adaptability, character work, listening, commitment, creativity
Musical Chairs With a Twist
Goals: To promote physical activity, enhance adaptability, and encourage active listening.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Set up chairs in a circle, with one fewer chair than the number of participants. The children walk or dance around the chairs while music plays. When the music stops, the children must find a chair to sit in. The child left standing must perform a task or a challenge, such as reciting a poem, doing a dance, or telling a joke. The game continues with the music starting and stopping at random intervals, and the tasks or challenges changing each round.
Skills: Physical activity, adaptability, active listening, and performance.
Musical Numbers
Goal: To practice musical improvisation, creativity, and commitment by performing a scene that incorporates spontaneous musical numbers.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene that incorporates spontaneous musical numbers, either sung by the players themselves or accompanied by pre-recorded music. Players should focus on developing engaging, entertaining, and creative musical moments within the scene, while also maintaining the storyline and character development.
Skills: Musical improvisation, creativity, commitment
Musical Party Quirks
Goal: To practice character development, musicality, and improvisational humour by performing scenes where party guests have unusual quirks that they express through song.
Level: Advanced
Rules: One player takes on the role of a party host while the other players are guests with unusual quirks. The twist is that the quirks must be expressed through song. The host must guess the quirks of their party guests. The focus should be on character development, musicality, and improvisational humour, as players create entertaining and musical scenes.
Skills: Character development, musicality, improvisational humourr
Musical Sound Effects
Goal: To practice listening, teamwork, and creativity by performing a scene with improvised musical sound effects.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in which they provide improvised musical sound effects for each other’s actions. Players must listen carefully to each other and work together to create a cohesive scene with the appropriate sound effects. The focus should be on listening, teamwork, and creativity.
Skills: Listening, teamwork, creativity
Musical Storytelling
Goal: To practice storytelling, character development, and creativity by creating a musical narrative.
Level: Advanced
Rules: Players perform a scene in which they must tell a story through song, incorporating elements of narrative, character, and emotion. The performers must create a clear and vivid picture of the story and characters through their lyrics and melodies. The focus should be on storytelling, character development, and creativity.
Skills: Storytelling, character development, creativity, musicality
Name Game
Goal: To practice quick thinking, character development, and ensemble work by performing a scene in which players must continuously create new character names on the spot.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in which they must continuously create new character names on the spot whenever a new character is mentioned or introduced. The focus should be on quick thinking, character development, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene with an ever-expanding cast of characters.
Name, Place, Animal
Goal: To practice quick thinking, creativity, and ensemble work by creating stories based on a name, a place, and an animal.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players stand in a circle or line. The first player says a name, the second player says a place, and the third player says an animal. The fourth player must then begin a story using the name, place, and animal provided. The story continues around the circle or down the line, with each player adding a sentence. The focus should be on quick thinking, creativity, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a coherent and engaging story.
Skills: Quick thinking, creativity, ensemble work
Name The Monster
Goal: To practice creativity, commitment, and storytelling by creating and describing a fictional monster.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Children take turns creating and describing a fictional monster, including its name, appearance, habits, and any special powers or abilities. Children should focus on creativity, commitment, and storytelling in their descriptions.
Skills: Creativity, commitment, storytelling
Narrate That
Goal: To practice storytelling, listening, and ensemble work by performing a scene in which one player narrates the actions of the other players.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player takes on the role of the narrator and describes the actions of the other players in the scene. The players in the scene must listen to the narration and perform the actions described. The focus should be on storytelling, listening, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that follows the narrator’s guidance.
Skills: Storytelling, listening, ensemble work, collaboration
Narrate Your Life
Goal: To practice storytelling, character development, and focus by performing a scene in which players narrate their characters’ actions and thoughts.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene in which they also narrate their characters’ actions and thoughts. Players must strike a balance between dialogue, action, and narration while maintaining a coherent and engaging scene. The focus should be on storytelling, character development, and maintaining focus on both the scene and the narration.
Skills: Storytelling, character development, focus, active listening
Never Have I Ever
Goal: To practice character development and storytelling by creating and sharing personal stories based on a prompt.
Level: Advanced
Rules: Players take turns stating something they’ve never done, beginning with the phrase “Never have I ever…” The other players must then create and share a brief personal story, in character, about a time when they did the thing the first player has never done. The focus should be on character development and storytelling as players invent and share unique experiences for their characters.
Skills: Character development, storytelling, creativity
New Choice
Goal: To develop adaptability, quick thinking, and the ability to explore different choices within a scene.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene, while a facilitator or audience member has control over the “New Choice” command. At any point, the facilitator can call “New Choice,” and the last player who spoke must replace their previous line of dialogue with a completely different line. Players should explore how the new choice affects the scene’s progression and their characters’ relationships. The focus should be on adaptability, quick thinking, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that is constantly evolving based on the new choices introduced.
Skills: Adaptability, quick thinking, exploration, commitment
New Scene, Who Dis?
Goal: To practice adaptability, character development, and storytelling by performing a new scene inspired by a previous scene’s ending.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene, and when it ends, a new scene begins with a different set of characters and circumstances but is somehow connected to the previous scene’s ending. The focus should be on adaptability, character development, and storytelling, as players create a new narrative inspired by the previous scene.
Skills: Adaptability, character development, storytelling, ensemble work
Newscaster
Goal: To practice character development, storytelling, and ensemble work by performing a scene in the style of a news broadcast.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in the style of a news broadcast, with one player acting as the anchor and the others portraying various on-the-scene reporters, experts, or interviewees. The focus should be on character development, storytelling, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging news broadcast that covers a range of topics and events.
Skills: Character development, storytelling, ensemble work, collaboration
Newsflash
Goal: To practice commitment and quick thinking by having one player guess the news story they are reporting based on clues from other players.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Three players perform a scene as news anchors. One player acts as the on-the-scene reporter who cannot see the news story behind them (either through a green screen or described by the other players). The other two players act as news anchors in the studio, providing clues about the story without directly stating what it is. The reporter must use the clues to guess the news story they are reporting and incorporate it into their report.
Skills: Commitment, quick thinking, listening, deduction
Nightmare Interview
Goal: To practice adaptability, character development, and ensemble work by performing a scene as an interviewer and their nightmarish guest.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player takes on the role of an interviewer, while the other player takes on the role of their guest, who is experiencing a series of increasingly nightmarish scenarios. The focus should be on adaptability, character development, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene.
Skills: Adaptability, character development, ensemble work, storytelling
Ninja Names
Goals: To develop memory skills, enhance focus, and encourage creativity.
Level: Beginner
Rules: The children sit or stand in a circle. One child starts by choosing a unique “ninja name” for themselves, such as “Lightning Leopard” or “Stealthy Squirrel”. The next child in the circle must repeat the previous child’s ninja name and then choose their own ninja name. The game continues around the circle, with each child repeating all previous ninja names in the correct order and adding their own. If a child cannot remember a name or gets the order incorrect, they are “out”. The game continues until only one child remains, who is the winner.
Skills: Memory, focus, creativity, and communication.
Number Game
Goal: To practice focus, listening, and ensemble work by performing a scene in which players must speak in a numerical sequence.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players perform a scene in which they must speak in a numerical sequence (e.g., player 1 says one word, player 2 says two words, player 3 says three words, and so on). The focus should be on focus, listening, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that maintains the numerical pattern.
Skills: Focus, listening, ensemble work, collaboration
Object Association
Goal: To practice creativity, quick thinking, and storytelling by coming up with stories or scenes based on a random object.
Level: Beginner
Rules: One player chooses a random object, and the other players must come up with a story or scene that involves the object. The focus should be on creativity, quick thinking, and storytelling, as players create engaging and entertaining scenes around the chosen object.
Skills: Creativity, quick thinking, storytelling
Object Monologues
Goal: To practice character development and storytelling by creating a monologue based on a random object.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players are given a random object and must create a character and monologue inspired by the object. Players should focus on developing a unique character and incorporating the object into their story.
Skills: Character development, storytelling, creativity
Object Relay
Goal: To practice teamwork, listening, and creativity by building an ongoing story using random objects.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players form a line and are given a random object. The first player starts a story involving the object they received and then passes it to the next player, who continues the story using their object. The story continues down the line until all players have contributed.
Skills: Teamwork, listening, creativity
Objectives
Goal: To practice character development, motivation, and ensemble work by performing a scene in which each character has a hidden objective.
Level: Advanced
Rules: Players perform a scene in which each character has a hidden objective that they are trying to achieve (e.g., to win someone’s affection, to steal an item, to convince someone of a lie). The focus should be on character development, motivation, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene driven by their characters’ hidden objectives.
Skills: Character development, motivation, ensemble work
Objection!
Goal: To develop argumentative skills, quick thinking, and the ability to justify positions within a scene.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene, while other players observe from the sidelines. At any point, a player from the sidelines can call out “Objection!” and state their reason for objecting to the current situation in the scene. The facilitator or audience then decides if the objection is sustained or overruled. If sustained, the scene must adjust to accommodate the objection. If overruled, the scene continues as before.
Skills: Argumentation, quick thinking, justification, adaptability
On-The-Spot Monologue
Goal: To practice thinking on your feet, character development, and storytelling by performing a spontaneous monologue.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player is given a prompt, such as a character or situation, and must then perform a spontaneous monologue based on that prompt. The focus should be on thinking on your feet, character development, and storytelling, as the player works to create a dynamic and engaging monologue.
Skills: Thinking on your feet, character development, storytelling, creativity
One-Act Play
Goal: To practice storytelling, character development, and scene building by performing a complete one-act play.
Level: Advanced
Rules: Players collaborate to create and perform a complete one-act play, with a clear beginning, middle, and end. The focus should be on storytelling, character development, and scene building, as players work together to create a cohesive and engaging narrative.
Skills: Storytelling, character development, scene building, collaboration
One-Sentence Stories
Goal: To practice storytelling, listening, and ensemble work by creating a story one sentence at a time.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players take turns adding one sentence to a story, building upon the previous sentences to create a cohesive and engaging narrative. The focus should be on storytelling, listening, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging story that evolves with each new sentence.
Skills: Storytelling, listening, ensemble work, collaboration
One-Syllable Words
Goal: To practice committing to a character choice and exploring how it affects a scene.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Each player is assigned a specific facial expression by the audience or an off-stage player (e.g. happy, sad, angry, surprised, etc.). Players must maintain their assigned expression throughout the scene and justify their character’s emotions based on that expression.
Skills: Commitment, character work, emotional exploration
One-Voice Storytelling
Goal: To practice listening, focus, and ensemble work by telling a story as a group, with all players speaking simultaneously as one voice.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players stand in a circle and tell a story together, speaking simultaneously as one voice. The focus should be on listening, focus, and ensemble work, as players work together to maintain a coherent and engaging story while speaking as one voice.
Skills: Listening, focus, ensemble work, collaboration
One-Voice Interview
Goal: To practice active listening, teamwork, and coherence while speaking simultaneously with other players.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two or more players form a single character and must answer interview questions from a facilitator or audience member. The players must speak in unison, listening carefully to each other and attempting to create a coherent, unified response to each question.
Skills: Active listening, teamwork, coherence, character development
One-Word Sentences
Goal: To practice concise communication, teamwork, and storytelling by performing a scene in which players can only speak in one-word sentences.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in which they can only speak in one-word sentences. Players must work together to communicate effectively and tell a coherent story using their limited vocabulary. The focus should be on concise communication, teamwork, and storytelling.
Skills: Concise communication, teamwork, storytelling
One-Word Suggestions
Goal: To practice quick thinking, creativity, and adaptability by performing scenes based on one-word suggestions from the audience.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players perform scenes based on one-word suggestions from the audience. The focus should be on quick thinking, creativity, and adaptability, as players create engaging and entertaining scenes.
Skills: Quick thinking, creativity, adaptability
Opera
Goal: To practice musicality, storytelling, and ensemble work by performing a scene in the style of an opera.
Level: Advanced
Rules: Players perform a scene in the style of an opera, incorporating sung dialogue and exaggerated emotions. The focus should be on musicality, storytelling, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging operatic scene.
Skills: Musicality, storytelling, ensemble work, character development
Palindromes
Goal: To practice wordplay, creativity, and storytelling by performing a scene in which players speak in palindromes.
Level: Advanced
Rules: Players perform a scene and must incorporate palindromes, or words and phrases that read the same forward and backward, into their dialogue. The focus should be on wordplay, creativity, and storytelling, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene.
Skills: Wordplay, creativity, storytelling, ensemble work
Panel of Experts
Goal: To practice quick thinking, creativity, and character development by portraying a panel of experts answering audience questions.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players take on the roles of experts in various fields, real or imagined, and answer questions posed by the audience or a facilitator. Players should focus on quick thinking, creativity, and character development, as they invent knowledgeable responses and portray their expert personas.
Skills: Quick thinking, creativity, character development, improvisation
Pantomime Animals
Goal: To practice physicality, creativity, and nonverbal communication by performing as a pantomime animal.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players perform a scene in which they take on the role of a pantomime animal, using only their bodies and nonverbal communication to convey the animal’s movements, emotions, and interactions. The focus should be on physicality, creativity, and nonverbal communication.
Skills: Physicality, creativity, nonverbal communication
Pantomime Pass
Goals: To encourage non-verbal communication, develop acting skills, and promote collaboration.
Level: Beginner
Rules: The children sit or stand in a circle. One child begins by silently acting out a simple action or activity, such as brushing their teeth or opening a door. The next child in the circle must observe the pantomime and then continue the action by adding their own twist, such as pretending to floss their teeth or knocking on the door. The game continues around the circle, with each child building upon the previous action.
Skills: Non-verbal communication, acting, collaboration, and creativity.
Parallel Universe
Goal: To practice creativity, focus, and adaptability by performing a scene that takes place in a parallel universe with different rules and norms.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene that takes place in a parallel universe, where the rules and norms of our universe do not apply. Players must create and incorporate these new rules and norms into their scene. Players should focus on creativity, focus, and adaptability in their performance.
Skills: Creativity, focus, adaptability
Park Bench
Goal: To practice character development, emotional expression, and scene building in a two-person scene.
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Rules: One player sits on an imaginary park bench, assuming a character with a specific emotion, physicality, or backstory. A second player enters the scene and sits on the bench, interacting with the first player’s character. The two players create a scene based on their characters’ interactions, emotions, and relationships. The focus should be on character development, emotional expression, and creating engaging scenes.
Skills: Character development, emotional expression, scene building, relationship-building
Party Foul
Goal: To practice character development, commitment, and reacting to unusual situations by hosting a party with guests displaying odd quirks.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player takes on the role of the host, while the other players become guests with specific quirks (e.g., afraid of the colour red, believes they’re a famous historical figure, speaks in song lyrics). The host begins the party without knowing the guests’ quirks, and the guests enter one by one, displaying their assigned quirks. The host must try to guess each guest’s quirk while still maintaining the party atmosphere. The focus should be on character development, commitment, and reacting to unusual situations.
Skills: Character development, commitment, adaptability, active listening
Party Games
Goal: To practice improvisation, character work, and quick thinking by playing a variety of classic party games in character.
Level: Advanced
Rules: Players take on the roles of characters attending a party and play classic party games such as Charades, Pictionary, or Twenty Questions. The focus should be on improvisation, character work, and quick thinking as players navigate the challenges of the games while remaining true to their characters.
Skills: Improvisation, character work, quick thinking
Party Quirks
Goal: To develop strong character choices and the ability to justify unusual behaviours.
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Rules: One player is designated as the “Host” of a party and leaves the room. The other players are each given a quirky character trait or unusual behaviour by the audience or the facilitator. The host then returns and starts the party by miming actions as the other players enter one by one, portraying their given quirks. The host must guess the quirks of each guest and once guessed correctly, the guest can leave the party.
Skills: Character creation, justification, observation, guessing
Pass The Face
Goals: To develop observation skills, promote non-verbal communication, and improve concentration.
Level: Beginner
Rules: The children sit or stand in a circle, with one child designated as the “Sender”. The Sender makes a facial expression (e.g., happy, sad, or surprised) and maintains it for a few seconds. The child next to the Sender must observe and then mimic the facial expression as accurately as possible. The facial expression is then “passed” around the circle, with each child attempting to reproduce the expression they see. The game continues with new facial expressions and participants taking turns as the Sender.
Skills: Observation, non-verbal communication, concentration, and empathy.
Peas in a Pod
Goal: To enhance teamwork, listening, and character development by creating a group of characters with shared traits.
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Rules: A group of players performs a scene in which they all portray characters who share a specific trait, characteristic, or behaviour. Players must work together to create a cohesive group while maintaining the essence of their individual characters.
Skills: Teamwork, listening, character development, commitment
Phone Conversation
Goal: To practice listening, reacting, and ensemble work by performing a scene that takes place during a phone conversation between two characters.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Two players perform a scene that takes place during a phone conversation between their characters. The focus should be on listening, reacting, and ensemble work, as the players must convey the conversation and relationship between the characters without physically interacting.
Skills: Listening, reacting, ensemble work, collaboration
Physical Characteristics
Goal: To practice physicality, character development, and ensemble work by performing a scene in which players are assigned specific physical traits or mannerisms.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in which they are assigned specific physical traits or mannerisms (e.g., a limp, a hunched back, a nervous tic). The focus should be on physicality, character development, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that incorporates their unique physical characteristics.
Skills: Physicality, character development, ensemble work
Piano
Goal: To practice musicality, creativity, and storytelling by performing a scene that incorporates piano music.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player provides live piano accompaniment while the other players perform a scene. The piano player should support and enhance the scene with their music, and the actors should incorporate the music into their storytelling. The focus should be on musicality, creativity, and storytelling, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene.
Skills: Musicality, creativity, storytelling, ensemble work
Pick-up Lines
Goal: To practice creativity, quick thinking, and wit by improvising pick-up lines based on audience suggestions.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: The facilitator or audience members provide a series of suggestions (e.g., occupations, objects, locations) and players must create pick-up lines related to the suggestions. Players should focus on creativity, quick thinking, and wit to develop entertaining and engaging pick-up lines.
Skills: Creativity, quick thinking, wit, adaptability
Pick Your Poison
Goal: To practice decision-making, storytelling, and creativity by choosing between two challenging scenarios and justifying the choice.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player presents two challenging scenarios to another player, who must choose between them and justify their choice. The focus should be on decision-making, storytelling, and creativity, as players come up with entertaining and thought-provoking explanations for their choices.
Skills: Decision-making, storytelling, creativity
Picture Book
Goal: To practice storytelling, visualisation, and ensemble work by narrating a story based on imaginary illustrations.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player acts as the narrator and describes imaginary illustrations in a picture book, while the other players act out the scenes being described. The focus should be on storytelling, visualisation, and ensemble work, as players work together to bring the imaginary illustrations to life through their actions and dialogue.
Skills: Storytelling, visualisation, ensemble work
Picture This
Goal: To practice storytelling, creativity, and ensemble work by creating scenes based on a picture or image.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players are given a picture or image and must create a scene that relates to the image. The focus should be on storytelling, creativity, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene inspired by the given image.
Skills: Storytelling, creativity, ensemble work, collaboration
Pillars
Goal: To practice improvisational skills, adaptability, and dialogue creation by incorporating random words provided by “pillar” players.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two players perform a scene, while two other players, the “pillars,” stand or sit at either side of the stage. At any point during the scene, a performing player can tap a pillar, who then provides a word. The performing player must immediately incorporate the word into their dialogue, justifying its presence in the scene. The scene continues with the players incorporating words from the pillars as needed.
Skills: Improvisation, adaptability, dialogue creation, justification
Pivot
Goal: To practice adaptability, focus, and creativity by performing a scene that changes direction based on a “pivot” command.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene that changes direction whenever someone offstage calls out “pivot.” When the command is given, the players must immediately change the focus or direction of the scene. The focus should be on adaptability, focus, and creativity, as players work together to navigate the shifting narrative.
Skills: Adaptability, focus, creativity, ensemble work
Playbook
Goal: To practice incorporating lines from a book or script into a scene.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player is provided with a book or script and must only speak lines from that book or script during the scene. The other player(s) must justify and incorporate the lines into the context of the scene, creating a coherent and entertaining performance.
Skills: Listening, quick thinking, creativity, commitment
Point of View
Goal: To practice character development, storytelling, and ensemble work by performing a scene from multiple perspectives.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene from multiple perspectives, with each player taking on a different character’s point of view. The focus should be on character development, storytelling, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that showcases the different perspectives of each character.
Skills: Character development, storytelling, ensemble work, collaboration
Popcorn
Goal: To practice spontaneity, focus, and adaptability by quickly entering and exiting a scene based on other players’ actions.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players stand in a circle and perform a scene in which one player starts the scene and others “pop” in and out of the scene based on the actions and dialogue of the players already in the scene. Players should focus on spontaneity, focus, and adaptability in their performance.
Skills: Spontaneity, focus, adaptability
Press Conference
Goal: To practice quick thinking, adaptability, and improvisation by engaging in a game where one player holds a press conference while the other players act as reporters.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player acts as a public figure holding a press conference, while the other players act as reporters. The reporters ask questions based on a predetermined scenario or topic, and the public figure must respond to the questions and improvise answers on the spot. The focus should be on quick thinking, adaptability, and improvisation.
Skills: Quick thinking, adaptability, improvisation
Prison Visitor
Goal: To create a scene between a prisoner and a visitor, exploring their relationship and circumstances.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene between a prisoner and a visitor, which can be suggested by the audience. Players should focus on developing their characters, exploring the relationship between them, and creating a humorous and engaging scene.
Skills: Character work, commitment, creativity, relationship building
Product Placement
Goal: To practice subtlety, creativity, and storytelling by incorporating product placements into a scene.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene that includes subtle product placements for various items. The focus should be on subtlety, creativity, and storytelling, as players work to seamlessly incorporate the product placements into the scene without drawing undue attention to them.
Skills: Subtlety, creativity, storytelling, ensemble work
Props
Goal: To practice creativity, quick thinking, and object work by using a single prop in a variety of imaginative ways.
Level: Beginner
Rules: A facilitator provides a single prop (e.g., a broom, a scarf, a hat) to the players. One at a time, players enter the stage and use the prop in a creative and imaginative way, transforming it into different objects or incorporating it into a scene. After a predetermined time, the next player takes the prop and uses it in a new and unique way. The focus should be on creativity, quick thinking, and exploring different uses for the prop.
Skills: Creativity, quick thinking, object work, adaptability
Props Swap
Goal: To practice creativity, adaptability, and object work by using a single prop in multiple scenes.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players perform a series of short scenes using a single prop, finding new and creative ways to incorporate the prop into each scene. After each scene, players must pass the prop to the next set of performers, who then initiate a new scene. The focus should be on creativity, adaptability, and object work.
Skills: Creativity, adaptability, object work, scene building
Psychiatrist
Goal: To create a scene between a psychiatrist and a patient, exploring the patient’s issues and the psychiatrist’s attempts to help.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene between a psychiatrist and a patient, which can be suggested by the audience. Players should focus on developing their characters, exploring the relationship between them, and creating a humorous and engaging scene that incorporates the patient’s issues and the psychiatrist’s attempts to help.
Skills: Character work, commitment, creativity, relationship building
Puppet Master
Goal: To practice physicality, adaptability, and ensemble work by performing a scene in which one player controls another player’s movements.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player takes on the role of the puppet master, while another player becomes the puppet. The puppet master controls the puppet’s movements, while the puppet must adapt their dialogue and actions to fit their physicality. The focus should be on physicality, adaptability, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene.
Skills: Physicality, adaptability, ensemble work, storytelling
Puppeteers
Goal: To practice physicality, teamwork, and adaptability by having players control each other’s movements during a scene.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene while other players act as their “puppeteers.” The puppeteers gently control the movements of the performers by touching their limbs, head, or torso. Performers must justify and incorporate these movements into the scene.
Skills: Physicality, teamwork, adaptability, commitment
Puzzle Piece
Goals: To enhance problem-solving skills, develop spatial awareness, and encourage teamwork
Level: Advanced
Rules: The teacher or facilitator prepares a large, simple image (e.g., a shape or a basic drawing) and divides it into several puzzle pieces, one for each child. Each child is given a piece of the puzzle and must work together with the rest of the group to assemble the image without looking at the original. The children can communicate and strategize to determine how the pieces fit together, relying on their problem-solving and spatial awareness skills.
Skills: Problem-solving, spatial awareness, teamwork, and communication.
Questions From a Hat
Goal: To practice quick thinking, creativity, and adaptability by answering random questions from a hat.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players take turns drawing a question from a hat and answering it in character. The focus should be on quick thinking, creativity, and adaptability, as players work to create engaging responses and maintain their character’s persona.
Skills: Quick thinking, creativity, adaptability, character development
Questions and Complaints
Goal: To practice listening, quick thinking, and ensemble work by performing a scene in which the dialogue consists entirely of questions and complaints.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in which their dialogue consists entirely of questions and complaints. The focus should be on listening, quick thinking, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene using only questions and complaints as their dialogue.
Skills: Listening, quick thinking, ensemble work, collaboration
Questions Only
Goal: To develop listening skills and quick thinking by performing a scene in which players can only speak in questions.
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene in which they can only speak in questions. If a player speaks a statement, hesitates, or repeats a question, they are replaced by another player. The focus should be on active listening, quick thinking, and maintaining the question format while still creating a coherent and engaging scene.
Skills: Active listening, quick thinking, adaptability, scene building
Quick Impressions
Goal: To practice quick thinking, character development, and ensemble work by performing a series of rapid-fire impressions of different characters or celebrities.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players take turns performing quick, 5-10 second impressions of different characters or celebrities, with the goal of conveying the essence of each character or celebrity in as little time as possible. The focus should be on quick thinking, character development, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a fast-paced and engaging series of impressions.
Skills: Quick thinking, character development, ensemble work
Quickfire Characters
Goal: To practice quick thinking, creativity, and character development by rapidly switching between different characters within a scene.
Level: Advanced
Rules: Players perform a scene in which they rapidly switch between different characters, either at the direction of a designated person (the director, another player, or a member of the audience) or by their own choice. Players must quickly adapt their character, actions, and interactions to fit the new character while maintaining the integrity of the scene.
Skills: Quick thinking, creativity, character development
Quickfire Scene Changes
Goal: To practice adaptability, quick thinking, and creativity by performing scenes with rapid, unexpected changes.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene, while another player (or the audience) calls out “change” at random intervals. When “change” is called, the performers must immediately change the last line or action they just performed. The focus should be on adaptability, quick thinking, and creativity, as players adjust to the rapid, unexpected changes in the scene.
Skills: Adaptability, quick thinking, creativity
Quiet as a Mouse
Goals: To enhance listening skills, promote concentration, and develop self-control.
Level: Beginner
Rules: The children sit or stand in a circle. The teacher or facilitator selects one child to be the “Cat” and another to be the “Mouse”. The Cat must close their eyes, while the Mouse moves quietly around the room, making subtle sounds or movements. The Cat must use their listening skills to identify the Mouse’s location and attempt to tag them. If the Mouse is caught, new children are chosen to be the Cat and Mouse, and the game continues.
Skills: Listening, concentration, self-control, and stealth.
Quotes
Goal: To practice adaptability, creativity, and storytelling by incorporating famous quotes into a scene.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene and must incorporate famous quotes into their dialogue. The focus should be on adaptability, creativity, and storytelling, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene.
Skills: Adaptability, creativity, storytelling, ensemble work
Radio Dial
Goal: To develop the ability to shift between different characters and styles quickly while maintaining a coherent narrative.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene, while a facilitator or audience member has control over an imaginary “radio dial.” The facilitator calls out different radio stations, genres, or programs, and the players must instantly adapt the scene to fit the new context. Players should maintain the essence of the story while adapting to the various radio formats.
Skills: Quick thinking, character development, adaptability, storytelling
Random Shakespeare
Goal: To practice language, storytelling, and character development by improvising a scene in Shakespearean style.
Level: Advanced
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene in the style of a Shakespearean play. Players must use Elizabethan language, iambic pentameter, and incorporate themes, plots, and character types commonly found in Shakespeare’s works. The focus should be on capturing the essence of Shakespeare’s writing while maintaining a coherent and engaging scene.
Skills: Language, storytelling, character development, adaptability
Rapid Fire Line Up
Goal: To practice thinking on the spot, creativity, and adaptability by responding to rapid-fire questions or prompts.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players stand in a line, and the director or audience members call out rapid-fire questions or prompts. Players must respond quickly and creatively, without hesitation. Players should focus on thinking on the spot, creativity, and adaptability in their responses.
Skills: Thinking on the spot, creativity, adaptability
Real Estate Broker
Goal: To practice creativity, character development, and commitment by portraying a real estate broker showing a series of unusual properties.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player takes on the role of a real estate broker, while the other players portray potential buyers. The broker must show a series of unusual properties (e.g., a haunted house, a treehouse, a space station) and convincingly sell their features to the buyers. Players should focus on creativity, character development, and commitment in their performance.
Skills: Creativity, character development, commitment
Reality TV
Goal: To practice character development, storytelling, and ensemble work by performing a scene in the style of a reality TV show.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in the style of a reality TV show, with one player acting as the host and the others portraying various contestants, judges, or other characters. The focus should be on character development, storytelling, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging reality TV show scene that covers a range of topics and events.
Skills: Character development, storytelling, ensemble work, collaboration
Red Light, Green Light
Goal: To practice focus, adaptability, and physicality by performing a scene while responding to “red light” and “green light” commands.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene. A facilitator or another player calls out “red light” or “green light” during the scene. When “red light” is called, all players must freeze in place, and when “green light” is called, they may resume their actions. Players must adapt to the commands while maintaining a coherent and engaging scene. The focus should be on focus, adaptability, and physicality.
Skills: Focus, adaptability, physicality, scene building
Remake
Goal: To practice adaptability, genre exploration, and collaboration by performing the same scene in different genres.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene. After the scene has concluded, the facilitator or audience members suggest different genres (e.g., horror, romance, science fiction). Players must then perform the same scene again, adapting it to fit the suggested genre. The focus should be on adaptability, genre exploration, and collaboration.
Skills: Adaptability, genre exploration, collaboration, scene building
Remote Control
Goal: To practice quick thinking and adaptability by rapidly switching between various TV channels or shows.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in the style of a specific TV show or channel, based on audience suggestions. An off-stage player or audience member acts as the “remote control”, changing the channel or show at random intervals by calling out new TV show titles or channels. Players must immediately adapt their characters and the scene to fit the new show or channel.
Skills: Quick thinking, adaptability, commitment, genre awareness
Repair Shop
Goal: To practice creativity, focus, and adaptability by portraying a repair shop employee fixing various imaginary objects.
Level: Beginner
Rules: One player takes on the role of a repair shop employee, while the other players bring in imaginary objects for the employee to fix. The employee must use creativity, focus, and adaptability to figure out how to repair each object, using a variety of tools and techniques.
Skills: Creativity, focus, adaptability
Revolving Door
Goal: To practice quick thinking and character development by entering and exiting a scene as different characters.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two players perform a scene, while a third player waits offstage. One of the onstage players must find a reason to leave the scene, at which point the offstage player enters as a new character. The original player then returns as a new character themselves, replacing the other player, who exits the scene. This pattern continues with players entering and exiting the scene as new characters, maintaining a consistent storyline throughout.
Skills: Quick thinking, character development, adaptability, storytelling
Rhythm Circle
Goals: To develop musical skills, enhance listening, and encourage teamwork.
Level: Beginner
Rules: The children sit or stand in a circle. One child starts by creating a simple rhythm using their hands, feet, or an object. The next child in the circle must then add to the rhythm by creating a complementary rhythm or pattern. The game continues around the circle, with each child contributing to the collective rhythm. The goal is to maintain a continuous, evolving rhythm that involves all members of the group.
Skills: Musical skills, listening, teamwork, and coordination.
Role Reversal
Goal: To practice empathy, character development, and adaptability by performing a scene with reversed roles.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene where they take on each other’s roles (e.g., a boss becomes an employee, a parent becomes a child, etc.). Players should focus on empathy, character development, and adaptability in their portrayal of the reversed roles.
Skills: Empathy, character development, adaptability
Roommates
Goal: To practice character development, relationship building, and storytelling by performing a scene involving a group of roommates.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players portray a group of roommates, each with distinct personalities and quirks. The scene revolves around their interactions and relationships as they navigate living together. The focus should be on character development, relationship building, and storytelling.
Skills: Character development, relationship building, storytelling, ensemble work
Rumour Mill
Goals: To develop listening skills, enhance communication, and improve memory.
Level: Beginner
Rules: The children sit or stand in a line or a circle. The facilitator whispers a phrase or sentence into the ear of the first player, who must then whisper the same message to the next player. The message is passed down the line, with each player attempting to accurately relay the information they heard. When the message reaches the last player, they say it out loud, and the group can compare it to the original message to see how it has evolved.
Skills: Listening, communication, memory, and attention to detail.
Samurai
Goal: To practice physicality, focus, and commitment by portraying a samurai warrior in a series of scenes or exercises.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players take turns portraying a samurai warrior in a series of scenes or exercises, focusing on physicality, focus, and commitment in their performance. Players may choose to perform traditional samurai movements, engage in combat, or create their own samurai-inspired scenes.
Scavenger Hunt
Goals: To develop observation skills, enhance problem-solving abilities, and promote collaboration.
Level: Beginner
Rules: The teacher or facilitator hides various objects or pictures around the room or play area. The children are divided into small groups and provided with a list of items to find. The groups must work together to locate the hidden items, using observation and problem-solving skills. The game can be played for a set amount of time or until a group finds all the items on their list.
Skills: Observation, problem-solving, collaboration, and communication.
Scene in Reverse
Goal: To challenge players to tell a coherent story in reverse order, focusing on the cause-and-effect relationships between events.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene, beginning with the final event of the story and working backward through the narrative. Players must pay close attention to the cause-and-effect relationships between events, justifying each action or piece of dialogue by connecting it to the event that would have preceded it in a forward narrative.
Skills: Storytelling, cause-and-effect relationships, attention to detail, creativity
Scene Replay
Goal: To practice adaptability, focus, and character development by replaying a scene with new constraints or conditions.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a short scene. After the scene is completed, the players must replay the scene with new constraints or conditions (e.g., in slow motion, as a musical, with each player swapping roles). Players should focus on adaptability, focus, and character development in their performance.
Skills: Adaptability, focus, character development
Scene to Music
Goal: To practice emotional and physical adaptability by performing a scene that changes with the music played.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene while music is played in the background. Players must adapt their actions, emotions, and dialogue to fit the mood of the music. The scene can change multiple times as the music changes.
Skills: Emotional adaptability, physical adaptability, listening, commitment
Scene to Rap
Goal: To practice rhythm, rhyming, and storytelling by turning a performed scene into a rap.
Level: Advanced
Rules: Players perform a short scene, after which they must turn the scene’s dialogue and actions into a rap, using rhythm, rhyme, and storytelling. Players should focus on maintaining the scene’s structure and characterisation while adding a musical element.
Skills: Rhythm, rhyming, storytelling
Scenes Cut From a Movie
Goal: To perform a series of short scenes that were supposedly “cut” from a well-known movie.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a series of short scenes that are presented as having been “cut” from a well-known movie, which can be suggested by the audience. Players should aim to create scenes that are both humorous and consistent with the tone and style of the chosen movie, while also providing a fresh and unexpected perspective on the film’s characters and storylines.
Skills: Creativity, character work, storytelling, commitment
Scenes From a Hat
Goal: To practice quick thinking, creativity, and adaptability by performing a series of short, unrelated scenes based on audience suggestions.
Level: Advanced
Rules: Players take turns, one at a time, selecting a random scene suggestion from a hat (or another container). They then perform a short scene based on that suggestion, in quick succession. The focus should be on quick thinking, creativity, and adaptability, as players must come up with a scene on the spot and perform it without any preparation.
Skills: Quick thinking, creativity, adaptability
Scenes on a Train
Goal: To practice ensemble work, character development, and creativity by performing a series of short scenes set on a train.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a series of short scenes set on a train. Each scene should focus on different characters and situations, with the train setting providing a unifying theme. The focus should be on ensemble work, character development, and creativity, as players work together to create a diverse range of engaging scenes set on a train.
Skills: Ensemble work, character development, creativity
Secret Leader
Goals: To develop observation skills, enhance concentration, and encourage teamwork.
Level: Beginner
Rules: The children stand in a circle, with one child stepping outside of the room momentarily. The remaining children choose a “Secret Leader” who will initiate subtle movements (e.g., clapping, stomping, or head nodding). The rest of the group must follow the leader’s movements while maintaining a poker face. The child who stepped outside returns and stands in the centre of the circle, trying to identify the Secret Leader by observing the group’s movements. Once the Secret Leader is identified, a new round begins with a different child stepping outside and a new leader being chosen.
Skills: Observation, concentration, teamwork, and non-verbal communication.
Secret Word
Goal: To practice listening, focus, and creativity by incorporating a secret word into a scene.
Level: Beginner
Rules: One player is given a secret word or phrase by the director or audience, and must incorporate it into the scene without the other players noticing. The other players must try to guess the secret word based on the player’s actions and dialogue. Players should focus on listening, focus, and creativity in their attempts to both hide and guess the secret word.
Skills: Listening, focus, creativity
Sentences
Goal: To practice listening, collaboration, and storytelling by incorporating pre-written sentences into a scene.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players are given several pre-written sentences, either created by the facilitator or collected from the audience. Players must perform a scene while incorporating the sentences into their dialogue in a seamless and natural manner. The focus should be on listening, collaboration, and storytelling.
Skills: Listening, collaboration, storytelling, adaptability
Shadow Dance
Goals: To encourage physical expression, develop coordination, and foster creativity.
Level: Beginner
Rules: The teacher or facilitator sets up a projector or light source to cast large shadows on a wall or screen. The children take turns creating unique shadow shapes and figures using their bodies, while the rest of the group watches and tries to guess what the shadow represents. The children can also work together to create more complex shadow figures or tell a story through their shadow creations.
Skills: Physical expression, coordination, creativity, and teamwork.
Show-Stopping Number
Level: Advanced
Rules: Players perform a scene that includes a musical number designed to be the show-stopping moment. The audience can provide suggestions for the characters, setting, or context. Players should focus on developing their characters, exploring relationships, and creating an engaging and entertaining musical narrative that builds up to the show-stopping number.
Skills: Singing, dancing, character work, commitment, storytelling
Sideways Scene
Goal: To practice physicality, creativity, and adaptability by performing a scene on the floor as if it were a wall.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene lying on the floor as if they were standing against a wall. They must use their creativity and adaptability to incorporate the new perspective into their scene, while maintaining their physicality and character development.
Skills: Physicality, creativity, adaptability
Silent Scene
Goal: To enhance nonverbal communication skills, physical storytelling, and character development without relying on dialogue.
Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene without using any dialogue, relying solely on nonverbal communication, physicality, and facial expressions to convey meaning and develop the story.
Skills: Nonverbal communication, physical storytelling, character development, emotional expression
Silly Statues
Goals: To encourage physical expression, develop creativity, and enhance concentration.
Level: Beginner
Rules: The teacher or facilitator calls out a theme or a category (e.g., “jungle animals” or “outer space”). The children must create a “silly statue” by striking a pose related to the theme, using their bodies to express unique ideas and interpretations. The teacher can introduce new themes or categories, and the children must adjust their poses accordingly. The game can be made more challenging by asking the children to hold their poses for longer durations or to create more complex statues.
Skills: Physical expression, creativity, concentration, and adaptability.
Simon Says
Goals: To develop listening skills, enhance concentration, and promote physical activity.
Level: Beginner
Rules: One child is designated as “Simon” and stands in front of the group. “Simon” gives instructions to the other children by saying “Simon says…” followed by an action, such as “touch your toes” or “jump up and down”. The children must perform the action only if it is preceded by “Simon says”. If “Simon” gives an instruction without saying “Simon says”, the children should not perform the action. The game continues until only one child remains, who then becomes the new “Simon”.
Skills: Listening, concentration, physical activity, and following instructions.
Singing Scene
Goal: To practice musical improvisation, creativity, and storytelling by performing a scene that incorporates singing.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene that incorporates singing, either by singing their dialogue or by incorporating songs into the scene. The focus should be on musical improvisation, creativity, and storytelling, as players work together to create an engaging and entertaining scene with a musical element.
Skills: Musical improvisation, creativity, storytelling
Sit, Stand, Kneel, Lie Down
Goal: To practice focus, adaptability, and physicality by performing a scene while maintaining specific physical positions.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Four players perform a scene in which one player must always be sitting, one must always be standing, one player must always be kneeling, and one must always be lying down. If a player changes their position, the other players must adjust their positions accordingly to maintain the sit-stand-kneel-lie down requirement. The focus should be on incorporating the physical positions into the scene while still creating engaging characters and stories.
Skills: Focus, adaptability, physicality, scene building
Six Degrees of Separation
Goal: To practice storytelling, structure, and ensemble work by performing a series of scenes that are connected by a common theme or element.
Level: Advanced
Rules: Players perform a series of scenes that are connected by a common theme or element, such as a prop, location, or character trait. The focus should be on storytelling, structure, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging series of scenes that showcase the connections between the various scenes.
Skills: Storytelling, structure, ensemble work, collaboration
Slideshow
Goal: To develop physical storytelling and creativity by narrating an imaginary slideshow.
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Rules: One player acts as the “Narrator” and describes an imaginary slideshow to the audience. The other players form the images of the slideshow, striking and holding poses that represent the scenes described by the Narrator. The Narrator should give enough detail for the players to create the images, while the players must use their physicality and creativity to bring the Narrator’s descriptions to life.
Skills: Physical storytelling, creativity, narration, teamwork
Slow Motion Commentary
Goal: To enhance physicality and nonverbal storytelling by performing a slow-motion scene with a narrator.
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene in slow motion, using exaggerated physicality and facial expressions to convey the story. Another player provides commentary on the scene, describing the actions, emotions, and events as they unfold in slow motion. The performers must adjust their movements based on the commentary, while the commentator should adapt their narration to the performers’ actions.
Skills: Physicality, nonverbal storytelling, narration, adaptability
Slow Motion Race
Goals: To develop body control, enhance concentration, and encourage friendly competition.
Level: Beginner
Rules: The children line up at one end of the room or a designated starting point. The teacher or facilitator calls out “Go!” and the children must race to the other end of the room, moving as slowly as possible. The goal is to maintain slow, controlled movements while staying in motion. The first child to reach the finish line without speeding up or stopping is the winner.
Skills: Body control, concentration, friendly competition, and physical activity.
Song Styles
Goal: To perform an improvised song in various musical styles based on audience suggestions.
Level: Advanced
Rules: Players take turns performing an improvised song inspired by audience suggestions for both the subject matter and musical style. Players must quickly adapt to the different styles, showcasing their musical versatility and creativity while delivering an entertaining performance.
Skills: Singing, creativity, adaptability, commitment, character work
Song Titles
Goal: To practice committing to a character choice and exploring how it affects a scene.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Each player is assigned a specific facial expression by the audience or an off-stage player (e.g. happy, sad, angry, surprised, etc.). Players must maintain their assigned expression throughout the scene and justify their character’s emotions based on that expression.
Skills: Commitment, character work, emotional exploration
Soundscape
Goals: To foster creativity, improve listening skills, and develop concentration.
Level: Beginner
Rules: The children sit or stand in a circle, and the teacher or facilitator introduces a theme or setting (e.g., a busy city, a jungle, or a beach). One child begins by making a sound that represents the chosen theme or setting. The next child adds another sound, layering it on top of the first. This continues around the circle, with each child contributing a unique sound to create an immersive soundscape. Once all sounds are established, the teacher can guide the children in adjusting the volume or intensity of their sounds, exploring the dynamics of the soundscape.
Skills: Creativity, active listening, concentration, and collaboration.
Soundtrack
Goal: To practice incorporating music into scenes and adapting to changing musical cues.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene while a designated person plays music in the background. The players must adapt their performance to the music, using it to influence the mood, tone, and pace of the scene. The focus should be on incorporating music into the scene and adapting to changing musical cues.
Skills: Adaptability, incorporating music, improvisational humour
Sound Ball
Goal: To practice focus, listening, and nonverbal communication by passing imaginary sound balls between players.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players stand in a circle and create an imaginary sound ball by making a sound and a corresponding gesture. The player then “passes” the sound ball to another player by mimicking the sound and gesture. The receiving player must catch the sound ball by replicating the sound and gesture, and then pass it to another player with a new sound and gesture. The focus should be on focus, listening, and nonverbal communication.
Skills: Focus, listening, nonverbal communication, teamwork
Sound Circle
Goal: To practice listening, focus, and nonverbal communication by creating a soundscape within a circle of players.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players stand in a circle and take turns creating a sound, with the goal of building a cohesive soundscape. Each player listens to the sounds being made by the other players and adds their own sound, either by echoing an existing sound or introducing a new one. The focus should be on listening, focus, and nonverbal communication.
Skills: Listening, focus, nonverbal communication, teamwork
Sound Effects
Goals: To enhance listening skills, promote creativity, and develop a sense of humour.
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Rules: The teacher or facilitator prepares a set of cards, each containing a sound effect, such as “thunder”, “car horn”, or “squeaky door”. One child draws a card and must create the sound effect using only their voice or body. The rest of the group listens and tries to guess the sound effect based on the child’s performance. The game continues until all children have had a chance to create a sound effect.
Skills: Listening, creativity, humour, and communication.
Sound Effects
Goal: To enhance storytelling, creativity, and collaboration by incorporating sound effects into a scene.
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene, while one or more additional players provide sound effects to accompany the action. The players in the scene should react to and incorporate the sound effects into their storytelling, while the sound effects players should listen closely to the scene and add appropriate sounds. The focus should be on collaboration, creativity, and enhancing the scene through the use of sound.
Skills: Storytelling, creativity, collaboration, listening
Space Jump
Goals: To develop imaginative thinking, enhance storytelling skills, and encourage self-expression.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One child stands in the centre of the room and starts to act out a scene from an imaginary story. The teacher or facilitator calls out “Space Jump!” and another child joins the scene, adding their own character and contributions to the narrative. The game continues with more children joining the scene as the story unfolds. The teacher can also call out “Space Out!” to signal children to leave the scene, adapting the story as necessary.
Skills: Imaginative thinking, storytelling, self-expression, and collaboration.
Space Jump
Goal: To create a cohesive narrative by connecting unrelated scenes through shared themes or ideas.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two players begin a scene. At any point, a player from the sidelines can call “Freeze!” and enter the scene, replacing one of the current players. The new player starts a completely different scene, but the scene must share a thematic or narrative connection to the previous scene. Players continue to jump in, creating new connected scenes as the game progresses.
Skills: Creativity, listening, storytelling, thematic exploration
Speech Jammer
Goal: To practice concentration, adaptability, and storytelling by performing a monologue or scene while listening to a delayed version of their own voice.
Level: Advanced
Rules: A player performs a monologue or scene while wearing headphones that play back a delayed version of their own voice. The player must continue speaking despite the auditory interference, focusing on concentration, adaptability, and storytelling to maintain the narrative.
Skills: Concentration, adaptability, storytelling, focus
Spelling Challenge
Goal: To practice spelling, memory, and quick thinking by engaging in a game where players must spell words backward and forward.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player calls out a word, and the other players must take turns spelling the word, first forward and then backward. The focus should be on spelling, memory, and quick thinking as players work together to accurately spell the word in both directions.
Skills: Spelling, memory, quick thinking
Spiderweb
Goal: To practice listening, focus, and nonverbal communication by connecting players in a web of imaginary strings.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players stand in a circle and use imaginary strings to connect themselves to one another. One player begins by sending a nonverbal signal (such as a gesture or facial expression) to another player while “connecting” them with a string. The receiving player then sends a signal to a different player while connecting them with another string. The process continues until all players are connected. The focus should be on listening, focus, and nonverbal communication, as players work together to create a web of connections.
Skills: Listening, focus, nonverbal communication, collaboration
Spontaneous Broadway
Goal: To practice musical improvisation, storytelling, and ensemble work by creating and performing an impromptu musical.
Level: Advanced
Rules: Players collaborate to create and perform an original musical, complete with dialogue, songs, and choreography. The focus should be on musical improvisation, storytelling, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a cohesive and engaging narrative.
Skills: Musical improvisation, storytelling, ensemble work, creativity
Sportscasters
Goal: To practice comedic commentary, physicality, and teamwork by performing a scene as sportscasters and athletes.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two players take on the roles of sportscasters and provide humorous commentary on the actions of the other two players, who are performing as athletes in a fictional sport. The athletes must incorporate the commentary into their actions, while the sportscasters react to the athletes’ performance.
Skills: Comedic commentary, physicality, teamwork
Story Chain
Goals: To enhance storytelling skills, promote active listening, and foster teamwork.
Level: Beginner
Rules: The children sit in a circle. The teacher or facilitator begins a story with a sentence or two. The story then proceeds around the circle, with each child adding a sentence to continue the narrative. The goal is to create a cohesive and engaging story, despite the unpredictable nature of the storytelling process. If desired, the teacher can provide a theme or story prompt to guide the children’s contributions.
Skills: Storytelling, active listening, creativity, and teamwork.
Storyboard
Goal: To practice storytelling, collaboration, and creativity by constructing a story using a series of images.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players stand in a line facing the audience. One player steps forward and creates a frozen image with their body, representing the beginning of a story. The next player steps forward and adds another image, continuing the story. Players continue to step forward and create images until a complete story has been formed. Once the story is complete, players can discuss the narrative they created and the connections between the images. The focus should be on storytelling, collaboration, and creativity.
Skills: Storytelling, collaboration, creativity, physicality
Storyteller
Goal: To practice storytelling, collaboration, and adaptability by creating a group story with each player contributing one line at a time.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players stand in a circle or line and take turns contributing one line at a time to create a group story. Each player should listen to the lines before theirs and build upon the narrative, ensuring the story flows smoothly and logically. The focus should be on collaboration, active listening, and adaptability as players work together to create an engaging story.
Skills: Storytelling, collaboration, active listening, adaptability
Story Time
Goal: To practice storytelling, collaboration, and ensemble work by performing a scene in which players take turns narrating a story.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in which they take turns narrating a story, with each player contributing to the narrative as it unfolds. The focus should be on storytelling, collaboration, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging story that is driven by their collective input and creativity.
Skills: Storytelling, collaboration, ensemble work
Strange Bedfellows
Goal: To practice character work and explore unusual relationships between characters in a scene.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene where they are all sharing a bed or sleeping in close proximity. The audience can provide suggestions for the characters or relationships. Players should focus on exploring the dynamics between the characters and discovering interesting and funny situations that arise from the unusual arrangement.
Skills: Character work, relationship building, commitment, listening
Stunt Double
Goal: To practice physicality, focus, and collaboration by having one player perform the physical actions of a scene while another player provides the dialogue.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two players perform a scene in which one player provides the dialogue while the other player performs the physical actions. The players must collaborate and focus on timing to ensure the actions and dialogue sync up. Players should focus on physicality, focus, and collaboration in their performance.
Skills: Physicality, focus, collaboration
Superheroes
Goals: To foster creativity, promote self-expression, and encourage imaginative play.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Each child creates an original superhero persona, complete with a unique name, costume, and special powers. The children then take turns acting out their superhero characters in front of the group, explaining their abilities and demonstrating their powers through movement and dialogue. The rest of the group can ask questions or interact with the superhero, engaging in playful and creative role-play.
Skills: Creativity, self-expression, imagination, and communication.
Superheroes
Goal: To practice character development, creativity, and storytelling by performing a scene involving a group of superheroes.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players take on the roles of various superheroes, each with unique powers and quirks. The scene revolves around their interactions and efforts to save the day. The focus should be on character development, creativity, and storytelling, as players work together to create an engaging and dynamic scene.
Skills: Character development, creativity, storytelling, ensemble work
Superpower Swap
Goal: To practice character development and physicality by giving and taking away superpowers.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in which they have a superpower. During the scene, players can “swap” superpowers with other players by touching them. Players must then incorporate their new superpower into the scene and adjust their physicality accordingly.
Skills: Character development, physicality, adaptability
Super Mario Scene
Goal: To practice physicality, creativity, and storytelling by performing a scene inspired by the world of Super Mario.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene set in the world of Super Mario, incorporating elements such as power-ups, obstacles, and familiar characters. The focus should be on physicality, creativity, and storytelling, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene.
Skills: Physicality, creativity, storytelling, ensemble work
Tagline Takedown
Goal: To practice creativity, adaptability, and ensemble work by performing a scene inspired by a tagline from a real or fictional movie.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene inspired by a tagline from a real or fictional movie, either provided by the audience or pre-determined. The focus should be on creativity, adaptability, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that incorporates the given tagline.
Skills: Creativity, adaptability, ensemble work, collaboration
Take Over
Goal: To practice listening, adaptability, and ensemble work by having one player take over another player’s character mid-scene.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene, and at any point, one player can call out “Take over!” and assume the role of another player’s character. The original player must then take on a new character or leave the scene. The focus should be on listening, adaptability, and ensemble work, as players must quickly adapt to the character changes and maintain the flow of the scene.
Skills: Listening, adaptability, ensemble work, collaboration
Talk Show
Goal: To develop character creation, improvisational skills, and the ability to think on one’s feet in a talk show format.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player acts as the talk show host, while two or more other players assume the roles of guests, either created on the spot or assigned by the facilitator or audience. The host conducts interviews with the guests, who must answer questions and interact with the host and each other in character. The scene should aim for a blend of humour and character development.
Skills: Character creation, improvisation, quick thinking, interaction
Tap Out
Goal: To practice quick thinking, character work, and seamless scene transitions by having players “tap out” one another to take over a character or scene.
Level: Advanced
Rules: Two players begin a scene, and at any point, a player offstage can “tap out” one of the performers and take their place, assuming their character or introducing a new one. The focus should be on quick thinking, character work, and seamless scene transitions as players navigate the challenge of jumping in and out of scenes and maintaining continuity.
Skills: Quick thinking, character work, scene transitions
Taxi
Goal: To practice character development, storytelling, and adaptability by performing a scene set in a taxi.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player takes on the role of a taxi driver, while the other players enter and exit the taxi as various passengers. The focus should be on character development, storytelling, and adaptability, as players work together to create a series of engaging and dynamic interactions.
Skills: Character development, storytelling, adaptability, ensemble work
Telephone Pantomime
Goals: To improve non-verbal communication, develop memory, and enhance concentration.
Level: Beginner
Rules: The children line up, facing the same direction. The first child in the line performs a short, silent pantomime for the second child, who must watch carefully and then perform the same pantomime for the third child. The pantomime continues down the line, with each child attempting to accurately reproduce the performance they saw. When the pantomime reaches the last child, they perform it for the entire group, and the first child reveals the original pantomime to compare the two.
Skills: Non-verbal communication, memory, concentration, and attention to detail.
The Body Game
Goal: To practice physicality, creativity, and ensemble work by performing a scene with one player acting as another player’s body.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two players perform a scene, with one player acting as the other player’s body. The “body” player stands behind the “head” player and provides their arms and hands, while the “head” player provides the dialogue and facial expressions. The focus should be on physicality, creativity, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a cohesive and engaging scene.
Skills: Physicality, creativity, ensemble work, character development
The Dating Game
Goal: To practice character development, storytelling, and humour by creating a dating show with unique and quirky characters.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player takes on the role of the contestant, while three other players become potential dates. The contestant leaves the room while the potential dates each create a unique and quirky character with a specific trait, occupation, or quirk. The contestant returns and asks each potential date a series of questions, trying to guess their character traits. The potential dates answer in character, providing hints and entertaining responses. The focus should be on character development, storytelling, and creating humorous interactions.
Skills: Character development, storytelling, humour, active listening
Theme Song
Goal: To practice musical improvisation, creativity, and collaboration by creating and performing a theme song for a given topic.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players collaborate to create and perform an original theme song for a given topic, such as a television show, product, or event. The focus should be on musical improvisation, creativity, and collaboration, as players work together to create a catchy and engaging tune.
Skills: Musical improvisation, creativity, collaboration, ensemble work
Themed Questions
Goal: To practice creativity, listening, and ensemble work by answering a series of questions based on a specific theme.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players stand in a circle and take turns answering a series of questions based on a specific theme, such as “What would you do if you were invisible?” or “What is your favourite type of sandwich?” The focus should be on creativity, listening, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging conversation around the chosen theme.
Skills: Creativity, listening, ensemble work, collaboration
Themed Restaurant
Goal: To practice characterisation, world-building, and comedy by performing a scene set in a themed restaurant.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene set in a fictional-themed restaurant, creating characters, a setting, and a story that fit within the chosen theme. They must use characterisation, world-building, and comedy to make the scene as entertaining and engaging as possible.
Skills: Characterisation, world-building, comedy
Thespian Theatre
Goal: To practice exaggerated acting and comedic timing by performing scenes in an overly dramatic, theatrical manner.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene, but with the added challenge of making their acting as exaggerated and theatrical as possible. The focus should be on comedic timing and exaggerated acting, as players create entertaining and highly dramatic scenes.
Skills: Exaggerated acting, comedic timing, improvisational humour
Three-Headed Expert
Goal: To practice collaboration, creativity, and adaptability by performing a scene as a three-headed expert.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Three players take on the role of a single expert, with each player providing one word at a time to form sentences. The focus should be on collaboration, creativity, and adaptability, as players work together to answer questions and create a cohesive character.
Skills: Collaboration, creativity, adaptability, ensemble work
Three-Line Scenes
Goal: To practice brevity, character development, and creativity by performing short scenes consisting of only three lines.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players perform short scenes consisting of only three lines. The focus should be on brevity, character development, and creativity, as players work together to create engaging and memorable scenes within the constraints of the three-line format.
Skills: Brevity, character development, creativity
Three-Word Scenes
Goal: To practice concise communication, teamwork, and storytelling by performing a scene in which players can only speak in three-word sentences.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in which they can only speak in three-word sentences. Players must work together to communicate effectively and tell a coherent story using their limited vocabulary. The focus should be on concise communication, teamwork, and storytelling.
Skills: Concise communication, teamwork, storytelling
Time Jump
Goal: To explore the impact of different time periods on a scene and its characters.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene. At any point, the facilitator or audience can call out a specific time period, either in the past or future, and the players must instantly adapt the scene to fit the new time period. Players should explore how the change in time affects the characters, their relationships, and the overall story.
Skills: Adaptability, historical understanding, character development, storytelling
Time Travel
Goal: To practice creativity, storytelling, and adaptability by performing a scene that incorporates time travel.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene that incorporates time travel, either by travelling to different time periods or by having characters from different time periods interact within the scene. The focus should be on creating a believable and engaging storyline that incorporates the unique challenges and opportunities presented by time travel.
Skills: Creativity, storytelling, adaptability
Titanic Tableau
Goal: To practice physicality, focus, and storytelling by creating a group tableau based on a given theme or suggestion.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players create a group tableau (a frozen picture) based on a given theme or suggestion. The tableau should tell a story or convey a message, with players focusing on physicality, focus, and storytelling in their poses.
Skills: Physicality, focus, storytelling
Titles From a Hat
Goal: To develop creativity and storytelling skills by generating scenes based on random titles.
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Rules: Before the game begins, the audience or facilitator provides various fictional movie, book, or play titles. These titles are placed in a hat, and players draw a title at random. Players must then perform a scene inspired by the title, creating a story that could potentially fit the chosen title.
Skills: Creativity, storytelling, adaptation, collaboration
Triads
Goal: To practice creating interesting relationships between three characters by engaging in a game where players form a triangle and explore the dynamics of their characters’ connections.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Three players form a triangle, each taking on a unique character. The focus should be on exploring the relationships between the characters, using their connections to create interesting and engaging scenes. Players may switch positions within the triangle to explore different dynamics between the characters.
Skills: Character development, relationship building, scene work
Trigger Phrases
Goal: To practice listening and reacting by incorporating trigger phrases into a scene.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene where each is given a “trigger phrase.” When a player hears their trigger phrase, they must react in a predetermined way (e.g., becoming angry, laughing, etc.). Players should focus on listening for their trigger phrase and reacting accordingly.
Skills: Listening, reacting, commitment
Triptych
Goal: To practice ensemble work, storytelling, and scene building by performing three interconnected scenes.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Three separate scenes are performed, each involving two or more players. The scenes should be distinct but interconnected, either through characters, themes, or narrative elements. After all three scenes have been performed, players revisit each scene in the same order, further developing the connections between them. The focus should be on ensemble work, storytelling, and scene building, creating a cohesive and engaging narrative across all three scenes.
Skills: Ensemble work, storytelling, scene building, collaboration
Truth or Lie
Goals: To develop critical thinking, enhance communication skills, and promote self-expression.
Level: Beginner
Rules: The children sit or stand in a circle. One child starts by sharing two facts about themselves – one true and one false. The other children must ask questions and use their critical thinking skills to determine which statement is true and which is false. Once the truth has been revealed, the next child shares two facts about themselves, and the game continues around the circle.
Skills: Critical thinking, communication, self-expression, and listening.
Two-Headed Monster
Goal: To practice active listening, synchronicity, and ensemble work by having two players speak as one character.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two players stand side by side and speak as one character, alternating words to create sentences. The focus should be on active listening, synchronicity, and ensemble work, as the players work together to create a single, coherent character voice.
Skills: Active listening, synchronicity, ensemble work
Two-Line Vocabulary
Goal: To practice adaptability, character development, and storytelling by performing a scene in which two characters can only speak predetermined lines.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Three players perform a scene in which two of the players can only speak lines assigned to them before the scene begins. The third player must adapt their dialogue to the limitations of the other two characters, focusing on adaptability, character development, and storytelling.
Skills: Adaptability, character development, storytelling, listening
Two Sentence Stories
Goal: To practice storytelling, creativity, and brevity by creating stories based on two-sentence descriptions.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players take turns creating stories based on two-sentence descriptions provided by the audience or other players. The focus should be on storytelling, creativity, and brevity, as players strive to create engaging and entertaining stories within the constraints of just two sentences.
Skills: Storytelling, creativity, brevity
Typewriter
Goal: To practice storytelling, character development, and creativity by performing a scene inspired by a “typed” story.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player takes on the role of a typist and narrates a story by “typing” on an imaginary typewriter. The other players perform the scene as the story unfolds, incorporating the narration into their performance. Players should focus on storytelling, character development, and creativity in their performance.
Skills: Storytelling, character development, creativity
Vacuum
Goal: To practice physicality, environment work, and ensemble work by performing a scene in which players must interact with an imaginary vacuum cleaner.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players perform a scene in which they must interact with an imaginary vacuum cleaner, using physicality and environment work to convey the presence of the vacuum cleaner in the scene. The focus should be on physicality, environment work, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that incorporates the imaginary object.
Skills: Physicality, environment work, ensemble work, collaboration
Ventriloquist
Goal: To practice physicality, character development, and storytelling by performing a scene as a ventriloquist and their puppet.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player takes on the role of a ventriloquist, while the other player becomes their puppet. The ventriloquist must control the puppet’s movements and speak for both characters, while the puppet must remain physically and vocally passive. The focus should be on physicality, character development, and storytelling, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene.
Skills: Physicality, character development, storytelling, ensemble work
Versus Battle
Goal: To practice character development, justification, and ensemble work by performing a scene in which two characters engage in a friendly competition or debate.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two players perform a scene in which their characters engage in a friendly competition or debate (e.g., a cooking contest, a political debate, a rap battle). The focus should be on character development, justification, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that explores the characters’ motivations, strengths, and weaknesses.
Skills: Character development, justification, ensemble work
Very Impressive Scene
Goal: To practice heightening emotions, stakes, and tension in a scene by engaging in a game where players strive to make each moment more impressive and dramatic than the previous one.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two or more players create a scene, with the goal of making each moment more impressive and dramatic than the previous one. Players should focus on heightening emotions, stakes, and tension in the scene, continually pushing the limits of what their characters can do and how they react.
Skills: Emotional heightening, raising stakes, tension building
Very Punny Scene
Goal: To practice wit, wordplay, and improvisational humour by performing a scene filled with puns and wordplay.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene that incorporates puns and wordplay, either through dialogue or the incorporation of physical objects and actions. The focus should be on wit, wordplay, and improvisational humour, as players strive to create an engaging and entertaining scene filled with clever language and humour.
Skills: Wit, wordplay, improvisational humour
Very Sassy Scene
Goal: To practice character development, emotional expression, and improvisational humour by performing scenes in which characters are extremely sassy or sarcastic.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players create characters with extreme sass or sarcasm and improvise scenes based on those characters. The focus should be on character development, emotional expression, and improvisational humour, as players create engaging and entertaining scenes.
Skills: Character development, emotional expression, improvisational humour
Very Serious Matters
Goal: To practice emotional commitment, character development, and ensemble work by performing a scene involving characters discussing a serious issue or topic.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene involving characters discussing a serious issue or topic, such as a political debate, a family crisis, or a moral dilemma. The focus should be on emotional commitment, character development, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that showcases the characters’ emotions, motivations, and relationships.
Skills: Emotional commitment, character development, ensemble work
Very Silly Scene
Goal: To practice humour, character development, and creativity by performing a scene with exaggerated and absurd situations and characters.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in which they incorporate elements of silliness, exaggeration, and absurdity into their characters, dialogue, and actions. The focus should be on humor, character development, and creativity, as players work together to create a funny and entertaining scene.
Skills: Humor, character development, creativity
Very Smart Scene
Goal: To practice wit, wordplay, and intellectual humour by performing a scene with an emphasis on intelligent dialogue and clever humour.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene that focuses on witty dialogue, clever wordplay, and intellectual humour. The scene should be filled with smart references, puns, or other forms of intelligent humour. The focus should be on wit, wordplay, and intellectual humour, as players work together to create a scene that is both engaging and funny.
Skills: Wit, wordplay, intellectual humour
Very Strong Scene
Goal: To practice commitment, character development, and emotional range by performing a scene with a focus on strong emotions and high stakes.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene with a focus on strong emotions and high stakes, such as a life-or-death situation or an emotionally charged confrontation. Players should focus on committing fully to their characters and the emotions of the scene, while also maintaining a sense of humor and playfulness.
Skills: Commitment, character development, emotional range
Voices
Goal: To practice character development, vocalization, and ensemble work by performing a scene with exaggerated character voices.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in which each character uses an exaggerated or unique voice. The focus should be on character development, vocalization, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that showcases their vocal range and creativity.
Skills: Character development, vocalization, ensemble work
Voices in Your Head
Goal: To practice listening, focus, and ensemble work by performing a scene in which one player provides the internal thoughts of another player’s character.
Walk and Talk
Goal: To practice physicality, pacing, and listening by performing a scene while constantly moving.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene where they must be walking and talking at all times. The scene should still have a clear beginning, middle, and end, with players focusing on physicality, pacing, and listening.
Skills: Physicality, pacing, listening
Weird Newscasters
Goal: To practice characterisation, comedy, and storytelling by performing a scene as news anchors with bizarre quirks.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene as news anchors, with each player assigned a strange quirk or characteristic. They must incorporate their quirks into the scene while maintaining the structure and characterisation of a news broadcast.
Skills: Characterisation, comedy, storytelling
What Are You Doing?
Goal: To practice spontaneity, creativity, and ensemble work by performing a scene in which players must justify their actions based on an audience suggestion.
Level: Beginner
Rules: One player starts a scene by performing a specific action, and another player enters and asks, “What are you doing?” The first player must then justify their action based on an audience suggestion, and the second player must continue the scene based on the justification. The focus should be on spontaneity, creativity, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that incorporates audience input.
Skills: Spontaneity, creativity, ensemble work, collaboration
What If?
Goal: To practice creativity, adaptability, and storytelling by improvising scenes based on hypothetical “what if” situations.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players take suggestions from the audience for hypothetical “what if” situations (e.g., “What if gravity stopped working?” or “What if everyone could read minds?”) and then improvise scenes exploring these situations. The focus should be on creativity, adaptability, and storytelling, as players create engaging and entertaining scenes based on these unusual scenarios.
Skills: Creativity, adaptability, storytelling
What’s My Line?
Goal: To practice active listening, quick thinking, and ensemble work by incorporating randomly assigned lines of dialogue into a scene.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Before the scene, players or audience members write random lines of dialogue on slips of paper, which are then distributed to the players. During the scene, players must incorporate their assigned lines into their dialogue at appropriate moments. The focus should be on active listening, quick thinking, and ensemble work, as players work together to seamlessly integrate the random lines into the scene.
Skills: Active listening, quick thinking, ensemble work
What’s The Scenario?
Goal: To practice quick thinking, creativity, and storytelling by creating scenes based on scenarios provided by the facilitator or other players.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players create scenes based on scenarios provided by the facilitator or other players. The focus should be on quick thinking, creativity, and storytelling, as players create engaging and entertaining scenes.
Skills: Quick thinking, creativity, storytelling
What’s Your Excuse?
Goal: To practice thinking on your feet and coming up with creative explanations for unusual situations.
Level: Beginner
Rules: One player presents another player with an unusual situation, and the second player must come up with a creative and plausible explanation or excuse for the situation. The focus should be on thinking on your feet and coming up with creative explanations.
Skills: Quick thinking, creativity, storytelling
What’s Your Superpower?
Goal: To practice character development, creativity, and adaptability by performing a scene in which players take on unique superpowers.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in which they take on unique superpowers, either assigned by a director, chosen by the players themselves, or suggested by the audience. Players must maintain their superpowers throughout the scene and adapt their interactions with each other accordingly.
Skills: Character development, creativity, adaptability
Who Am I?
Goal: To practice character work, listening, and quick thinking by having players guess the identity of their own character based on the way others interact with them.
Level: Advanced
Rules: One player leaves the room while the others decide on a character for them to portray. When the player returns, they must interact with the other players in a scene without knowing who their character is. The other players should provide clues through their dialogue and actions. The focus should be on character work, listening, and quick thinking as the guessing player navigates the scene and works to discover their character’s identity.
Skills: Character work, listening, quick thinking
Who, What, Where
Goal: To practice establishing the basic elements of a scene (who, what, and where) and ensemble work by performing a scene in which players quickly establish the characters, situation, and setting.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players perform a scene in which they quickly establish the characters (who), situation (what), and setting (where) within the first few lines of dialogue. The focus should be on establishing the basic elements of the scene and ensemble work, as players work together to create a clear and engaging scene that is grounded in a strong foundation.
Skills: Establishing the basic elements of a scene, ensemble work
Whoosh
Goals: To promote quick thinking, enhance concentration, and foster physical expression.
Level: Beginner
Rules: The children stand in a circle. The game begins with one child making a “whoosh” sound and passing an imaginary energy ball to another child in the circle using their hands. That child must accept the energy ball and pass it on to another child with the same “whoosh” sound. The game can be made more challenging by introducing additional rules, such as reversing the ball’s direction with a “whoa” sound, skipping a person with a “zoom” sound, or passing the ball to a non-adjacent person with a “zap” sound.
Skills: Quick thinking, concentration, physical expression, and adaptability.
Whose Line Is It Anyway?
Goal: To practice incorporating pre-written lines into an improvised scene by engaging in a game where players must use lines provided by the audience or other players.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Two or more players create a scene, but they must incorporate pre-written lines provided by the audience or other players. The lines can be anything from famous movie quotes to random phrases. The focus should be on integrating the lines seamlessly into the scene, making them feel like natural parts of the characters’ dialogue.
Skills: Incorporating external elements, quick thinking, dialogue
Word Association
Goals: To enhance vocabulary, encourage quick thinking, and develop listening skills.
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Rules: The children sit or stand in a circle. One child starts by saying a word. The next child must say a word related to the first word, and the game continues with each child contributing a word associated with the previous word. The goal is to maintain a continuous flow of words and associations, with no long pauses or repetition. If a child cannot think of a word, they can ask for help or the group can move on to the next participant.
Skills: Vocabulary, quick thinking, listening, and communication.
Word at a Time Story
Goals: To promote active listening, enhance communication skills, and foster creative thinking.
Level: Beginner
Rules: The children sit or stand in a circle. The objective is to create a story, with each child contributing one word at a time. The first child begins with a single word, and the story proceeds around the circle with each child adding one word to the narrative. The goal is to create a cohesive and engaging story, while paying attention to grammar and sentence structure. If desired, the teacher can provide a theme or story prompt to guide the children’s contributions.
Skills: Active listening, communication, creative thinking, and collaboration.
Word at a Time Story
Goal: To practice listening, collaboration, and storytelling by creating a story one word at a time.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players stand in a circle and create a story by contributing one word at a time, going around the circle. Players must listen carefully and build on the words of the previous players to create a coherent and engaging story. The focus should be on listening, collaboration, and storytelling.
Skills: Listening, collaboration, storytelling, focus
Word at a Time Expert
Goal: To practice listening, collaboration, and ensemble work by answering questions as a group, speaking one word at a time.
Level: Beginner
Rules: One player asks a series of questions, while the other players answer as a group, speaking one word at a time. The focus should be on listening, collaboration, and ensemble work, as players work together to create coherent and engaging answers to the questions.
Skills: Listening, collaboration, ensemble work
Word Association
Goal: To develop listening and quick thinking skills by rapidly responding to words with associated words.
Level: Beginner
Rules: A group of players stands in a circle. One player starts by saying a word, and the next player in the circle must immediately respond with a word that is associated with the previous word. The game continues around the circle, with each player contributing a word based on the previous word. Players should focus on quick thinking and making clear connections between words.
Skills: Listening, quick thinking, word association, focus
Word Ball
Goal: To practice listening, focus, and quick thinking by passing imaginary words in a circle.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players stand in a circle and imagine they are holding a ball containing a word. One player “throws” the word ball to another player, who must “catch” the word and say it out loud before passing it on to someone else. The focus should be on listening, focus, and quick thinking, as players work together to keep the pace of the game moving quickly.
Skills: Listening, focus, quick thinking, collaboration
Word of the Day
Goal: To practice adaptability, creativity, and storytelling by incorporating a specific word into a scene.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players are given a word of the day, which they must incorporate into their scene in creative and meaningful ways. The focus should be on adaptability, creativity, and storytelling, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that highlights the chosen word.
Skills: Adaptability, creativity, storytelling, ensemble work
World’s Worst
Goal: To practice creativity, comedic timing, and ensemble work by performing a series of rapid-fire scenes showcasing the world’s worst examples of a given profession, activity, or situation.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players take turns performing short, rapid-fire scenes that showcase the world’s worst examples of a given profession, activity, or situation (e.g., world’s worst doctor, world’s worst date, world’s worst job interview). The focus should be on creativity, comedic timing, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging series of scenes that explore the humorous potential of each scenario.
Skills: Creativity, comedic timing, ensemble work, collaboration
Worst Day Ever
Goal: To practice storytelling and exaggeration by recounting an increasingly terrible day.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players take turns sharing their “worst day ever,” starting with a mildly bad event and escalating with each turn. The story should become more and more exaggerated as it progresses.
Skills: Storytelling, exaggeration, creativity
X Marks The Spot
Goal: To practice physicality, spatial awareness, and ensemble work by performing a scene that revolves around a specific location marked by an “X”.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene that revolves around a specific location, marked by an “X” on the stage. Players must interact with the “X” and use it as a focal point for their actions and dialogue. The focus should be on physicality, spatial awareness, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene.
Skills: Physicality, spatial awareness, ensemble work, storytelling
X-Factor
Goal: To practice character development, performance, and ensemble work by performing a scene in the style of a talent show or competition.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in the style of a talent show or competition, with one player acting as the host and the others portraying various contestants, judges, or other characters. The focus should be on character development, performance, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging talent show scene that showcases a range of talents and personalities.
Skills: Character development, performance, ensemble work, collaboration
X-Ray
Goal: To practice storytelling, creativity, and ensemble work by performing a scene in which players must reveal hidden secrets or emotions.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in which they must reveal hidden secrets or emotions of their characters, either through dialogue or physicality. The focus should be on storytelling, creativity, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that delves deeper into their characters’ lives.
Skills: Storytelling, creativity, ensemble work, collaboration
X-Treme Guessing Game
Goal: To practice observation, teamwork, and quick thinking by trying to guess an object, person, or concept based on the actions of other players.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player is the guesser, while the other players act out clues related to a secret object, person, or concept. The guesser must quickly observe the actions of the other players and try to determine what they are acting out. The focus should be on observation, teamwork, and quick thinking, as players work together to convey the secret object, person, or concept without directly saying it.
Skills: Observation, teamwork, quick thinking
X-Treme Improv
Goal: To practice pushing the boundaries of physicality, emotion, and character by engaging in a game where players must perform scenes with exaggerated intensity.
Level: Advanced
Rules: Two or more players create a scene, but they must perform with exaggerated intensity, pushing the boundaries of physicality, emotion, and character. The focus should be on maintaining this heightened level of performance throughout the scene, challenging players to explore new depths in their characters and actions.
Skills: Physicality, emotional intensity, character development
X-Treme Taboo
Goal: To practice quick thinking, creativity, and communication by playing a high-stakes version of the classic game Taboo.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players split into teams and take turns playing a high-stakes version of the classic game Taboo. One player from each team must describe a word or phrase without using certain “taboo” words, while their teammates attempt to guess the word or phrase. The focus should be on quick thinking, creativity, and communication, as players work to describe the word or phrase without using the forbidden words.
Skills: Quick thinking, creativity, communication
X-Treme Truth or Dare
Goal: To practice physicality, adaptability, and improvisational humor by performing scenes based on “truth or dare” challenges.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players take turns choosing “truth” or “dare,” with the facilitator or other players providing the challenges. The focus should be on physicality, adaptability, and improvisational humor, as players create engaging and entertaining scenes based on the challenges.
Skills: Physicality, adaptability, improvisational humour
Xtraordinary
Goal: To practice character development, imagination, and ensemble work by performing a scene in which characters possess extraordinary abilities or characteristics.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in which their characters possess extraordinary abilities or characteristics (e.g., superpowers, magical abilities, unusual talents). The focus should be on character development, imagination, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that showcases their characters’ extraordinary traits.
Skills: Character development, imagination, ensemble work
Xylophone
Goal: To practice listening, musicality, and ensemble work by performing a scene in which players mimic the sounds of a xylophone.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players perform a scene in which they mimic the sounds of a xylophone using their voices or other body parts. The focus should be on listening, musicality, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that incorporates the xylophone sounds and showcases their creativity and musical skills.
Skills: Listening, musicality, ensemble work
XYZ Ball Game
Goal: To practice focus, listening, and ensemble work by performing a scene in which players must pass an imaginary ball using the letters X, Y, and Z.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players perform a scene in which they must pass an imaginary ball to one another using only the letters X, Y, and Z. Players can say “X” to pass the ball, “Y” to receive the ball, and “Z” to intercept the ball. The focus should be on focus, listening, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that incorporates the imaginary ball and the unique constraints of the game.
Skills: Focus, listening, ensemble work, collaboration
Yarns
Goal: To practice storytelling, character development, and ensemble work by performing a scene in which characters tell stories or anecdotes.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in which characters tell stories or anecdotes, either to each other or to an audience. The focus should be on storytelling, character development, and ensemble work, as players work together to create engaging and memorable stories that showcase their characters’ personalities, backgrounds, and perspectives.
Skills: Storytelling, character development, ensemble work
Yee-Haw!
Goal: To practice character development, storytelling, and ensemble work by performing a scene set in a Western or cowboy-themed environment.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene set in a Western or cowboy-themed environment, with each player portraying a specific character or archetype from the genre. The focus should be on character development, storytelling, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging Western scene that covers a range of emotions, relationships, and plot twists.
Skills: Character development, storytelling, ensemble work, collaboration
Yes, Let’s
Goals: To develop teamwork, improve listening skills, and foster creative thinking.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: The children form a circle, and one child begins by making a statement or suggesting an idea. The next child must respond with “Yes, and…” and then build upon the previous statement or idea. The game continues around the circle with each child adding to the narrative while affirming and extending the ideas of their peers.
Skills: Teamwork, active listening, creative thinking, and communication.
Yes, Let’s
Goal: To practice agreement, active listening, and collaboration by responding to statements with a “yes, and” response in a scene.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene in which they respond to each other’s statements with a “yes, and” response. Players must agree with their partner’s statements and then add new information to build upon them. The focus should be on active listening, agreement, and collaboration to create a coherent and engaging scene.
Skills: Agreement, active listening, collaboration, scene building
Yes, Let’s … In Reverse
Goal: To practice adaptability, creativity, and ensemble work by performing a scene where players must respond with “Yes, but…” instead of “Yes, and…”.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in which they must respond to their scene partner’s offers with “Yes, but…”, adding a counterpoint or complication to the situation. This reversal of the usual “Yes, and…” rule encourages players to think on their feet and adapt to the changing dynamics of the scene.
Skills: Adaptability, creativity, ensemble work, storytelling
Yes Only
Goal: To practice agreement and active listening by responding to statements with a “yes” response in a scene.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Two or more players perform a scene in which they can only respond to each other’s statements with a “yes” response. Players must incorporate their partner’s statements into the scene and build on them while maintaining the restriction of only saying “yes.” The focus should be on active listening, agreement, and collaboration to create a coherent and engaging scene.
Skills: Agreement, active listening, collaboration, scene building
Yes or No
Goal: To practice active listening, quick thinking, and ensemble work by performing a scene in which players can only respond to each other’s statements with “yes” or “no.”
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players perform a scene in which they can only respond to each other’s statements with “yes” or “no.” The focus should be on active listening, quick thinking, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene despite the limited range of responses available to them.
Skills: Active listening, quick thinking, ensemble work
Yin and Yang
Goal: To practice creating contrasting characters and exploring the dynamics between them in a scene.
Level: Advanced
Rules: Players perform a scene with two characters who embody opposing qualities or traits, such as optimism and pessimism or introversion and extroversion. The focus should be on creating distinct, contrasting characters and exploring the dynamics between them as they interact within the scene.
Skills: Character development, ensemble work, dynamics
You Be The Judge
Goal: To practice storytelling, quick thinking, and improvisational humor by performing scenes in which players present cases to a judge.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players take turns presenting cases to a judge, who is played by another player. The focus should be on storytelling, quick thinking, and improvisational humor, as players create engaging and entertaining courtroom scenes.
Skills: Storytelling, quick thinking, improvisational humor
You Have The Floor
Goal: To practice public speaking, storytelling, and creativity by giving improvised speeches on random topics.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players take turns giving improvised speeches on random topics provided by the audience or other players. The focus should be on public speaking, storytelling, and creativity, as players come up with engaging and entertaining speeches on the spot.
Skills: Public speaking, storytelling, creativity
You Know Who You Are
Goal: To practice character development, listening, and ensemble work by performing a scene in which players must discover their characters’ identities based on audience suggestions.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players begin a scene without knowing their characters’ identities. The audience provides suggestions for each player’s character, and the players must discover and incorporate their characters’ identities into the scene through dialogue and actions. The focus should be on character development, listening, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that incorporates audience input.
Skills: Character development, listening, ensemble work, collaboration
Your Zodiac Sign
Goal: To practice character development, creativity, and adaptability by performing a scene in which players take on the traits of their zodiac sign.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in which they take on the traits of their zodiac sign, either assigned by a director, chosen by the players themselves, or suggested by the audience. Players must maintain their zodiac traits throughout the scene and adapt their interactions with each other accordingly.
Skills: Character development, creativity, adaptability
You’re Hired
Goal: To practice character development, justification, and ensemble work by performing a scene in which characters interview for a job.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene in which one character is interviewing others for a job. The focus should be on character development, justification, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that showcases their characters’ skills, background, and personalities in the context of a job interview.
Skills: Character development, justification, ensemble work
You’re My Inspiration
Goal: To practice drawing inspiration from other players and building on their ideas by engaging in a game where players must create scenes based on the actions and choices of a designated “inspiration.”
Level: Intermediate
Rules: One player is designated as the “inspiration” and begins a scene. The other players must create scenes based on the actions and choices made by the inspiration, drawing from and building on their ideas. The focus should be on active listening, collaboration, and expanding upon the inspiration’s ideas.
Skills: Active listening, collaboration, idea building
You’ve Got Talent
Goal: To practice character development, creativity, and performance skills by showcasing various talents in an improvised talent show setting.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players take turns performing an improvised talent act as a unique character, with each act showcasing a different skill or ability. The focus should be on character development, creativity, and engaging performances.
Skills: Character development, creativity, performance skills
Zenith and Nadir
Goal: To practice creating high-stakes situations and extreme emotions by performing a scene that explores the highest and lowest points of a character’s life.
Level: Advanced
Rules: Players perform a scene that explores the highest (zenith) and lowest (nadir) points of a character’s life, with the focus on creating high-stakes situations and extreme emotions. The scene should showcase the characters’ growth and development, as well as the consequences of their choices and actions.
Skills: Emotional range, character development, stakes
Zippers and Buttons
Goal: To practice physicality, non-verbal communication, and ensemble work by performing a scene in which players can only communicate through the use of zippers and buttons.
Level: Advanced
Rules: Players perform a scene in which their dialogue is replaced by the sounds and actions of zipping and unzipping zippers or buttoning and unbuttoning buttons. The focus should be on physicality, non-verbal communication, and ensemble work, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene using only zippers and buttons as their means of communication.
Skills: Physicality, non-verbal communication, ensemble work, collaboration
Zigzag Story
Goal: To practice storytelling, collaboration, and adaptability by creating a story that shifts between different genres, styles, or themes.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players take turns telling a story, with each player adding a new sentence or idea to the narrative. However, players must also change the genre, style, or theme of the story with each contribution, creating a zigzag pattern in the narrative. The focus should be on storytelling, collaboration, and adaptability, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging story.
Skills: Storytelling, collaboration, adaptability, creativity
Zombie Apocalypse
Goal: To practice character development, ensemble work, and world-building by performing a scene set during a zombie apocalypse.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene set during a zombie apocalypse, taking on the roles of various characters attempting to survive in the dangerous and chaotic world. The focus should be on character development, ensemble work, and world-building, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene that explores the relationships, motivations, and conflicts of the characters in this unique setting.
Skills: Character development, ensemble work, world-building
Zombie Tag
Goal: To practice physicality, timing, and reacting to unexpected changes by engaging in a game where players must avoid becoming “zombies” by successfully completing improvised tasks.
Level: Beginner
Rules: One player begins as a “zombie” and attempts to tag other players. When a player is tagged, they also become a “zombie.” Non-zombie players must complete improvised tasks (e.g., reciting a poem, creating a statue, telling a joke) in order to avoid being tagged. If a player successfully completes a task before being tagged, they are safe from becoming a zombie for a short period of time. The game continues until all players have become zombies or a predetermined time limit is reached.
Skills: Physicality, timing, reacting to unexpected changes, quick thinking
Zoom Dance Party
Goal: To practice non-verbal communication, physicality, and teamwork by hosting a virtual dance party.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players join a virtual platform, such as Zoom, and participate in a dance party. Each player takes turns leading a dance move, while the other players follow along. The focus should be on non-verbal communication, physicality, and teamwork as players work together to create a fun and engaging dance party experience.
Skills: Non-verbal communication, physicality, teamwork
Zoom In, Zoom Out
Goal: To practice focus, attention to detail, and storytelling by performing a scene that alternates between close-up and wide-angle perspectives.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players perform a scene while alternately focusing on close-up details and wide-angle perspectives. The players should adjust their physicality and dialogue to match the changing perspectives. The focus should be on attention to detail, storytelling, and adaptability, as players work together to create a dynamic and engaging scene.
Skills: Focus, attention to detail, storytelling, adaptability
Zoom Pictionary
Goal: To practice nonverbal communication, teamwork, and creativity by playing a game of Pictionary over Zoom.
Level: Beginner
Rules: Players take turns drawing a random word or phrase while the other players try to guess what it is. The focus should be on nonverbal communication, teamwork, and creativity, as players work together to convey and guess the drawings.
Skills: Nonverbal communication, teamwork, creativity
Zoom Stand-Up Comedy
Goal: To practice stand-up comedy, timing, and audience engagement in a virtual setting.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players take turns performing stand-up comedy routines for the audience, using a virtual platform such as Zoom. Players should focus on developing their comedic material, timing, and audience engagement, as they work to make their routine engaging and funny.
Skills: Stand-up comedy, timing, audience engagement
Zoom Talent Show
Goal: To practice creativity, performance skills, and adaptability by performing various talents in a virtual setting.
Level: Intermediate
Rules: Players take turns showcasing their unique talents, whether it’s singing, dancing, or doing magic tricks. The focus should be on creativity, performance skills, and adaptability, as players perform their talents in a virtual setting.
Skills: Creativity, performance, adaptability
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