Urban Environment Exploration: 15 Practical Drama Activities
Here’s a series of activities for Drama class using different urban environments as a stimulus. Below, are detailed instructions for each activity. These include warm-ups, character interviews, class and group improvisations, monologues using character stimulus cards provided, and reflective discussions.
Students will learn about the various complexities of living in an urban environment such as a city, the different types of people who inhabit these landscapes, how these characters sometimes gel and clash, and urbanisation issues like community displacement, overcrowding, technology, etc.
Activities include role-playing, characterisation, improvisations, urban observation walks, recording soundscapes, watching people, adapting myths and stories into modern urban environments, scripting, and performing short monologues.
Skills include critical thinking, spatial awareness, movement, physical theatre, teamwork, creative expression, presentations, collaboration, empathy, storytelling, and more.
Warm-up: Mirroring Urban Environment Life
Description
Students engage in an exercise to replicate the interconnected movements of urban life.
Individual Exploration
Ask students to move around the space, imitating different urban sounds and movements (e.g., car honking, pedestrian walking).
Pairing
Divide students into pairs and assign urban elements to mirror, such as traffic lights or subway doors.
Group Synchronisation
Gradually build a complex urban scene with the entire class, synchronising their movements.
Focus
Coordination, rhythm, spatial awareness.
Examples
Traffic flow: cars, bicycles, pedestrians.
Street vendors: selling newspapers, flowers, food.
Public transport: buses, trams, taxis.
Materials
None.
Side Activity: Observation Walk
Description
A guided observation walk around an urban area, during which students take note of sensory details.
Activity
Equip students with notebooks to jot down observations, or employ a ‘stop and sketch’ method.
Reflection
A debrief session discussing observations.
Extension
Craft haiku poems using sensory words from the observation walk.
Character Development: Urban Roles Exploration
Description
Students explore urban roles and relationships through detailed character interviews.
Role Assignment
Pair students and assign contrasting urban roles (e.g., police officer and graffiti artist).
In-Character Interviews
Guide them to interview each other, exploring backgrounds, daily routines, challenges, dreams.
Character Monologues
Ask students to create monologues for their characters, detailing their lives.
Focus
Understanding socio-economic status, interpersonal dynamics, urban culture.
Examples
Roles: business executive, street musician, shop assistant, student.
Situational prompts: a chance meeting at a café, an altercation in a park.
Materials
Character cards with detailed descriptions (see below).
Performances
Each student performs their monologue to the rest of the class based on a character card profile.
Urban Roles Character Cards
Business Executive
Age: 42
Background: Ambitious and driven, works long hours at a multinational corporation.
Daily Life: Always in meetings, answers emails during dinner.
Personality Traits: Confident, impatient, well-spoken.
Street Musician
Age: 28
Background: Passionate about music, performs on city streets to share joy.
Daily Life: Plays different instruments, often found at city squares and subway stations.
Personality Traits: Free-spirited, friendly, artistic.
Shop Assistant
Age: 34
Background: Works in a small family-owned shop, knows regular customers by name.
Daily Life: Helps customers find what they need, stocks shelves, enjoys social interaction.
Personality Traits: Attentive, kind, conversational.
Student
Age: 20
Background: Studying sociology, interested in urban development and social issues.
Daily Life: Attends classes, reads at the café, volunteers at a community centre.
Personality Traits: Inquisitive, socially aware, active.
Police Officer
Age: 39
Background: Committed to keeping the city safe, values order and justice.
Daily Life: Patrols the streets, builds community relationships, handles various situations.
Personality Traits: Authoritative, empathetic, observant.
Graffiti Artist
Age: 25
Background: Talented and rebellious, uses art to make political and social statements.
Daily Life: Creates murals in hidden city corners, part of an underground art community.
Personality Traits: Creative, outspoken, mysterious.
Taxi Driver
Age: 55
Background: Has been driving taxis for 25 years, knows the city like the back of his hand.
Daily Life: Navigates through traffic, shares stories with passengers.
Personality Traits: Sociable, patient, wise.
Restaurant Chef
Age: 36
Background: Passionate about food, trained in several international cuisines.
Daily Life: Creates daily specials, manages a kitchen staff.
Personality Traits: Creative, demanding, meticulous.
High School Teacher
Age: 40
Background: Teaches history, involved in community projects.
Daily Life: Inspires students, grades papers, organizes extracurricular activities.
Personality Traits: Nurturing, intellectual, committed.
Homeless Person
Age: 48
Background: Lost job and home, living on the streets.
Daily Life: Seeks shelter, interacts with aid workers, maintains dignity.
Personality Traits: Resilient, observant, withdrawn.
Urban Planner
Age: 33
Background: Works for city government, focusing on sustainable development.
Daily Life: Collaborates with architects, attends public meetings.
Personality Traits: Visionary, pragmatic, environmentally conscious.
Librarian
Age: 60
Background: Loves books and community service, works in a public library.
Daily Life: Assists patrons, organizes reading programs.
Personality Traits: Gentle, well-read, community-oriented.
Fitness Instructor
Age: 29
Background: Energetic and motivational, works at a local gym.
Daily Life: Leads classes, promotes healthy living.
Personality Traits: Vibrant, encouraging, health-conscious.
Tourist
Age: 50
Background: Visiting the city for the first time, excited about sightseeing.
Daily Life: Takes photos, explores landmarks, samples local cuisine.
Personality Traits: Adventurous, curious, cheerful.
Journalist
Age: 31
Background: Works for a local newspaper, always on the lookout for a story.
Daily Life: Interviews people, writes articles, meets deadlines.
Personality Traits: Inquisitive, ethical, articulate.
Barista
Age: 24
Background: College student working part-time in a coffee shop.
Daily Life: Makes coffee, chats with customers, studies between shifts.
Personality Traits: Friendly, industrious, youthful.
Construction Worker
Age: 37
Background: Skilled in various trades, building the city’s infrastructure.
Daily Life: Works on construction sites, collaborates with coworkers.
Personality Traits: Strong, cooperative, skilled.
Environmental Activist
Age: 26
Background: Passionate about conservation, leads local environmental campaigns.
Daily Life: Organizes protests, educates the public.
Personality Traits: Passionate, persuasive, committed.
Veterinarian
Age: 45
Background: Cares for city’s pets and wildlife, runs a small clinic.
Daily Life: Treats animals, educates pet owners.
Personality Traits: Compassionate, knowledgeable, caring.
Street Performer
Age: 22
Background: Talented dancer, entertains crowds in public spaces.
Daily Life: Performs routines, seeks new inspiration.
Personality Traits: Expressive, ambitious, agile.
Elderly Retiree
Age: 75
Background: Former nurse, enjoys a quiet life.
Daily Life: Visits parks, socializes at community centre.
Personality Traits: Wise, content, nostalgic.
Real Estate Agent
Age: 30
Background: Sells and rents properties, keen on market trends.
Daily Life: Shows homes, negotiates deals.
Personality Traits: Persuasive, ambitious, well-groomed.
Park Ranger
Age: 40
Background: Oversees city parks, committed to nature preservation.
Daily Life: Patrols parks, engages with visitors, ensures safety.
Personality Traits: Outdoorsy, responsible, nature-loving.
Art Gallery Curator
Age: 52
Background: Expert in art history, curates exhibitions.
Daily Life: Selects artworks, guides tours, writes catalogues.
Personality Traits: Cultured, precise, aesthetic.
Nurse
Age: 35
Background: Works in a city hospital, devoted to patient care.
Daily Life: Administers treatment, collaborates with doctors.
Personality Traits: Empathetic, diligent, professional.
Young Entrepreneur
Age: 28
Background: Started a tech startup, innovative thinker.
Daily Life: Manages team, seeks investors, thinks creatively.
Personality Traits: Energetic, innovative, ambitious.
Single Parent
Age: 32
Background: Raises a child alone, balances work and parenting.
Daily Life: Manages household, supports child’s education.
Personality Traits: Resilient, loving, multitasking.
Child
Age: 10
Background: Enjoys school and play, sees the city through innocent eyes.
Daily Life: Attends school, plays with friends, explores neighbourhood.
Personality Traits: Curious, playful, imaginative.
Firefighter
Age: 38
Background: Brave and selfless, dedicated to public safety.
Daily Life: Responds to emergencies, maintains equipment.
Personality Traits: Courageous, disciplined, team-oriented.
Local Politician
Age: 46
Background: Represents a city district, engaged in local governance.
Daily Life: Attends meetings, listens to constituents, drafts policies.
Personality Traits: Charismatic, strategic, service-minded.
Side Activity: Soundscapes
Description
Students record various sounds in a cityscape and compile them into an audio track.
Activity
Layering sounds to represent different spatial dimensions (e.g., distant traffic, nearby footsteps).
Reflection
Discussing how different sounds contribute to the urban atmosphere.
Extension
Incorporate the created soundscape into a performance piece.
Scenario Building: Creating Urban Scenes
Description
Groups create specific urban scenes, focusing on sensory, emotional, and social aspects.
Scene Selection
Divide students into small groups, each focusing on different urban settings.
Sensory Exploration
Have them describe the visual, auditory, tactile, smell elements.
Role–Play
Encourage role-play within the scene, incorporating the earlier-developed characters.
Performances
Each group presents its scene to the rest of the class, with others guessing the location.
Focus
Environmental awareness, teamwork, creative expression.
Examples
Locations: busy subway, crowded marketplace, peaceful park, corporate office.
Themes: morning rush, late-night cityscape, festival celebration.
Materials
Props, soundscapes, visual aids.
Side Activity: People-Watching
Description
Discreetly observing individuals in public spaces and noting details.
Activity
Creating a catalogue of observed gestures, clothing styles, and ways of moving. Create a role-play based on observations.
Side Activity: Myth Creation
Description
Students collaborate to develop new myths or legends that explain urban phenomena.
Activity
Utilise a story circle for brainstorming and collective story development. Analyse the stories for elements of myth and cultural relevance.
Extension
Creating graphic novels based on the myths.
Improvisation: Urban situations
Description
Students develop improvisational skills within specific urban scenarios.
Activity
Students use the situation cards, below, to create improvisations in urban settings.
Reflection
Peer feedback focusing on believability and audience engagement.
Extension
Develop a full scene based on the improvised sketches.
Side Activity: Story Adaptation
Description
Students choose traditional fables or fairy tales and modernise them.
Activity
Role-play different scenes to explore how traditional elements can be updated.
Reflection
Discuss how the story changes and what elements remain universal.
Extension
Creating graphic novels based on the myths.
Urban Situation Cards for Improvisations
Lost Tourist
You are a completely lost tourist and desperate to find your hotel.
Street performer
You are a street performer trying to gather an audience.
Missed Last Train
You have missed the last train and need to figure out how to get home.
Parking Dispute
You are involved in a dispute over a parking space with another driver.
Food Truck Vendor
You are a food truck vendor and out of a key ingredient for your most popular dish.
Neighbourhood Watch
You are part of a neighbourhood watch and suspect someone is up to no good.
Rush Hour
You are stuck in rush hour traffic and are running late for an important meeting.
Lost Child
You encounter a lost child crying in the middle of a busy market.
Noise Complaint
You are confronted by a neighbour about the noise coming from your flat.
Queue at the Post Office
You are waiting in a long queue at the post office and are getting increasingly impatient.
Graffiti Artist
You are a graffiti artist who is caught in the act.
Urban Explorer
You are an urban explorer recording a vlog while exploring an abandoned building.
Charity Fundraiser
You are a street fundraiser trying to get passersby to donate to your cause.
Protester and Bystander
You are a street fundraiser trying to get passersby to donate to your cause.
Night Shift Worker
You work the night shift and are trying to buy groceries at a 24-hour shop.
Lost Pet
You have lost your dog and are frantically asking passersby if they have seen it.
Outdoor Exercise Class
You are leading an outdoor yoga class, but people are not taking it seriously.
Job Interviewee
You are running late for a job interview in a towering office building and cannot find the correct floor.
Street Vendor
You are a street vendor selling counterfeit items.
Homeless Person
You are homeless and are seeking shelter as it starts to rain.
Unexpected Reunion
You bump into an old friend whom you have not seen in years.
Food Delivery Driver
You are a food delivery driver, and the customer claims they received the wrong order.
Pop-Up Shop Owner
You are trying to set up a pop-up shop but encounter several problems.
Underground Musician
You are a musician performing in the underground tube station, competing for attention against the bustle of commuters.
Art Gallery Opening
You are attending an art gallery opening in a hip urban district and strongly dislike the featured art.
Elevator Malfunction
You are stuck in an elevator between floors with another claustrophobic person.
Dog Walker
You are walking multiple dogs for a living and struggle to keep control when they become excited by a squirrel.
Fitness Instructor
You are a fitness instructor trying to encourage a sceptical newcomer to join your open-air fitness boot camp.
Flatmate Seeking a Flat
You are looking for a new flat to move into and are interviewing potential flatmates.
Side Activity: Pantomime
Description
Students choose specific urban elements, like traffic or construction, and mimic them using their bodies.
Activity
Employing tableau to freeze-frame certain moments.
Reflection
Reflection on how movement captures the essence of urban life.
Extension
Integrating urban movements into a choreographed dance.
Improvisation: Urban Storytelling
Activity Description
Students engage in interconnected improvisational scenes, exploring narratives and dynamics within the urban environment.
Story Starters
Begin with a prompt, such as a news headline or an overheard conversation.
Scene Building
Guide students through a series of connected scenes, with characters interacting and evolving.
Conflict Introduction
Introduce unexpected events or conflicts to challenge characters and deepen the narrative.
Resolution
Allow students to work toward a resolution, reflecting on the journey.
Focus
Spontaneity, adaptability, storytelling.
Examples
Conflicts: a citywide blackout, a street protest, a chance encounter with a long-lost friend.
Relationships: friendships, family dynamics, professional relationships.
Materials
Prompt cards (see below), props for realism.
Side Activity: Pace of Urban Living
Description
Exercises that simulate the hurried pace, such as “Rush Hour” where students must navigate a busy ‘street’.
Activity
Use tempo changes in music to guide the movement speed.
Reflection
Discussion on how pace affects mood and interaction.
Extension
Comparing the urban pace to rural or suburban paces through movement.
Prompt Cards for Urban Storytelling Improvisations
News Headline
Prompt
“City Announces Major Redevelopment Project; Local Residents Divided.”
Potential Exploration
Gentrification, community displacement, urban growth.
Overheard Conversation
Prompt
“I can’t believe they’re closing the old theatre; it’s the end of an era.”
Potential Exploration
Preservation of cultural heritage, change, nostalgia.
Unexpected Event
Prompt
“A sudden power outage plunges the city into darkness; residents find new ways to connect.”
Potential Exploration
Community resilience, dependence on technology, adaptation.
Relationship Dynamics
Prompt
“Two old friends accidentally meet on a crowded subway after years apart.”
Potential Exploration
Reconnection, friendship, serendipity.
Social Conflict
Prompt:
“A peaceful protest turns chaotic when opposing groups clash.”
Potential Exploration
Social justice, activism, conflict resolution.
Cultural Celebration
Prompt
“The city comes alive with a multicultural festival; various characters interact.”
Potential Exploration: Diversity, cultural appreciation, unit
Side Activity: Miniature Cityscape
Description
Students construct a miniature urban environment using recycled materials.
Activity
Adding features like parks, rivers, and roads to understand their function.
Reflection
Students explain the rationale behind their design choices.
Extension
Virtual tour of the created cityscape.
Reflection: Understanding Urban Complexity
Activity Description
A guided reflection to help students articulate their experiences, insights, and emotions from the urban environment activities.
Group Discussion
Facilitate a discussion on students’ experiences, asking specific questions about characters, scenarios, challenges.
Individual Reflection
Provide time for individual journaling, sketching, or poetic expression.
Gallery Walk
If visual or written work was created, have a gallery walk to share and appreciate each other’s insights.
Focus
Critical thinking, empathy, self-awareness.
Examples
Questions: What surprised you about your character? How did the urban environment affect your character’s actions? How do you relate to the urban themes explored?
Materials
Journals or drawing materials.
