Getting Stared with some Improv Games!
Improv is creating theatre in the moment! Usually this is both fun and challenging for the actor and very entertaining for the audience. We thought the best way to practice improv would be through exercises and games, that can be done by total beginners or professional actors.
Here are some of our favorite theatre games that we feel cover the six most important elements of improv: creativity, quick-thinking, communication, focus, scene and character balance, and reading each other on stage, otherwise known as non-verbal communication. Though most of these games can fall into more than one category, we feel these are great games to focus on learning the following skills. Give them a try!
Click here to see our video tutorials!
Here are some of our favorite theatre games that we feel cover the six most important elements of improv: creativity, quick-thinking, communication, focus, scene and character balance, and reading each other on stage, otherwise known as non-verbal communication. Though most of these games can fall into more than one category, we feel these are great games to focus on learning the following skills. Give them a try!
Click here to see our video tutorials!
CreativityParty Quirks: One person, the host of the party, goes outside the room. Once outside, everybody chooses a quirk, such as, “I'm Madonna” or “I broke my foot." When the host comes back in he/she attempts to guess everybody’s quirk while still maintaining the party and the scenic integrity. When a quirk is guessed that person must find a reason to leave the party.
Emotional Volume: Each actor has a volume/emotion knob with "0" being neutral and "10" being very intense. Each actor in the scene is given an emotion, and other members of the scene are given the power to adjust first their own knobs, then others as well. Love letters: Two players take turns reading each other love letters. At different points the actors should pause and allow the audience to supply the needed word or phrase. The actor must finish the letter with believably, regardless of the suggestions. I’m not me: Each actor chooses a famous person or fictional character that everybody knows. The characters then ask each other questions and respond in with the appropriate answer. Characters are eliminated when they are guessed. Not like that: Split the class into two groups. Have half the characters line up and have the other half provide verbs, hobbies or occupations. The actors in line need to show the worst possible way of doing what the others suggest. Hijacker : Four player, ones leaves the room. The actors pick a means of transportation and a random object not related to the transport. The fourth player then renters the room. That player must first guess the transport, then the object. The actor must then use the object to hijack the transport of the other three. |
Quick-thinkingBroad Meaning: Everybody stands in a circle, and one person randomly asks a broad question,such as, “Why on earth did you do that?” One person must answer immediately, then ask a new question of the group, and so on.
Take That Back: The players begin a scene using a suggestion. In any part of the scene the teacher, or a designated student, can tell them to stop. Then that actor is forced to “take back” what they had just said, and substitute a new choice. For example: “I love you” (stop) “I hate you” (stop) “I just ate a chimpanzee." One-Minute Musicals: Several actors begin a scene until the teacher gives them a cue. Then the actors must continue the same scene but this time through singing. Accompanying music may be added for an added challenge. Alphabet Game: All actors stand in a circle. The object of the game is to start each sentence with the next letter of the alphabet while keeping a coherent conversation going. The game ends when they reach the letter Z. Example: Actor 1: After you’re done, we’ll have a talk. Actor 2: Better be worth it. Actor 1: Could you have forgotten that I’m your mother? Actor 2: Don’t you think I know I’m adopted? Actor 1: Excuse me!? And so on.... Slap: A simple word association played in pairs. If a player is too slow, or says the word "um, err" or hesitates in anyway, the other slaps them (gently). Adding the idea of danger helps some people to say whatever comes to mind. Not good for little children. |
CommunicationHear No Evil, See No Evil: For two actors. One actor is blindfolded while the other wearing headphones with loud music playing. The two music create a workable scene together with these limitations.
I’m a Song: Actors participate in a totally silent scene where all characters emotions are controlled by the music that's playing. Good for large or small groups. Barnyard: Secretly give each member of class an animal, with approximately three to five people having the same animal. Spread the group across the room. At the signal each person makes the noise of the animal that he has been given. The first group to find all of their animals and sit down are the winners. Many Meanings: Two or more characters start a scene. At any time, an offstage actor can step forward and repeat a line that was just said. The actor onstage must step aside and the new player starts a new scene with the line that has just been repeated. |
FocusGroup Mirror: Everybody stands in a circle, and must imitate the person standing to their right. Everybody then spreads to different parts of the room. Everybody must imitate exactly what the person to their right is doing, until the whole room is doing the same thing.
Actor Switch: Two actors begin a scene. Midway, the teacher interrupts and both characters are replaced with new actors. The new players should take over the original characters, and stick to the story that was being developed. Time Machine: Tell the group that they have been chosen to select material to put into a time machine which will be sent somewhere in history. They may select a song title, photograph or an object to be put into the machine. The teacher calls out a particular period in history, say the French Revolution, or the Middle Ages and the students must then react how the people from that given time might react to finding the object they've never seen before. |
BalanceDifferent Locations: Have the teacher or a student choose a location, and number each student. One by one, call out different numbers, having each student join the location. The goal is to blend into the already established scene or location without copying another student.
Equalizer: Two players each say a strong opening sentence at the same time. Then they must create a scene that makes sense to both opening statements. Instant Motto: Break class into small groups. Each group makes up a motto they feel best represents themselves. Join two groups together a partner and give them one minute to compromise on a new motto. Continue joining groups till the entire class has one final motto, related to their originals. Disc: Tell your actors to imagine the stage is a disc, only supported in the center of the stage. The actors keep the disc balanced at all times. Anytime an actor moves, or a new actor enters, the others need to re-balance the disc, with a justified movement. |
Reading each other onstageTouch: You and a partner create a scene where you must b e touching each other at all times. Lines optional.
Unknown Objective: Two actors begin a scene. One actor knows the objective while the other does not. The first actor must give clues and hints without actually saying what the objective of the scene is. For example, Actor A must get Actor B to come inside out of the rain, without actually telling them it's raining. What’s Happening: One person goes out of the room and the rest of the class arranges themselves in an agreed upon frozen picture. The person then reenters the room and must guess what has happened i.e everyone is sick with food poisoning, there is a poisonous spider loose in the room. They must keep a monologue going through the scene until the situation is revealed. |