THEATRE GAMES: PHYSICAL WORK

Actors learn to commit to a private truthful moment in front of an audience.

The Night at the Museum meets physical characterization! The museum has come to life but don't let the night guards see you or you'll be removed from the display and sent to storage.

In this exercise, one student will walk across the circle, focusing on the emotional state and attitude of a character and how that might be heightened from a 1 level to a 10 level.

Engage the student actors in a conversation regarding "Status."  What does it mean in life (at school, at home or in the wider community)?  What does it mean on stage (between characters or between actors and the audience).  We discuss how status can effect the body language, the voice, the dialogue...the overall truthful portrayal of a character.

To take on the persona of the last person that gets into the taxi.

This is an opening for long form improvisation.  It uses audience suggestion and the imagination and physicality of the players.   Actors become inanimate objects as well as people, physically creating a setting as well as characters.

So, what do people say when they visit the grave?  Do they water the grave?

Students watch one another and imitate one another's physical actions.  The prompts for movement can be motivated or just fun improvisational.  Students can explore their physical instrument and expand the limits of their creativity.  (Also good for getting students (and directors!) to learn names of their fellow students.)

This is one of the most requested games in my acting classes.  The more times they play it, the more specific and competitive the session becomes.  Anyone can participate, but you will need a quick mind to win!

This game can go on for hours as groups begin to trust and enjoy the process of working as an ensemble.  In theory, it is like one large mirror activity, however, coach should encourage movement and vocal involvement in the exercise.  The purpose is not to mirror perfectly, but to move, breath and begin to think as one connected ensemble.  Best for creating a sense of unity and a wonderful physical warm-up.  I learned this one at the National Theatre of Great Britain while attending a post-graduate actor training program.  

This is a fun game used to cultivate teamwork while warming up physically and vocally.

Assemble cast in a circle.  The first actor mimes an object and uses it.  Then he/she hands the object to the next actor who also uses it in it's first form. The second actor then "stretches", "squishes", or manipulates it into a new object uses it and passes it on to the next actor.  The same process continues around the circle. The goal of the exercise is used to increase cast connection, camaraderie, and creativity.

To mold students into shapes and have them use their creativity to name their creations.

Engages two students in an improvisation that contains elements found in a well-written dramatic of comic scene containing conflict.

Two actors (critics) improvise spoken lines while the remaining characters become animated statues in order to practice role playing, verbal improvisation, maintaining freeze position, pantomime, phsycial acting, self-reflection and peer critique.

To physicalize emotion by showing emotions and feelings through use of space objects.

The game requires both exchanging and transforming energy by blending with your fellow players as a ball of energy is thrown amoungst the group.  Its about being in the moment, keeping open, grounded and free as well as being aware of your surroundings and articulating. You must be aware of the energy sent, available to the energy - allowing it to change you, and you must be articulate in sending the energy back out.