THEATRE GAMES: TEAM BUILDING

Passing on sounds, movement, and objects as a concentration activity. Geared towards helping the students maintain focus and work together to accomplish the final goal.

This activity builds cooperation and trust and is a great beginning activity for new casts and/or theatre groups.

Using improvisation to act out particular scenes from the musical or play we are performing. This helps motivate the students to 'let their hair down' and act and have fun.

This is an ice breaker game that really just helps the students get to know each other better and to further help the students develop social skills.

This exercise helps allow students to learn and use their vocabulary words. Also, it helps them get used to improv.

"Duck, Duck, Goose" becomes an acting game when the "Goose" is replaced with anything the leader calls out.  A great game to break down inhibitions and introduce the concept of "always saying yes."

To interact while working as an ensemble by producing a 3 minute commercial.

A musical mingle and guessing game for students as they take on different characters.

Handholding exercise used to facilitate a solid sense of ensemble.

A game designed to create a comfortable environment and a creative improvised outlet for participants to bond.

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.

YES! is a deceptively simple yet effective concentration and ensemble building game.  The game can be played with new groups or groups who know each other well.

A fun and quick character creation/transformation/improv game.  The kids LOVE it and would play it all through rehearsal if I let them!

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.)

"Poison Peepers" is a variation of "Down/Up" and "Scream."  The big difference is that no one is eliminated.  It is a superb low-risk way to encourage vocal production and dramatic gesturing, and it's a lot of fun!

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.  

Students must answer a question, one word at a time!

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

Students establish a instant spirit of ensemble by clapping in unison with the person to their left or right depending on the directing of the clapping wave. 

This exercise allows students to create the characters, settings, and plots for their own improvisations. Depending on the age group, it is interesting to see how, inventive, humorous even silly, and/or dramatic the scenes can be.

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.

Excellent for cast building to be used early during the rehearsal process.  Divide cast into two teams.  Students mime that they are playing volleyball. Regular volleyball rules apply.  The student "serves" to the other team and calls out the cast member's name, that student can "set" to a fellow team member by calling his/her name or send it back "over the net" to the other side.  If  a student misses a name or calls the wrong name, a point is awarded.  The teacher acts as the referee.  Feel free to "rotate" in and out, "spike", "bump", "set", and "block"!

To be the last student left to survive the “SUBJECT CHALLENGE”

To build team work and solidify concepts for any subject given in prompts for this "quest".

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

To complete a scene in three minutes using the standard 3 point storyline.

A trial of memory and improvization, this game allows for creativity and on the spot contribution to complete the alphabet.

A variation on the Meisner repetition exercise that allows for scene and character development.

To develop improvisational skills, use creative imagination, analyze behavior and activities of others, and make appropriate dialogue choices by exchanging presents.

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.

Students will understand and apply the concepts of impromptu storytelling and improving their improvisational skills by perfomring a well known fairy tale in one minute flat.

To get students to know each other through names and stories.

Teaches improvisation, pantomime, and clear communication. It also works as an introduction to a skill of giving constructive criticism.

A great warm up, to learn names of fellow cast members/classmates or to help build cooperation and teamwork.