Introduction to Improvising
Exercises
* Building A Fence 10 Mins
Aims: Offering and accepting an idea, miming, characterisation, trying new ideas.
- Make an audience.
- One person, the builder, starts on the “stage.”
- They mime building a fence.
- Someone, the citizen, enters
- They speak to each other.
For Example:
Citizen: What are you doing?
Builder: I’m building a fence
Citizen: Can I join in?
Builder: Yes! - The citizen then becomes another builder and they continue working.
- The citizen must come in with a new energy that the builder must copy. Use provided WORD BANK “Improvising Prompts”, For example; crying, slow motion, excited, like a snake/robot, singing the line.
- A new citizen enters.
- Repeat – the builders both respond.
- After each round, there are more and more builders.
- Continue until everyone is building the fence.
Discussion:
What tactics worked? What made you laugh? We all have different tastes and senses of humour, and those who know us best know how to make us laugh.
13. Once they are all sure how to play, do another round, encouraging them to experiment further.
Troubleshooting: If your group are struggling
to come up with ideas you can give them prompts on pieces of paper, such as an emotion or an animal. For example, going to be sick, robot, shy, distraught, singing, confused, like a snake.