The videos in this section were shot with kids ages 5-17, many of whom had no theatre background whatsoever. In most instances, the groups were playing the games for the first time. We shot them this way in order to emulate a ‘real’ class experience, as opposed to presenting polished, rehearsed versions that few classes can live up to. In many instances, the teaching artist will stop play to clarify, re-direct, or handle small discipline issues during play. We hope you appreciate this method and that it empowers you to lead your group(s) with confidence.
The games are categorized according to goals, however, drama games can accomplish many goals simultaneously, so the categories should be seen as merely guidelines. These videos are best viewed in Firefox or Google Chrome.
Building Ensemble
Goals: Reveal Self, Build Trust and Collaborate
Trust game that is played in pairs in which students lead each other around the room by their fingertips.
Trust exercise in which students lead around a partner by having them follow the sound of their voice.
Classic theatre warm-up that builds cooperation by having students create machines with their bodies.
Focus and Listening
Goals: Develop concentration, listen to others and follow direction
Students learn to use inflection instead of actual words to communicate in this classic theatre game.
Exploring Movement
Goals: Body and spatial awareness, communicate non-verbally, move as a group and show character through physicality
Students move about the space in different ways, following ever-changing commands from the instructor.
Different areas of the room are given qualities such as a ‘magnetic wall,’ and a ‘slippery pond.’ Students explore the room moving differently in each zone.
In groups of four (shaped like a diamond) students take turns leading the group in a mirrored dance/series of movements.
In trios, students work together to immediately create machines, objects and animals with their bodies.
In small groups, students work together to create images of specific places with their bodies.
Individual students become animals performing every-day tasks in this hilarious movement game.
In this whole-group activity, students become statues in a wax museum. They try to move without being caught by the visitor.
Accessing Imagination & Storytelling
Goals: Follow creative impulses, invent new ideas and create spontaneous dialogue and stories.
In a circle, each student is asked to pantomime an activity, but then must pantomime something else entirely.
Based on a classic skit, every student in class must interact with a piece of gum on the floor in an inventive way.
In a circle, students take turns improvising ridiculous death scenes involving ordinary household objects.
Two students must answer questions from the audience as if they are one person in this hilarious improv game.
In pairs, students create improvised scenes in which they constantly blame each other.
In pairs, one student acts out an ordinary task while the other (who has no idea what she’s doing) narrates.
In pairs, students perform improvised scenes in which they are constantly contradicting themselves.
Students tell parts of a story out-of-order by standing in specific places in relation to one another.
Students spontaneously act out family vacations, disasters, etc. while one student narrates.
Creating Characters & Improvising
Goals: Explore emotion, build characters and practice acting tactics.
Students learn how emotion can change a scene by reciting two lines several times under different circumstances.
Students learn about character motivations by using different tactics to get another student to leave his/her chair.
In pairs, one person describes a strange character and the other person must become that character.
In groups of four, students take turns playing a hitchhiker who has an immediate effect on the other passengers in a car.
Students take on the characteristics of inanimate objects who argue about their importance in this hilarious improv game.
Two students must make up an unrehearsed lie together in front of the principal in this off-beat improv game.
Students take turns annoying an innocent character on a bench in this imaginative activity.
Actors play customers and waiters who have secret agendas in this fun theatre game.
In pairs, students are given secret identities and must behave toward one another according to their status.
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Five Categories to Explore:
- Ensemble Building
- Focus and Listening
- Movement
- Imagination and Storytelling
- Creating Characters and Improvising