Supplication

Exercise Advanced 30 min 3–10

Description

In this exercise, teams of three or more advanced students engage in a structured improvisation setup. Players are divided into three roles within a triangle: the Supplicant, who pleads for something; the Accuser, who presents charges; and the Judiciary, who decides on the success of the supplication.
Each role has specific responsibilities, and players can create various scenarios such as a trial scene or a cultural argument. The audience may take on the role of the jury in this setting.

Setup Requirements

Space to form a triangle between players.

Point of Concentration

Pleading, accusing, determining outcomes.

Side Coaching

  • Encourage the Supplicant to engage with the audience.
  • Focus on clear, strong character choices for each role.
  • Maintain a dynamic energy throughout the triangle.

Points of Observation

  • Watch for clarity in roles and responsibilities.
  • Notice how well players interact with the audience.
  • Observe the emotional stakes in each scene.

Evaluation

  • What was effective about the interactions?
  • How did the success or failure of the supplication affect the dynamic?
  • What could be improved in future iterations?

Examples

  • A Salem witch trial scenario.
  • An ordinary misdemeanor trial.
  • Deliberations during a prison break.

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