Building the Floorplan

Exercise Beginner 20 min 4–12

Description

In this exercise, players create a floorplan using standard symbols to represent various objects in a space. Once the floorplan is completed, players will act out a scene within this setting, focusing on their relationships and activities.

The goal is to engage with all props, making them integral to the performance while referring back to the floorplan as needed.

Setup Requirements

Large blackboard and chalk; chairs or tables for actors.

Point of Concentration

Physical interaction with all objects on the floorplan.

Side Coaching

Encourage players to physically touch or interact with all indicated objects.
Remind them to look at the floorplan frequently.
Advise against planning the scene too rigidly; focus on spontaneous interaction.

Points of Observation

Are players showing their environment through action rather than explaining?
Are all objects being used appropriately?
Is there clarity in the relationships being portrayed?

Evaluation

Did the players effectively use all the objects in their scene?
How well did they communicate their location to the audience?
Was the floorplan referenced during the performance?

Examples

Example interactions:

"I’ll close the window over there." (indicating a window on the floorplan)
"Let’s walk to the sink to wash our hands." (moving to a designated area)