Exchanging Where

Exercise Intermediate 30 min 4–12

Description

In this exercise, two or more players form teams to create and act out scenes based on floorplans.
Each team will agree on various elements such as:
  • Where
  • Who
  • What
  • Time
  • Weather
  • What’s beyond
Teams will then create a floorplan to guide their scene.
After finishing their floorplans, teams will exchange them. This should happen just before they go on stage, without prior discussion.

Setup Requirements

Space for multiple teams to work and perform their scenes.

Point of Concentration

Players must enter the scene without forethought and adhere to the floorplan.

Side Coaching

  • Encourage spontaneity and adherence to the plan.
  • Remind players to fully embrace the floorplan instead of overthinking their performance.
  • Highlight the importance of listening and reacting in the scene.

Points of Observation

  • Observe if players stick to the floorplan during their performance.
  • Note any tendencies to plan or discuss before starting the scene.
  • Watch for appropriate distribution of roles and genders in the teams.

Evaluation

  • Did the team effectively follow the floorplan?
  • How did the players react to the unexpected elements of the scene?
  • What worked well, and what could be improved for next time?

Examples

Example floorplan elements:
  • Location: Coffee shop
  • Characters: Barista and a customer
  • Time: Afternoon, sunny
  • What’s beyond: A busy street

Tags

teamwork improvisation scene floorplan structure