Exploration of Larger Environment

Exercise Intermediate 20 min 2–10

Description

In this exercise, participants explore the larger environment around them. The teacher-director introduces a general or specific environment that the players will embody, such as outdoors or an enclosed space. Participants then agree on their characters and the scene they will perform.

Setup Requirements

An open space for performance and audience seating.

Point of Concentration

on relating to the larger overall environment.

Side Coaching

Encourage players to engage with the larger environment, not just immediate surroundings.
Remind participants to expand their focus beyond minute details.
Assist students in utilizing the audience space as part of the environment.

Points of Observation

Watch for students struggling to relate to environments beyond familiar settings.
Note if students get distracted by small details instead of embracing the wider context.
Observe how players incorporate audience space into their performances.

Evaluation

What was above them? Beneath them? What was beyond?
How did players interact with the suggested environment?
Did participants effectively engage with the larger space?

Examples

Examples of environments:

Outdoors: water, woods, forest, jungle, mountains.
Enclosed: cave, tomb, boxcar, tower, prison cell.