HANDS ALONE

Exercise Intermediate 30 min 2–10

Description

In this exercise, student-actors focus on expressing relationships and actions through their hands and forearms, without using speech or their full bodies. Players form pairs and agree on the setting, characters, and actions, communicating solely through their hands.

Setup Requirements

A small, puppet-like stage or an oblong table that is curtained off; optional hand props; a light to illuminate the area.

Point of Concentration

Show Where, Who, and What using only hands.

Side Coaching

  • Laugh with your fingers!
  • Shrug your hands, not your shoulders!
  • All energy should go into your fingertips!

Points of Observation

  • Watch for how effectively the players communicate relationships using just their hands.
  • Observe if they avoid using their faces and other body parts.
  • Note the creativity in their hand gestures.

Evaluation

  • Did the players communicate effectively with their hands?
  • Did they collaboratively create a coherent story?
  • How well did they convey emotions and relationships without dialogue?

Examples

  • Hands mimicking writing and gesturing for someone to come in, showing peace and anxiety.
  • A pair of hands depicting a criminal confessing to a priest by signing a paper.

Tags

improv theater physical expression hands