In this exercise, teams of four or more actors practice developing immediate responses to audience suggestions. It serves as a foundational step for improvisation in public performances.
Student-actors write down various prompts such as 'Where', 'Who', 'Time', and 'Weather' on individual slips of paper. These are grouped into piles by category. Each team then picks a slip from each pile and creates a scene based on the combined information.
Setup Requirements
Papers and pens for writing slips.
Point of Concentration
Immediate response to suggestions.
Side Coaching
Encourage quick thinking and collaboration within teams.
Remind participants to explore the details on their slips.
Points of Observation
Watch how well teams communicate as they organize their scene.
Observe the creativity in combining different slips of paper.
Evaluation
Was the scene set up quietly?
Could the scene have been organized faster?
What could have been done to expedite the organization?
Examples
Scene setup: A rainy afternoon at a crowded cafe with a secret agent.
Character: A detective investigating paranormal activities.