Internet headquarter of improvisational theater. Looking up games, exercises and warm-ups. Furthermore, with calendar and group list
A collection of improv games, warm-ups and exercises. Additionally asks fors and tricks and tips.
Go to Encyclopedia »A directory of all improv groups in the world. Currently we have 1263 groups in the directory.
Is your group already listed?
All events about improv: workshops, shows und festivals. You can add your own events. Get an account and start right away.
Show Eventslist »Improvisation theatre, improv theatre, or simply improv, is a form of theatre that is improvised: none of the presented scenes are previously rehearsed. This is the main difference from classical theatre.
Often the actors receive a suggestion from the audience, or even repeatedly receive input during a scene. These suggestions serve as a leitmotif or impulse generator for the spontaneously emerging scenes. Improv theatre is frequently accompanied by music. The music is also improvised and intimately interwoven with the stage performance.
The stories arise from the actors’ mutual inspiration. Preplanned acting gives way to the pure, spontaneous interplay of action and reaction between the actors.
There is a distinction between short and long forms in improvisational theatre. The short forms consist of scenes that only take a few minutes, stand on their own, or that are connected by an overarching thematic motif, but not connected to each other.
There are many concepts for these short forms. In "theatre sports" teams of actors encounter each other and vie for the favour of the audience. There is also the Maestro improv format, which determines the best actor of the evening. There are theatre sports teams all over the world, and theatre makers have developed similar theatrical concepts, and there are crossovers. The term “theatersport” is a non-registered trademark.
The short forms dominate the "games" most of the time, which often leads to a comical interpretation of improv theatre. While this is often the case, is does not have to be. With the improvised long forms, however, the serious scenes tend to dominate, but comic elements may also be used.
A format called "Harold" takes up a topic suggestion from the audience and the actors create a kind of closely interwoven scenic collage out of various aspects of this topic, with partially-developed characters and psychological depth.
Another long form is the Improv murder mystery, using various formats, which differ in particular due to audience participation.
There is also biography theatre. An invited guest talks about his life. This story is improvised at the same time. With Improv theatre this tends more to be entertaining, and in playback theatre to be more psychologizing.
Good and interesting Improv stories emerge if the actors bear in mind certain principles. These include the often touted "joy in failure", playing in the here and now, and acting using one’s own state.
Since this kind of acting also enables a special type of open communication, many actors see their passion for improv theatre as more than just a kind of recreation, but much more as the acting out of an inner attitude to life. This close association with one’s own philosophy of life differs perhaps from classical theatre.
Improv Games
Show all Improv Games (116) # Talking 9 # Switches 13 # Letter Games 4 # Dialogue Form 7 # Emotion Games 4 # Objects 4 # Chain Games 9 # Physical Contact 1 # Music Games 11 # Guessing Games 3 # Speech 8 # Direction Games 3 # Replay 10 # In Black and White 3 # Slapstick-Bustle-Action 3 # Other 2 # Dubbing 3 # Audience on stage 2 # Status Games 0 Synchro Replay Terrorist "3 free" - Three sentences free Multi-headed Expert The Conscience Award ceremony Roller Coaster Conducted Story Talk at touch Countdown Scene with a wall Pen Friends Pecking Order Toaster Marriage Guidance Stage Directions Avoid a letter The Excuse Ballad singer The hitch-hiker Dr. Know-It-All Dutch Square Time travel Reclamation Puppets Word replay Orlando Alliteration Party Quirks Drop A Line Customer Service Revolving DoorHere you can find a collection of improv games. This collection consists of games that can be performed in a show in front of an audience. Each of them can be announced in advance, or they can be played unannounced ...
Improv Exercises
Show all Improv Exercises (61) # Action Reaction 2 # Accepting 11 # Breathing 0 # Expression 2 # Character 5 # Storytelling 10 # Focus 1 # Memory 1 # Emotions 0 # Group 7 # Impulse 2 # Multitasking 1 # Music and Singing 1 # Pairs 0 # Pantomime 1 # Rhyming 2 # Space 0 # Speed 7 # Other 5 # Status 2 # Dancing - Choreography 0 # Trust 1 # Perception 3 # Physicalness - Movement 2 # Speech 3 # Presence 1 # Heighten 0 # Finding Game 2 # Listening 4 # Relationship 0 # concentration 1 # Association 9 Telling a story Steal the Hat Advance and Expand Silent post Playback Show Samurai Dissociation Traffic light Worlds worst Seven Things Guess status Award ceremony Hot Spot House - residents - flood Slow-motion Rumble The strict Boss Throwing light ZoomSchwatzMakeafakelianoHere you can find a collection of exercises for improv theatre. These exercises are intended to train specific aspects and skills in a targeted manner. The transition from exercises to games is fluid. What is still an exercise for one, ...
Warm-ups
Show all Warm-ups (70) I am a tree Sword of samurai What Are You Doing! Block of ice Ball Metamorphosis You Living Scenery Category Die Zip Zap Zoop Forming Molecules Follow the king Genetically modified mouse Blinking place change Ten Fingers Kennedy Blind Stalker King of Siam Johannes Seven Things Digits Endless snake Group Stop Flock Dance Barney ZoomSchwatzMakeafakeliano Truth and lie Walking with speed levels Bunny Bunny Clap Focus Falling Four Corners Hot Spot touch palms Last word - first word Emotional Fruit Salad Slow-motion Rumble The monster Triangle Names - Go and clap Yes, let's Simulclap Playback Show What is a what? Bippity Bippity Bop Circle Up Alien, Tiger, Cow Mr. Hit me Kitty wants a corner Fred Schneider Category SnapBefore doing sports, you warm up. Every child knows that. Since theatre is also a form of physical work, one should warm up a bit before starting the actual exercises. On the one hand you can prepare yourself physically and ...
