Improv Exercises
Here 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, the other brings as a game on stage. Please do not take over the individual exercises blindly, but think about the goals and intentions of each exercise.
Categories
Experience
Energy
Competences
Bell Tower
The group forms a circle, everyone puts their arms around their neighbors. All look down at the center of the circle. Swaying gently in r...
Diaphragm Training
A voice preparation exercise. The group stands in a circle. The facilitator sets a beat and everyone joins in. Three consonants are spok...
Emotional Singing
Everyone sings a simple well-known song without musical accompaniment. The facilitator calls out emotions at random — happy, angry, shy, ...
Hitting the Note
A well-known song is sung, but each syllable is sung as briefly as possible — just a quick tap on each note. This exercise trains the ab...
Humming Gates
Players stand in pairs facing each other with raised arms touching, spread throughout the room. Each person hums continuously at their ow...
Passing the Tone
Players stand in a circle. The first sings a tone on any vowel. Their neighbor listens and matches the tone. Once the first player hears ...
Singing Circle
With musical accompaniment, players stand in a circle. One sings a line, the next must rhyme with it. The third starts a new rhyme, the f...
Singing Circle with Chorus
Four singers each contribute one line to a verse. The fifth player summarizes the theme in a two or four-line chorus. After a short paus...
Solo Song with Tempo Change
With or without a given topic, the musician picks a melody and style. The player sings a verse, then the tempo suddenly changes — the sin...
Song Association
One player steps into the center and starts singing a well-known song. Before running out of lyrics, another player replaces them with a ...
Vocal Chain
This exercice is suitable for a large group. The players stand in a circle. The game master sends two vowels into the circle. Initially ...
Vocal Warm-up
Exercise 1: Everyone sings a simple well-known song in various keys set by the musician. Exercise 2: The musician plays a note, everyone...
Voice Volume Training
A sustained tone is sung with the throat as open as possible (like yawning) without opening the mouth too wide. Feel the vibration in the...
Vowel Chain
For larger groups. Players stand in a circle. The facilitator sends two vowels in opposite directions. First an 'A' goes right, then an '...
Vowel Singing
Players stand relaxed in a circle and sing five vowels in sequence: I - E - A - O - U. Imagine each vowel resonating in a different part...
Yawning Exercise
All players walk through the room and yawn as loudly as possible. Notice how the sound comes from deep in the throat. Then try speaking ...