Improv Exercises

3 X different

Two people face each other. Round 1 They mutually count repeatedly "one", "two", "three". Automatically the start with "one" changes: ...

4 Sentence Story

Players stand in a circle or a line to tell short stories. Each player contributes exactly one sentence. The four sentences follow this m...

5 Sentence Story

Simple storytelling in 5 steps, playable in pairs or small groups: Character and place — introduce a person and where they are Second c...

Advance and Illustrate

Players begin a scene. From outside, the facilitator calls two commands: 'Advance!' — players must move the plot forward with new infor...

AED (Action Emotion Detail)

One player tells a story. Three others give signals when they want more Action, more Emotion, or more Detail. Each is responsible for one...

After the Catastrophe

Two players sit at an angle, visible to each other and the audience. Their task: without speaking, using only facial expressions and gest...

An illustration

In this game, two or three players are involved. So the game begins with a member of the audience go on the stage, and a second or thi...

Assertion Marathon

Two players must pack as many assertions as possible into a scene. Every assertion must drive the scene forward. This trains bold offers...

Association Circle

All players form a circle. One says a word to their neighbor. That neighbor associates a new word and passes it on, and so on around the ...

Association Circle with Recall

In the first phase, several rounds of free association go around the circle (as in the basic Association Circle). In the second phase, e...

Association Walk

Everyone walks through the room. One player suddenly stops with a loud stomp and points at someone. Everyone freezes. The stomper says a...

Ball Metamorphosis

Players stand in a circle throwing an imaginary ball to each other. Before each throw, the ball changes character — it might be heavy, sl...

Being Positive

A normal scene begins. The players must be relentlessly, persistently positive throughout. The moment any player shows a hint of negativi...

Bench takeover

3 players, several chairs on the stage represent the bench. 1 player sits on the bench, the other two try to persuade Player 1 to leave ...

Bench Takeover

Three players and several chairs representing a bench. One sits on the bench while the other two must convince them to leave through a pl...

Betty Plum

Also known as Hologram. A group of players collectively build a fictional person by contributing characteristics one at a time. If a sugg...

Big Cat Needle

A simple but excellent exercise for building complicity between players. The center of the room is marked with an object. Two players st...

Boing Wush Zwong

Each player invents three comic words with matching gestures. They walk around introducing themselves with their new name. Once everyone ...

Boom Boom Chicago

This exercise trains quickly establishing scene information. Player 1 starts with a physical activity Player 2 enters and establishes t...

Breathing Exercise

A sustained tone is sung. The throat is opened as wide as possible, as if yawning, without opening the mouth too wide. The lower jaw mov...

Building Images

Players walk around the room. The facilitator calls out objects or locations. Players immediately form the given thing using their bodies...

Category Circle

Players pass words from a category (e.g. vegetables, sports) crisscross through the circle. Each person has one turn per round. The patte...

Character exercise (character switch)

All go through the room, each with a certain character. Whenever you meet, you speak two sentences together, and the character is slowly ...

Character Walk

Everyone walks through the room embodying a specific character. When two players meet, they exchange a sentence or two in character. Var...

Choreography Exercise

Players arrange themselves in a diamond formation facing the audience. The front player leads movements — everyone behind mirrors them. W...

Clapping in Threes

Three players (A, B, C). A claps to B. The uninvolved player C must then clap to someone. That triggers the next uninvolved player, and s...

Complement Exercise

Players form two lines on opposite sides of the stage. A player from line A starts a scene by establishing a character (e.g. a burglar). ...

Counting Circle

Everyone stands in a circle. The group must count to double the number of participants — so each person says two numbers. All close thei...

Country Sayings

A rhyming exercise for the group. Players stand in a circle. Going clockwise, each player contributes one word to build a country saying ...

Cross Examination

Groups of three: one criminal, two police officers conducting an interrogation. The criminal must always say 'yes' or agree to everything...

Dancing with Light Point

A partner exercise. The leader guides the dancer by the outstretched hand. The dancer stays mostly in place but follows the hand's direct...

Develop a Person

Players walk through the room. When the facilitator says 'stop', everyone freezes. The facilitator asks individual players: 'Who are you?...

Developing a Character

Players walk through the room and imagine a person — their age, profession, worries, habits. They begin moving as that person would. The...

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...

Different Reaction

An exercise to practice strong reactions and clear characters. A two-person scene is played. Player A initiates with a verbal offer. Pla...

Disrupting

Two players perform a scene. Two others deliberately disrupt it with seemingly inappropriate offers — entering with absurd characters, ma...

Dissociation

Players stand in a circle. Each must respond to the previous word with something that has nothing to do with it. If a logical association...

Distance Fight

Two players face each other at a safe distance. One attacks using fists, feet, head, shoulders — always from a safe distance. The defende...

Emotional Singing

Everyone sings a simple well-known song without musical accompaniment. The facilitator calls out emotions at random — happy, angry, shy, ...

Emotion Circle

One player passes an emotion (preferably positive) to their neighbor. The neighbor mirrors the emotion. Once both share the same feeling,...

Emotion Circle 2

Players stand in a circle. One says a simple sentence to their neighbor in a specific emotion with matching gestures. The neighbor repeat...

Emotion Circle 3

In the circle, players read aloud from a book — the more emotionless the text, the better (e.g. an instruction manual or textbook). The r...

Emotions by Cards

Three players each receive a card with a different emotion. On a signal, all three simultaneously display their emotion using only facial...

Empty Lungs

Players breathe in deeply and then walk through the room while continuously exhaling with a toneless 'shh' sound. They keep walking and e...

Enjoying Food and Drink

This exercise trains how to eat and drink on stage through pantomime. How do you eat an apple hungrily? Cherries elegantly? A banana sed...

Facial Expressions

All walk through the room. The facilitator names a facial feature — nose, ears, forehead, eyes, mouth, cheeks, tongue. Everyone moves tha...

Fake Crying

A technique exercise: do not blink for as long as possible, then blink once and repeat. The eyes naturally begin to water, producing real...

Fantasy Story with Questions

A quiet exercise for two. Player A lies relaxed with closed eyes and tells a story (no prompt needed). Player B sits nearby and periodica...

Fast Food Laban

An exercise for developing characters based on movement types, inspired by Rudolf von Laban's movement studies. Players explore combinat...

Fast Food Stanislavski

Two players play a scene with a given title or location. Each player receives a secret subtext for their character — their hidden motivat...

Finding the Child Within

Players form pairs. One tells a story using only questions: 'Shall we go to the park?' 'Shall we feed the ducks?' The other responds onl...

Following Movement Impulses

Players lie relaxed on the floor with eyes closed. They tune into their body and follow any movement impulse — a twitch, an urge to stret...

Follow the Follower

Several players perform a specific action simultaneously without a designated leader. No one decides when to start or change — the group ...

Fortunately Unfortunately

Players tell a story sentence by sentence, alternating between fortunately and unfortunately. Player 1: 'Once upon a time there was a pi...

Gentle Manipulation

A listening exercise for tuning in to your scene partner. Player A leaves the room. The others decide on an action (e.g. washing a car, ...

Gibberish Circle

All players form a circle. One of them steps into the center and explains through some gestures something in gibberish. After the player ...

Gibberish Circle

All players form a circle. One steps into the center and explains something using gestures and gibberish (nonsense language). After retur...

Guess the Expression

Player A kneels behind a chair so only their head is visible. The facilitator whispers emotions to A, who expresses them using only facia...

Guess the Status

Players embody a status level from 0 (lowest) to 10 (highest) and perform a short scene or solo. The audience guesses the number. This e...

Held Still Then Walk

A quiet body awareness exercise. Players walk through the room, then form pairs of similar height. In each pair, one stands behind the o...

Help!

2-4 players improvise a scene. The rest watches and stays ready. Whenever a player feels overwhelmed or stuck, they call 'Help!' and a wa...

He said, she said

Each player describes the action of their partner. Ex: player 1, "I'd like to talk to you, Mabel." Player 2, "He said, standing up and pu...

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...

Hologram

Players stand in a circle. Together they build a plausible picture of a fictional person by contributing traits one at a time: name, age,...

Humming Gates

Players stand in pairs facing each other with raised arms touching, spread throughout the room. Each person hums continuously at their ow...

I Am a Tree

A popular exercise perfect for beginners. Players stand around the stage area. One enters, strikes a pose, and declares what they are: 'I...

I Have a Better Idea

Three players stand in a semicircle. The middle one tells a story. The other two enthusiastically agree with 'Yes yes yes!' to every acti...

It Is Tuesday

Two players meet. One says something mundane like 'It is Tuesday.' This simple statement becomes the foundation — both players build on i...

Jeopardy

Like the TV show: one player gives an answer first, and the other must come up with the matching question. Player A: 'Forty-two.' Player...

King

One player is King, sitting on a throne. The King commands what emotions the other players must display. Players step forward one at a ti...

La Ronde

The Round Dance follows the model of the same name from Arthur Schnitzler. In this play, different characters appear on the stage one aft...

Leading and Following

One player walks through the room installing imaginary obstacles — a thorn bush, a chasm, a low ceiling. They show pantomimically what ea...

Leading Body Part

Players walk through the room. The facilitator names a body part — pelvis, left shoulder, forehead, right knee, belly. Players let that b...

Leading Exercises

Pair exercises where one player closes their eyes and the other leads them through the room in various ways: Leading by the hand Leadin...

Loud-Silent Game

Emotions are often accompanied by sounds. A surprised person says 'Ooh!' A disgusted person says 'Eww!' Players practice these basic voc...

Machine

The audience suggests a crazy machine that does not exist. Players build it one by one — each becoming a moving part with a repeated soun...

Make It Bigger

A player begins a scene. When the facilitator claps, the player must freeze and continue doing exactly what they were doing at that momen...

Making Routines More Interesting

This exercise trains staying present in a mundane action without planning ahead. A player performs a routine activity (brushing teeth, m...

Mantra

Two players sit facing each other and have a conversation about a mundane topic. Then repeat the same conversation, but this time each p...

Mirror Exercises

Two players face each other. One leads with slow movements, the other mirrors exactly. The goal is for an observer to not be able to tell...

Mirror Faces

Player A faces the group in a semicircle. Everyone mirrors A's facial expressions as precisely as possible. Variant a) Mirror exactly. V...

Mismatched Assertion

Two players establish a normal scene. A third player, who has been facing away with ears covered, enters and says a completely random sen...

Movement Impulse Through Touch

Players form pairs. One stands with closed eyes. The other gently taps various body parts. At each touch, the standing player responds by...

Multi-Headed Expert

At least three players form one character — a multi-headed expert. They stand side by side with arms around each other's shoulders. The e...

Multitasking

Three players: A stands in the center. B stands in front doing slow upper body movements. C does slow lower body movements. A must mirror...

Name Dialogue

Two players each receive a name from the audience. In the following scene, each player may only say the other's name — no other words all...

New Choice

Rules Players perform a scene based on an audience suggestion. At any point during the scene, the Host may blow a whistle and call for a...

New Choice - Basic Information

This exercise trains quickly establishing basic scene information: Who are the characters? Where are they? What is their relationship? Wh...

Noun-Adjective Association

Two groups form facing lines. The first person says a noun and goes to the back of the opposite line. The person across associates an adj...

Once Upon a Time Model

Players stand in a circle and build a story following this model: Once upon a time... (introduce character and setting) Every day... (e...

One Too Many

3-5 players on stage. As the name says, one player is too many. That player must be excluded by the group — but everyone wants to belong....

Online Association Game

Player A says a word. Player B associates a word and says it aloud. Player C writes their association to A's original word in the chat. P...

On the Line

All players stand side by side on a line, facing forward. Space is needed in front, behind, left, and right. Phase 1: The facilitator ca...

Opera Ball

An extension of the one-word story. Players form pairs in waltz position. The pairs begin a dialogue — but word by word, alternating betw...

Opposites

The facilitator asks players to do the opposite of what is instructed. Speak quietly = speak loudly. Walk forward = walk backward. Stand...

Overwhelming the Listener

Four players. One stands in the center as the listener. Three others stand in front, left, and right, each telling a different story simu...

Pair Association

Four or more players form a circle. Two step into the center. The circle counts down: 'Three, two, one!' Both center players simultaneous...

Paperclip Game

A great exercise for recognizing patterns and heightening offers. Players stand in a line. One steps forward and describes a mundane obje...

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 ...

Pearl String

All players line up. Player 1 steps forward, goes to the far right, and says a sentence that could start a story. Player 2 steps forward,...

Peculiar neighbor

The players stand in a circle. In turn, each one respectively turns to his neighbor and says anything unusual/absurd /incredible that wil...

Peculiar Neighbor

Players stand in a circle. Each person turns to their neighbor and points out something unusual, absurd, or impossible about them. The ne...

Picking Gifts

Players stand in a circle. One begins by plucking an imaginary object from the air. They hold it in a specific way and present it as a gi...

Problem Injection

Two players establish a positive routine. After a while, a third player enters from offstage and introduces a problem. Then they leave (w...

Rapid Fire Words

Two players face each other. Player 1 lists words for 30 seconds — whatever comes to mind (usually an associative chain forms). Then Play...

Redefining Objects Through Pantomime

A real object (a shoe, ball, or hat) must be redefined through pantomime so that its new meaning becomes quickly recognizable — all witho...

Revolving Door

A game for 4-5 players. One stands in the center and quickly swaps places with players at the edges. Each swap starts a new mini-scene. T...

Rhyme Circle

One player in the circle says a word and points at another. That player must say a rhyming word and point at the next person, who rhymes ...

Rhyme Circle 2

Rhyme scheme AABB: One player speaks a line, the next rhymes with it, the third starts a new rhyme, the fourth completes it. The stanza ...

Robot

Players pair up. Player A sculpts Player B into a statue, then 'switches on' the robot with a button press. B becomes a robot performing...

Room Installation

Players form pairs. The first player prepares a kitchen for a party, pantomiming tables, chairs, cupboards, sink, dishes — installing eve...

Scene mix 10x20

The aim of this exercise is to make it very clear in a very short time what a scene is all about. It trains the making of strong offers. ...

Scene Mix 10x20

10 different scenes with 2 players each, played in rapid succession. Each scene lasts exactly 20 seconds. The goal is to make the essenc...

Scene Starters

Players form two rows facing each other. In quick succession, each pair starts a scene. The goal is to establish basic information throug...

Setting Up a Room

The first player enters through an imaginary door and begins using a pantomimed object — perhaps a coffee machine. The next player enters...

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...

Slow Motion Fight

Players perform a pantomime fight in slow motion. Gestures and facial expressions are expansive and exaggerated. Both players must give ...

Slow-motion Rumble

The players are having a pantomimic brawl in slow motion. The gestures and facial expressions are expansive and often a little exaggerate...

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 ...

Sound Shower

One player stands in the center with closed eyes. The other players stand or move around them, making all kinds of sounds — wind, animals...

Spit-Fire

One player receives a topic and tells a story. On either side, two other players constantly shout random words. The storyteller must inco...

Spy (The Burglar)

A solo exercise for playing the space. The player enters a room (the stage) as a spy or burglar, carefully exploring the environment thro...

Statue Scene Start

A preparatory exercise for freeze tag. Players form pairs. One sculpts the other into a random statue. The statue then starts a scene fro...

Status Chain

A situation is given (e.g. restaurant). One player has absolute high status (the guest). The guest's wishes are passed down a chain of de...

Status Group

Four players draw cards numbered 1 (high status) to 4 (low status). They play a scene, each embodying their assigned status level. After...

Status Topping

A playing area is defined. The facilitator should monitor solvability. Players enter one at a time, each establishing a higher status tha...

Steal the Hat

Deux joueurs ou plus sont sur scène et développent une scène simple. Chaque joueur porte un chapeau. L'objectif des joueurs est de voler ...

Steal the Hat

Two or more players develop a scene on stage. Each wears a hat. The goal is to steal the other players' hats during the scene. A player ...

Step by Step

Nine cards are laid out in a 3x3 grid on the floor. Two players each stand on a card. The rule: you may only speak AFTER moving to a diff...

Step Forward - Step Back

Players stand in a circle holding hands, looking at each other. After a moment, the facilitator counts: 'One... two... three.' On 'three...

Telephone Monologue

The facilitator and 2 players stay in the room. Player A receives a prompt and delivers a monologue in a developed character. Player B wa...

Tell a Story Together

Two players tell a story together. The first begins: 'Let us go on vacation.' The second starts their sentence with YES: 'Yes, let us go ...

Thank You

Player A takes a pose on stage. Player B enters and takes a complementary pose that gives A's position meaning. A says 'Thank you', exits...

The Holy Grail

All players stand in a wide circle. One person enters the center with a specific character (voice, accent, posture) and approaches someon...

The Inner Animal

The facilitator writes different animal species on slips of paper. Players draw one secretly. Their task is to imagine the essence of thi...

The Sleeping Person

A sleeping person lies in the center of the room. One or more players position themselves around the sleeper. Their task is to approach t...

The Strict Boss

Three players sit on chairs. The boss sits in the middle, subordinates on either side. The boss tries to instruct both employees, but can...

Thought Game

Two players come on stage and meet coincidentally at a location given by the audience. They have not seen each other in a long time and c...

Thunderdome

Players form a circle. Two stand in the center facing each other. Someone from the circle gives a category (e.g. vegetables). The circle ...

Trust Fall

Small group: Three players. One stands between the others, closes eyes, goes stiff, and slowly falls forward. The player in front catches...

Using Objects and Space

Two players participate. Five slips of paper are distributed around the room, each naming a typical object found in a room. The players p...

Verbal Hunt

The facilitator fires rapid questions that players must answer using the association principle — as fast as possible. The questions shou...

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 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...

Waiting Room

Four players sit side by side — they are in a doctor's waiting room. Each secretly picks one person they love, one they hate, and one who...

What Are You Doing

Two players on stage. A asks B: 'What are you doing?' B names an activity: 'I am harvesting potatoes.' A then does exactly that. A asks ...

Word Swing

Two players face each other, swinging their arms forward and back in sync. After three swings, on the fourth upswing, both simultaneously...

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 ...

Yes But

Players form pairs and have a dialogue. A makes a suggestion, B finds a reason not to do it, starting with 'Yes, but...' Then switch: re...

Yes Exactly And Because

Two players sit shoulder to shoulder on chairs, playing one person — an expert or inventor. They are being interviewed about their specia...

Yes Exactly And Then

An exercise for two players. Both experienced something together and tell the story while acting it out. They stand shoulder to shoulder,...

Yes - No

Players form pairs. One can only say 'Yes', the other only 'No'. Despite this limitation, they have a full conversation using tone, volum...

Your Excellency

Played by two people: the Excellency and their advisor who acts as teacher. The advisor asks the Excellency questions. The Excellency alw...

Zoom and Emotion

Player A acts on stage while Player B sits at the side. After a prompt, A narrates a typical daily routine (e.g. morning after waking up)...