Warm-ups
Before 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 on the other hand you can gain distance to the things that have occupied you all day long. There are many ways to shake everything off, clear your head and prepare your body: Catch playing, ball games, singing, stretching exercises, moving to music. Below are a few concrete examples of how to start an exercise session.
Categories
Experience
Energy
Competences
3 X Different
Two players face each other. Round 1 They alternately count 'one', 'two', 'three' back and forth. The starting number naturally switche...
Alien, Tiger, Cow
Synonym Rock paper scissors Description A simple warm-up game to intuitively harmonize the group with one another and to learn about t...
Alliterative Names
A name game for new groups to get to know each other. Players stand in a circle. One steps forward, makes a gesture or movement, and say...
Ball Metamorphosis
The players are standing in a circle. An imaginary ball is thrown by the moderator. Each time a player receives the ball and throws it to...
Balloons
Which group has the most breath? Find out which group has the strongest lungs by trying to keep your balloon in the air longer than the o...
Bang
Two players face each other. Both bend their arms with fists touching (thumbs pointing up, like pistols). They find a shared rhythm, mov...
Barney
A silly but nice little warmup game which requires quick reaction and a group rhythm. All players form a circle. One player stands in th...
Be my fan
The players walk through the room and play rock-paper-scissors with the first person they meet. Whoever loses becomes a fan of the winner...
Bippity Bippity Bop
Synonyms Elephant Introduction Everyone into a circle with one person in the center. This warm-up breaks the ice, gets people listenin...
Bippity Bippity Bop
One player stands in the center of a circle. They point at someone and say 'Bippity Bippity Bop'. The person being pointed at must say '...
Blind Stalker
Synonyms Screamers, haunted house, vampyre game Introduction This warm-up builds trust amongst workshop participants and helps break t...
Blinking place change
One (A) is in the middle of a large circle formed by all other players. Now the players are looking for eye contact with each other in a ...
Block of ice
This is a warm-up practice for the beginning of a rehearsal. The players stand quite stiff and immobile like in a block of ice frozen. H...
Block of Ice
A gentle warm-up exercise for the beginning of a rehearsal. Players stand completely stiff and motionless, as if frozen inside a block o...
Bunny Bunny
A rhythmical warm-up game in a circle, the more you take part, the more fun. The lower limit is five players. The players are in a circl...
Bunny Bunny
A rhythmic warm-up game played in a circle — the more players, the more fun. Minimum five players. Players stand in a circle. There are ...
Buzz
A concentration warm-up. All players stand in a circle and count upward, one number per player: '1', '2', '3', etc. Whenever a number c...
Call and Reply
Call and Reply All players form a circle. Then they all make a change of pace together with clapping, which sets the basic beat and is ma...
Call and Response
All players form a circle and establish a shared rhythm with a step-clap pattern. One player sings a line in gibberish. The whole group ...
Car Wash
This is less of a warm-up and more of a cool-down to enjoy at the end of a training session. Players stand in two rows facing each other...
Catch Me If You Can
A classic running game for larger groups. One player is the catcher, standing on one side of the room. All other players stand on the op...
Category Die
This is useful as a warm-up and it is also useful in performance even. The exercise forces you to be spontaneous and it also helps you ...
Category Snap
Video example Improv Warm-Ups: Category Snap
Charades - Misunderstand
This warm-up works like the classic party game Charades. A player receives a simple, easy-to-guess term from the facilitator (ideally a ...
Circle Up
During this warm-up exercise, the arms are stretched diagonally upwards and the legs, which are stretched out a little bit off the ground...
Clap Focus
Synonyms Snap Focus Introduction This warm up is to get people listening, responding fast and reacting without thinking. Everyone gets...
Clapping Circle
Various warm-up games where players stand in a circle and pass a signal — usually a clap — according to a fixed pattern or randomly. Bas...
Click Bang
Two players face each other, moving in sync — slapping their thighs simultaneously on each beat. On the next beat, each player simultane...
Counting Together
Players stand in a tight circle with closed eyes or looking at the floor. The group must count to 21 together. Any player can spontaneou...
Counting with Gestures
Players form a circle. Player 1 starts by calling '1' while tapping either their left or right shoulder. Tapping the left shoulder passe...
Cross Circle
Synonyms Name Game, Shriner’s Warm-up Introduction This warm up will help us all get moving, listening and learn a few names. Let’s fo...
Digits
Synonyms Shared counting, countdown, synergy Introduction This exercise is designed to get us all in synch. Get into a tight circle. ...
Drill Sergeant
Similar to 'Yes, Let's!' and 'Simon Says.' All players stand in a straight line as if in the army. The facilitator picks one person to b...
Duck, duck, goose
Duck, duck, goose or duck, duck, gray duck is a traditional children's game often first learned in pre-school or kindergarten then later ...
Emotional Fruit Salad
Video example Improv Warm-Ups : Improv Warm-Ups: Emotional Fruit Salad
Endless snake
The more players, the better: The first player offers his right or left hand. A player comes along and takes this hand and offers his or ...
Endless Snake
The more players, the better. The first player offers their right or left hand. Another player takes that hand and offers their free hand...
Escalation
Players stand in a circle. One player makes a subtle gesture or movement to their neighbor, possibly accompanied by a word or sound. The ...
Falling
Synonyms Group gravity, trust game Introduction This is a trust game that requires careful listening skills and quick reactions. It is...
Finger Snap Duel
All players hold both hands in a finger-snapping position (like pistols). As soon as you make eye contact with someone, you must snap you...
Fire - Water - Wind
All players walk through the room in a rhythm set by clapping. When the facilitator calls out a command, everyone must react instantly: ...
Five Things
All players stand in a circle. One player turns to their neighbor and says: 'Name five things that...' followed by a category (e.g. '...y...
Flock Dance
Introduction This is a physical warm-up and ice breaker. One person in front, with two people behind her and three behind them, forming ...
Follow the king
This exercise is called "Follow the King" or "Academy of silly walks" (based on Monty Python): The players run in a chain through the ro...
Forest Circle
Players stand in a circle. Four actions are passed around in sequence: Bunny ears: Thumbs at temples, fingers spread toward the next pl...
Forming Molecules
Everybody runs around the room until the game leader shouts a number. Instantly, everybody forms groups with the same number of players a...
Four Corners
Here is another good ice-breaker for the start of the school year or as a funny way to better introduce people with each other. Four Corn...
Four Corners
A name-learning and ice-breaker game. Players draw four pictures on a card divided into quadrants: favorite food, dream vacation, hidden ...
Fred Schneider
This warm-up is named after Fred Schneider, the singer of the B52s music group. Fred Schneider has a very distinctive way of performing h...
Free Association
Introduction This warm-up will help us get into the moment for improvisation, and help us feel easier about being silly. Description T...
Fruit Circle
Players stand in a circle. Each person thinks of an emotion and a type of fruit (duplicates are fine). One player starts by walking to a...
Fruit Insults
Players form pairs and stand at a distance from each other. They slowly walk toward each other while hurling 'insults' using only fruit a...
Genetically modified mouse
The players stand together with the game leader in a circle. This places an invisible mouse on the ground, which now runs under the feet ...
Genetically Modified Mouse
Players stand in a circle with the facilitator. The facilitator places an invisible mouse on the ground. The mouse now scurries under the...
Gesture Chain
Players stand in a wide circle with enough space for big movements. In the first round, each player performs an exaggerated household ges...
Gordian Knot
Players form a tight circle, close their eyes, and stretch their arms forward. Everyone grabs two different hands — not their neighbor's....
Go - Stop - Turn - Jump - Clap
Players walk freely around the room. The facilitator gives commands: Stop: Everyone freezes Go: Everyone walks After a while, Turn is...
Greeting Rituals
Players walk around the room. Whenever two players meet, they develop a greeting ritual together. When they meet again later, they greet ...
Groovelicious
The group forms a circle and passes impulses using three different moves: Wush: Swing both arms upward toward your neighbor (like throw...
Group formation
The game master determines the criteria according to which the people in the room should form groups. It says for example: Everyone wil...
Group Sorting
The facilitator calls out criteria by which players must quickly form groups: Everyone with the same eye color Everyone born in the sam...
Group Stop
This is listening warm-up. Everyone start milling about the room. Everyone quietly mills about the room. One person will elect to freeze...
Hand snake
With this fast warm-up game, the task is to allow the flat palms of up to three players to touch each other at the same time. At the begi...
Hand Snake
In this fast warm-up, the rule is that a maximum of three players' flat palms may touch at the same time. Players are spread around the r...
Hey and Ho
You take any two objects. First of all, an object is passed on from A to the right partner B in the circle. Following dialogue: A:"That'...
Hey and Ho
Players stand in a circle with two objects. Object one ('Hey') is passed to the right, object two ('Ho') is passed to the left. The pass...
Hide body
Description An excellent exercise to get to know and learn to trust and touch each other. 5 volunteers, 4 of whom must hide the fifth p...
Hide the Body
An excellent exercise for getting to know each other and building trust. Five volunteers: four must hide the fifth person using nothing ...
Hot Spot
The players form a circle. One player goes in the middle. He starts singing a song and the other players try to join in. If one of the su...
House - Resident - Flood
This warm-up requires a larger group — at least 13 people. Players form groups of three. Two players face each other and form a 'house' ...
House - residents - flood
This warm-up game is only suitable for a slightly larger group: 13 persons and more. It is also called: House creature flood. Groups of ...
I Am a Star
All players line up in a row. One by one, each player steps forward and announces: 'I am [name] and I am a star!' The rest of the group ...
I am a tree
A very popular exercise, suitable for beginners of improvisation The players stand on the stage/around the room. Player A goes to the mi...
I Am Here Now
Players walk around the room, all speaking simultaneously in a quiet voice, narrating their day chronologically — from waking up to arriv...
I Have a Mango
Players stand in a circle. The facilitator leads and the group repeats each line as loudly as possible, accompanied by rhythmic body move...
increase
The players are in a circle. One of them makes a discreet gesture or movement to his neighbor, if necessary. accompanied by a word or sou...
I Pack My Suitcase
The group stands in a circle. The first player says: 'I pack my suitcase and bring...' adding an item. The item doesn't need to be someth...
Johannes
This is a warmup game, for players getting to know each other and practicing reaction and concentration. All players form a circle. Pl...
Jumpers
Everyone into a circle for a silly warm-up to get the blood flowing. Players randomly and unexpectedly jump up in to the air. At some ti...
Kennedy
In this somewhat macabre warm-up game, players stand in a circle with one person standing in the center. The player in the center points ...
King of Siam
At The King of Siam one sits or stands in a circle. One player is the King, the others are numbered, the last one is wothout a number, he...
King of Siam
Players sit or stand in a circle. One is the King, the others are numbered in order. The last player has no number — they are simply 'the...
Kitty wants a corner
Synonyms Pussy wants a corner, pussy in the corner Description At least eight players are standing in a big circle, one of them is in ...
Knights, Horses and Cavaliers
The participants move around the playing field and wait for the words "knights", "horses" or "cavaliers" to be called. If one of the wo...
Knights, Horses and Cavaliers
Players move around the room. When the facilitator calls one of three words, players must quickly form pairs and strike a pose: Knights...
Last word - first word
Two players can participate in this game A random rule is added. The tricky part is, that in the dialogue between the two, the last w...
Laughter Parade
Four or five players stand in a row, all facing forward. The first player (A) starts laughing loudly. After a few seconds, A turns to loo...
Living Scenery
Another funny, silly shortform game. The host asks for a suggestion of a situation or a daily routine at a location. Two players then ac...
Love - Hate - Fear
All players walk through the room. When the facilitator says 'Love', everyone quickly finds a partner and expresses 'love' — without tou...
Machine
The name of a "crazy" machine, a machine that does not exist, is requested. In quick succession, the players construct the machine by ea...
Molecules
Everybody runs around the room until the game leader shouts a number. Instantly, everybody forms groups with the same number of players...
Mr. Hit me
All players stand in a circle. One player runs off and touches another one on the shoulder. The one tapped says the name of a third perso...
Names - Go and clap
Another warm-up and name game. The players form a circle and reach out one hand to the center of the circle. One player Z stands in the ...
Name Slap
Players form a circle with one hand extended toward the center. Player Z stands in the middle. A player in the circle calls out the name...
Name Syllables
A great name-learning game that helps everyone remember participants' names. Players form a circle. The first person says their name and...
Nightingale
An exercise to warm up, sing in and keep rhythm. Players are divided into two equal groups. Both groups sing the same song as a choir, on...
Nightingale
A singing warm-up for rhythm and vocal energy. Players split into two equal groups. Both groups sing the same simple song as a choir, bu...
Online Room Walk
An adaptation of the classic room walk for online/video rehearsals. Each participant thinks of a signal — a gesture or facial expression...
Palm Touch
Two players participate. One leads, the other follows. The leader keeps stopping and placing one palm in a specific position and height. ...
Partner Relaxation
A relaxation and loosening exercise, perfect for long improv training days. Also recommended for singing workshops. Players form pairs o...
Pass the Face
All players stand in a circle facing each other. One person starts by pulling a grimace and showing it only to the person on their left. ...
Pattern Weave
Players stand in a circle. A category is chosen (e.g. professions). One player says a word from that category to any other player — both ...
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...
People, Hands, Feet
Players walk around the room. The facilitator calls 'Stop!' followed by three numbers. The first number indicates how many players must f...
Playback Show
This warm-up and play practice have to be prepared. First of all short musical pieces in as many different styles and periods as possible...
Prisoner Walk
All players walk in a circle, one behind the other, like prisoners in a yard. They walk in a rhythmic lockstep. When anyone in the circl...
Quick Death
A (slightly macabre) exercise for in between times to drive away the tiredness of the players by speed: The players are in a circle. One...
Quick Death
A slightly macabre but energizing exercise. Players stand in a circle. One by one, each player steps into the center, shouts 'Massacre!'...
Rebrand things
The players walk around the room and name the things in the room. They should touch the corresponding objects. For example, "wall." "Corn...
Rename Things
Players walk around the room and name objects they see, touching them as they do: 'Wall.' 'Corner.' 'Heater.' Continue for one to two min...
rhythm exercises
The rhythm exercises include exercises and warm-up games, which contain a rhythmic element. Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves In this conc...
Rhythm Exercises
Rhythm exercises are warm-ups that contain a rhythmic element. Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves Players form a circle and create a shared rh...
Room Walk
Room Walk is a collective term for warm-up games where players walk around the room or stage. Some variations are quiet and relaxed, othe...
Rumors
All players stand in a circle. A fast warm-up to practice making offers, accepting them, and building on them. Player A asks their neigh...
Seven Things
Seven Things is a warm up in which players ask each other to name seven things that fall into a made up category. Anybody may start by ca...
Sex with me...
The game is played by choosing a subject of comparison. The players get the prompt "sex with me is like ..." followed by what is chosen t...
Simulclap
Introduction Get into a circle for listening and focus warm-up. Description One player starts off by clapping their hands (a singular ...
Simultaneous Stories
An exercise for two players. Both begin simultaneously with the first sentence of their own story. Then Player 1 continues Player 2's st...
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...
Sound Ball
Players stand in a circle and throw an imaginary ball to each other. Each throw is accompanied by a sound made by the thrower. The catch...
Storytelling with movements
This exercise is played in groups of three. Two players face each other, while a third one stands next to the first player. The first p...
Sword of samurai
Slow motion exercise for 2 or more players. The arms of each player are swords with poisonous points. If a player is hit elsewhere than ...
Sword of the Samurai
A slow-motion exercise. Players' arms are swords with poisonous tips. If a player is touched anywhere other than their arms, they die a s...
syllables
Great game to get to know each other and remember the names of the participants. The participants form a circle. The first person says h...
Sympathy - Antipathy
All players walk through the room. Each secretly picks one person they find 'sympathetic' and one they 'can't stand.' On the facilitator...
Tag Games
Tag games are great for the beginning of a practice session or as an energizer in between. Some tag games also help new groups overcome t...
Ten Fingers
It's a nice icebreaker game. The participants form a circle and hold all ten fingers high in the air. Now the participants ask questions,...
The monster
Player A stands in the middle of a big circle which all the other players form. A is the monster. He moves with forwards outstretched arm...
The Monster
Player A stands in the middle of a large circle. A is the monster — arms outstretched, making terrible noises and scary faces, slowly adv...
Three Balls
This exercise requires three small balls of different colors. Players walk freely around the room. Three of them hold a ball and pass it...
Tongue Twisters
Three tongue-twisting words are the key to this game: 'Whiskey Mixer', 'Wax Mask', and 'Mesh Changer' (or similar tongue twisters in your...
touch palms
Two players are involved in this exercise. One goes first, the other follows. Again and again, the one in front stops (and of course the ...
Triangle
Each player initially takes two other players as reference persons without revealing his selection. It is now the task of all players to ...
Triangle
Each player secretly picks two other players as reference points — without revealing their choice. The task is to continuously move throu...
Truth and lie
A game (also a name game) to get to know each other. All players line up in a circle. Then everyone tells their names and two things. One...
Two Circles
A simple name-learning game. First, all players form one circle and go around saying their names. Then the circle splits into two concen...
Walk and Freeze on Names
Everyone walks around the room simultaneously. When a walking player says the name of another walking player, the named person must freez...
Walking with Body Tension
Players walk around the room. The facilitator calls out numbers from -2 to +2, each representing a different level of body tension: 0: ...
Walking with speed levels
Players are distributed in the room. The task is to walk every which way through the room at increasing speeds. The leader announces "Ste...
Walking with Speed Levels
Players are spread around the room. The task is to walk at increasing speeds. The facilitator calls out levels: Level 1: Extremely slow...
Water Plant
Two players participate. One stands firmly with eyes closed. The facilitator describes the image of a water plant — rooted firmly in the ...
What Are You Doing!
Players This exercise is played with two players. Rules Player 1 begins miming some action. Player 2 shouts, "What are you doing?" ...
What is a what?
A warm-up game in which rhyme is played quickly. All players line up in a circle and slowly flip a rhythm with their fingers. Player A ...
What Is a What?
A fast rhyming warm-up. All players stand in a circle, snapping a slow rhythm. Player A starts with: 'What is a [word] without a [rhymin...
Wink Swap
One player (A) stands in the middle of a large circle formed by all other players. The players in the circle try to make eye contact with...
Write Your Name with Your Body
Write your name in the air using different body parts. Start with your nose, then your belly button, your elbow, your ear, your knee. Yo...
Yes, let's
A great warmup for group collaboration and to practice saying yes especially for improv beginners. Everybody walks around the room. One ...
Yes, Let's!
All players walk around the room. One player suggests an activity, for example: 'Let's hop on one leg!' Everyone shouts 'Yes, let's!' an...
Yes Yes - No No
Players stand in a circle. Clockwise, each player passes the word 'yes' to their neighbor. If a player wants to reverse direction, they s...
You
This game is more or less a variation of Begriffskreis but it actually is 10 times more complicated. than Begriffkreis itself. :) The pl...
Zip Zap Zoop
This warm-up gets our brains acting without thinking. Everyone into a circle. This is another motion around the circle warm-up. In this ...
Zip Zap Zop
Players stand in a circle. One player starts by clapping and pointing to either their left or right neighbor: Clap left: say 'Zip' Clap...
ZoomSchwatzMakeafakeliano
A warmup and concentration exercise for at least 3 players. The group forms a circle. There are three impulses: - Zoom: A "Zoom" can be ...