Improv Encyclopedia

Hobbies

Hobbies approach manias, but are not quite so obsessive. Example: Passionate Angler (talks about fishing rods constantly, is busy with i...

List of activities

Daily routine *File *Dry off *Light (cigarette/cigar/oven/candle) *Hang up (laundry, pictures) *Take off (clothes, shoes) *Take a bath *...

List of further ticks of figures

The following characteristics or behavioral patterns are particularly suitable for improvisation games (e. g. party guests) or as guideli...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

Active Post

A mix of charades and telephone. For 5 players: The facilitator shows Player 1 a compound word (e.g. 'anthill'). Player 1 must act it ou...

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...

Being Positive

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

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...

Bench takeover

The park bench is the ultimate test for any improviser. Two worlds collide here: the pure openness of the person sitting and the creative...

Best Side Story

Two teams face each other. Team 1 begins a story. Each player steps forward and advances the narrative. When the other team notices hesit...

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...

Circle Crawl

6-14 players sit in a circle on the floor. After a quiet moment (perhaps a breathing exercise), anyone who feels the impulse slowly and l...

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 Chair

A solo exercise. The player sits on a chair and receives a simple prompt (e.g. 'shoes'). Their task is to continuously switch emotions — ...

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...

Encounters

The group splits into As and Bs. Both groups walk around the room. The As have high status, the Bs have low status. The As make eye conta...

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 ...

Gossip Sisters

Two groups (A and B) of equal size. Group A forms a tight circle in the center and whispers as quietly as possible about a topic. Group B...

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,...

Human Wall

For larger groups (10+). All players except one line up against a wall. Player A stands facing them at a distance, then runs toward the w...

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 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...

Imitation Circle

Players stand in a circle. A pattern is established where each person has a predecessor and a successor across the circle. Each player wa...

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...

Look and Die

All players stand in a circle looking at the floor. The facilitator calls 'Now!' and everyone instantly looks up at one other player. If...

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...

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 Circle

Players form pairs and exchange names — each takes the other's name. One person is left without a partner and keeps their own name. This...

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...

New House

A concentration exercise with winking. Players stand in a circle. Player A winks discreetly at Player B. B signals with a subtle nod that...

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...

Pantomime with Hand Signals

One player performs random pantomime without a theme. Behind them, 4-5 players stand in a row, copying the movements. The watching audie...

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 ...

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...

Perception Circle

In a circle, two types of signals are passed in opposite directions: 'Bunny': Hold index fingers up as ears, look at neighbor, say 'eee...

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...

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...

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...

Samurai

Players stand in a circle. The First - A - raises the outstretched arms above his head, where both hands are holding an imaginary sword. ...

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...

Shifted Question Circle

Players stand in a circle. One enters the center and faces each person in turn, receiving a simple question from each. But the answer to ...

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 ...

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...

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...

Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre

Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre is home to all things comedy and we offer improv classes in Los Angeles and New York City. Our extensive...

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 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...

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...

Walking and Standing

Players distribute themselves evenly and stand still. The facilitator calls a number — that many players may walk while everyone else rem...

Where Is...?

Players walk attentively through the room. The facilitator says 'Stop' — everyone freezes and closes their eyes. The facilitator names s...

Wink Murderer

All players walk through the room. One is secretly the murderer who kills by winking. Victims fall dramatically dead. Everyone tries to i...

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)...

apartment building

The form apartment building all the scenes within a house play in different apartments. In these three to four storylines, stories with s...

Books Parade

This long form can be played two different ways. In both variations the audience would be asked beforehand to bring books of poetry, shor...

Bring your thing

They ask for objects the audience has with them. One of the proposed objects will be put on stage and played on, i. e. The following scen...

Camp Fire

Basics Campfire is a narrative long form. It belongs to the horror stories genre. The stories are based on tales from the audience. Camp...

Found Objects

In the long-form Found Objects the player brings everyday objects with them onto the stage. I deals with completly usuual objects but tha...

The Harold is a Longform developed by Del Close. The original form is described in "Truth in comedy" by Del Close and Charna Halpern. Bas...

3 players form 3 pairs. Players A and B : pair 1 Players B and C : pair 2 Player C and A: pair 3 Pair 1 begins and establishes their ...

Online Improv Show Technical Guides

There are various possibilities to create a live online impro show. There are multiple variations of technical setups with different Too...

Peekabooker is a long format developed by Peekaboo. It is also know as ImproPoker. The basis is a simple deck of cards, originally wi...

The game Slumdog Impronair is a long form game, inspired by the movie Slumdog Millionaire. The game begins with six contestants and a pr...

The name of the game Spokes is derived from the basic structure of this long form. A large number of scenes are grouped around a basic sc...

Stage Directions

Players 3+ Rules Players perform an ordinary scene based on an audience suggestion. A player outside of the scene will occasionally in...

Superscene

Three to five people can take part in this game. Each of the players is responsible for one of the stories, as its director. He introduce...

The Butterfly Effect

a modification of anti-freeze tag where the plot* begins by going in reverse chronological order and then the first scene (in terms of st...

The Milano

The Milano, composed and first played by the Belgian improvgroup; Salamie. It is a composition which contains 4 existing formats (games, ...

The seven year itch

The play comes from Doug Nunn and is a type of long form. It is best played with 3 women and three men + a presenter, and it takes about ...

Words that change the world

"Words that change the world" is a long form. At the beginning the audience can be asked for a place where the story begins. The audience...

Countdown

Actors any number Suggestions variable, often a location, conflict, possibly characters/quirks, or none Premise With or without suggest...

Customer Service

Actors 2 or more Suggestions object, what's wrong with it, and a celebrity who previously owned it Premise One actor serves as a cus...

Drop A Line

Actors 2-4 Suggestions squibs with lines of dialogue, quotes, phrases, etc. Also location, setting, characters, etc., as necessary Pr...

Emotional Workplace

Three actors are playing at working places given by the audience. Each player gets a related feeling. Example: Player A has sadness as ...

Family Dinner

A game where audience members can be involved. Get an audience member to describe several members of their family. Do a scene about a di...

F.I.S.H.

Players 2+ Description Ask for a short word. Players act a scene in which each line of dialogue starts with successive letters of the ...

Hat off

This game is particularly suitable for theater sports matches as there is a winning and losing team. Prerequisite is a hat from the props...

Help!

2-4 players improvise a scene according to any guideline. The rest of the players look on and hold themselves ready. Whenever a player fe...

Horoscope

The moderator asks for a zodiac sign and then reads the current horoscope prediction from a magazine. The players then play a scene in wh...

Job Center

A player leaves the room. The public is asked to name an extraordinary profession. The player is invited back in, sits behind his desk an...

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...

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...

Marriage Guidance

A game for three players. One player is the therapist, the other players are the couple for treatment. The first couple is sent out and t...

Multi-headed Expert

At least three players form a character, the multi-headed expert. To achieve this they stand next to each other and put their arms around...

Multiple personalities

Silly, funny little shortform game. Played by 3 players. The host asks the audience to hand over three props. Then the host ask for a su...

Newscast

Actors 4 Suggestions characters, scenarios, conflicts as necessary Premise Four typical spots in this scene are the anchor, co-ancho...

Old Job - New Job

Ask for two professions that have nothing to do with one another. Someone in the scene plays a character that is now doing the second job...

Pan Right - Pan Left

Pan Right / Pan Left Players: 4 – 8 (Can be played with any number of players, but should be played with two evenly sized teams in shows)...

Party Quirks

Time: 10 Minutes Number of Participants: Best in groups of 4 or 5 Required Equipment: The only equipment needed are pieces my paper wit...

Pecking Order

An exercise i.e. a game for three players. The players form a hierarchy (A has the highest status, B the middle, C the lowest). It's gove...

People Watching

This is best explained by an example involving players A, B, and C. A waits for B and C to leave before asking for a suggestion. A ask...

Poets with Feeling

Three or four players are involved. The moderator asks the audience to provide a random sentence. Additionally, he lets each of the three...

Prison visitor

A musical game. The host asks for two suggestions: a country (where the one player is in prison) and a crime the player committed. The ...

Quintet

At first five different scenes are played. The audience then decides on one of these scenes to be removed. The remaining four scenes cont...

Revolving Door

A game for 4-5 players. A player stands in the center and will quickly exchange places with where the other players started. The player ...

Road Trip

Info 10 + Minutes Groups of approximately 10 to 15 people. Enough objects for the entire group except for one participant. Recommended Ag...

Serenade

(For as many people as desired) The first sings the chorus as far as possible simply to denote the text , one, maximum two lines. This ...

Stage Directions

Players 3+ Rules Players perform an ordinary scene based on an audience suggestion. A player outside of the scene will occasionally in...

Superscene

Three to five people can take part in this game. Each of the players is responsible for one of the stories, as its director. He introduce...

Swinging Pendulum of Death

Actors 3 Suggestions 3 locations, 3 conflicts, 3 characters Premise This game is complicated but can be extremely entertaining if do...

Talking animals

The players receive a species of animal from the audience. Then they play a scene in which they both play the part of this animal. (F...

Terrorist

One player leaves. Ask for a mode of transportation, an object, and a desire. The returning player is a terrorist who must be manipulated...

The central theme

A real object from the audience is placed on a stage. The object is really the object it is. This object specifies the location of the fi...

The Evil Twin

The moderator provides a relationship between two people or an activity. Two players begin to act out the scene. The scene can be stopped...

The Excuse

One of the Improv-players must leave the room for a short time. In the meantime, the audience  decides on a reason why the player wa...

The Prophet

One player leaves the room. This will later be the prophet, who must guess the prophecy which is made up by the audience. There will be t...

The Voice

The Little Voice This improv game is all about interacting with the invisible. One player acts in a scene while one or more fellow playe...

Three Rules

The moderator asks for three personal rules for the players in the scene to observe. For example, that they have only one arm, may not...

Time travel

We will first present a simple neutral scene that is based on a suggestion from the audience. Then we will see a series of scenes that le...

Walking Backwards

The "walking backwards into the future" is an exercise, but can also be used as a presentation. One player stands at the front of the st...

What's on TV?

Quick, change of scene based improv game. Audience have control of 'TV' - two characters to represent the media on TV. Audience can 'chan...

Accept

The most important rule of improvisation is: accept offers of players. Rejecting automatically stops, disrupts, or impedes every improvis...

Action and Reaction

The principle of action and reaction means that an actor who is in dialogue and/or in another (pantomime) interaction with another actor ...

Ask For

Ask Fors are concepts, facts or things which the improv player or the moderator ascertains or receives from the audience, before beginnin...

Attitude

In improvisational theater attitude can have several meanings. An attitude, a personal opinion, or a feeling about something: a personal...

Audience

The audience has several tasks and functions in improvisation theatre. conventional theatre In conventional (staged) theatre, the audie...

Authenticity

Authenticity related to people means that the action of a person is not determined by external factors, but is due to the person himself/...

A beat is the moment in which the player has the impression that the running scene ends, must end, or will be ending. This may be, - if ...

Blocking

Blocking is one of the most common Failures that can happen to improvisers. Blocking means that one player' s Game Offer is not accepted ...

Break

Taking a break during a performance is always recommended when the whole performance lasts longer than about one hour. If the group has d...

Cancel

During an appearance, the presenter may cancel the current scene, if she has totally failed, and is completely out of control. The bar mu...

Chairs

Chairs are usually the only real prop, which is present from the outset or at the edge of the stage and actually used when needed for gam...

Character

The character in improv theater is the represented fictional being that does not exist in reality. This being can be a human or animal or...

Clapping

The clapping of a player not involved on the current scene, or of the moderator, is the common way to signal the currently active players...

Clothes

A theatre group can agree to wear items of clothing of one color or several colors during an appearance For example, it is common (also f...

Conflict

It is often the conflict that makes a scene interesting. For example, when the room is set up and the routines are established, thus th...

CROW is an acronym of: C- Character R- Relation O- Objective W- Where/When It is a mnemonic for the things that should be defined wi...

Curtain

Since improvised theatre usually does not require props and the end of the scene is determined by the moderator or the players, the curta...

Encore

As a rule, it is advisable to schedule the addition of the program during program preparation. Sometimes it is advisable not to comply w...

Fail

Fail happens at the improv theater, when one has made mistakes, which has led to, that the scene has been a failure or the scenes have be...

Focus

Focus refers to the attention of the audience (and the actors, too) on certain people on the stage. If there are two people, then the att...

Negative is the gag, if it is brought by the players in order to get laughs from the audience instead of the scene to be of service. A ga...

Gibberish

Gibberish (also gromolo) is a kind of pretend language which consists of a series of imaginative, but meaningless letter and word sequenc...

Gossip

Gossip means that a player talks about something that is taking place or has taken place elsewhere. No interactions takes place. Example...

Headline

Ask for a headline (or get a headline at random from the newspaper). Do a scene that could have lead to that headline.

Ignoring

Similar to blocking, though here other people's offers are not directly blocked, but simply not paid attention to. This can happen throug...

Interruption

The interruption of a scene means (as opposed to a cut) that the actor from the current scene only inserts a brief pause where their moti...

Kissing

One has to be clear in the theatre group how one creates kissing scenes. In particular if the group members still do not properly know th...

Long Form

Long forms are more or less closely connected sequences of scenes, usually from 20 to 45 minutes in length, but also full-length formats ...

Microphone

The use of microphones can be sensible in certain situations, to some extent even necessary. In smaller, enclosed spaces (lofts) their u...

Musician

A musician can stand alongside in support of a group's performances. Keyboard instruments are widespread, i.e. piano and keyboard, rarely...

Offer

An offer is an activity or a comment of a player, which refers to a teammate or is directed at him, and requires a gestural/mimed or verb...

Play Bill

Before one "performs", most should agree on the "parts" to be "played" and other points too. The relevant program can/should include: Co...

Questions

Questions can have multiple meanings in improvisational theatre. Ask for As a moderator I can ask the audience for guidelines. It may b...

Requisite

Stage props are real objects on the stage. As a rule improvisation theater takes place without props. Usually only chairs are allowed. A...

Rhymes

Improvised plays, songs or scenes can have a special allure and effect when they rhyme. Rhyme means that words connect with similar soun...

Shortform

"Short Forms" are games that consist of one Scene or a few scenes and, due to their basic conception, only last a few seconds or a few mi...

The term "soap" describes a widely spread television program format, but also, borrowing from it, a evening-filling long-form format for ...

Stage

The stage is a place, on which a theatrical play occurs. In Improvisional theater, it is the custom to act in a suitable open area that i...

stage hog

As stage hog is referred players who always play in the foreground. This type of player is more often than others on the stage to see and...

In improvisational theater, "status" refers to the power difference in the relationship between two characters. A character in a high sta...

Stringency

Stringency is a component of the dramaturgical list of ingredients of improvisation theater. Stringency means that the happenings on the ...

Taboo

Taboos in improvisation theatre mean that games, game ideas, specifications or behaviours are deliberately avoided or ignored for certain...

Talkativeness

Verbiage or talking too much is a common mistake in improvisational theatre. Talkativeness means that more is spoken than does good to th...

Theatresport

Theatersport (TM) is the term coined by Keith Johnstone for a popular form of improvisation theatre, in which two teams of actors compete...

Trust

A scene will not succeed, if an actor tries to assert his own ideas. It is important with an clear head to step on the stage and to trust...

what is improv?

Improvisation theatre (often also called improv for short) is a form of theatre in which improvisation is performed, i.e. one or more pre...

What is Playback Theatre?

Telling everyday experiences and immediately watching them on stage is playback theater. Actors and musicians are happy to be able to spo...

Work Exhibition

A work show is suitable for new groups or for new members of existing groups, if they have gained their first knowledge and experience in...

Barcelona Improv Group (BIG)

Barcelona Improv Group was founded in January 2011 by a couple of avid improvisers with no one to play with. An outgrowth of the New Engl...

Cachorrada Impro Clube

Fan page: https://www.facebook.com/CachorradaImproClube Country: Brazil (Brasil) City: Rio de Janeiro Since 2011, the group is formed ...

Dangerbox Improv

Dangerbox is a longform improv team hailing from New York University. They play free monthly shows for the NYU student body, as well as p...

Dirty Scoundrels

Dirty Scoundrels are a improvisational theatre troupe, based in Maribor, Slovenia. They've been doing impro actively since 1998 under dif...

Die Improbanden aus Berlin haben sich Anfang des Jahres 2011 gegründet und bestehen aus 8 Spielerinnen und Spielern und einem Musiker. N...

Improv.pl

Improv.pl has been entertaining audiences in English since 2013. The team is one of the few organic/dynamic teams in the world. This mean...

Imprudentes

Founded in 2011 in Rio de Janeiro , Brazil , Imprudentes began doing TheaterSports. The group consists of one actor, one chemical enginee...

ITC Impro Training Center

ITC Impro Training Center es mucho más que una escuela de improvisación en Barcelona al uso. Es un centro integral de formación y entrena...

K.A.R.L. Improv

K.A.R.L. Improv is a short and long-form improvisational comedy group out of Washington University in St. Louis, in St. Louis, Missouri. ...

Kolektiv Narobov

About Kolektiv Narobov is a performing arts collective from Ljubljana, Slovenia. In their very beginnings, the members of the collective...

Laugh-Masters Academy - "Chicago Style" Long Form Improv & Sketch Comedy School in Australia

Laugh-Masters Academy is Australia's first and only not-for-profit "Chicago Style" Long Form (Longform) Improv and Sketch Comedy School t...

Rapid Fire Theatre

Rapid Fire Theatre (RFT) is an improvisational theatre company based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. History The origins of the company s...

TAMTi

An improv group based in Brno, Czech Republic. TAMTi were founded in 2011 by a couple of strangers who found each other trough an ad and ...

Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre

Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre is home to all things comedy and we offer improv classes in Los Angeles and New York City. Our extensive...

Waiheke Comedy Show

A troope of 10 Improvisors and Stand Up comedians enjoying playing together, performing and learning the gloriously ridiculous craft of c...

Yes, Chef!

Yes, Chef! is an improv House Team at The People's Improv Theater that performs as part of Super Free Monday. Their first show was on Jul...

Genre List

List of genres, styles and show formats Television Formats Medical Series Advice Programs: Medical Topics Docu-Soap: Emigrants, Child-...

Hobbies

Hobbies approach manias, but are not quite so obsessive. Example: Passionate Angler (talks about fishing rods constantly, is busy with i...

List of activities

Daily routine *File *Dry off *Light (cigarette/cigar/oven/candle) *Hang up (laundry, pictures) *Take off (clothes, shoes) *Take a bath *...

List of further ticks of figures

The following characteristics or behavioral patterns are particularly suitable for improvisation games (e. g. party guests) or as guideli...

List of places

Buildings / Structures Observation tower Farmhouse Shop High-rise building Chicken coop Barracks Church / Chapel / Cathedral Monastery ...

List of relationships

Familiy *Married couple *Father / child *Mother / child *Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law / son *Brothers and sisters *Grandparents and...

Occupations List

A - Animal keeper - Architect - Asparagus harvester - Astronaut - Auctioneer B - Baker - Barkeeper - Beautician - Bee-keeper - Bicycle m...

Books

- [Charna Halpern](/en/wiki/charna_halpern), [Del Close](/en/wiki/del_close), Kim Howard Johnson**: *Truth in Comedy: The Manual of Impro...

Musician

A musician can stand alongside in support of a group's performances. Keyboard instruments are widespread, i.e. piano and keyboard, rarely...

Online Improv Show -- Technical Guides

There are various possibilities to create a live online impro show. There are multiple variations of technical setups with different Too...

Online Improv Show Technical Guides

There are various possibilities to create a live online impro show. There are multiple variations of technical setups with different Too...

Stage lighting

Before a performance you should take enough time to set up a good lighting of the stage. It is optimal if a stage technician can take ov...

The Black Box Improv Theater

It all started in June of 1982, Justin emerged from the womb in a Dayton Hospital. He immediately realized two things: 1) There was no i...

Online Improv Show -- Technical Guides

There are various possibilities to create a live online impro show. There are multiple variations of technical setups with different Too...

Online Improv Show Technical Guides

There are various possibilities to create a live online impro show. There are multiple variations of technical setups with different Too...

Performance

A performance gives the group the opportunity to implement the experience of the exercises in front of an audience. Beginners Generally...

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

In this — at times slightly macabre — warm-up game, players stand in a circle with one person in the middle. The player in the middle wal...

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...

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...

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 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 ...

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...

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 ...

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...

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...

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'...

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...

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...

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

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 ...

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 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 ...

185 xxx walk into a bar

Not really improv theater but done by a quite a few troupes, and fun when done well. Get a term, e.g. Elephants. The lines go like this: ...

"3 free" - Three sentences free

Often there is too much talking in improv scenes and showing too little, this is a nice game & a nice exercise to train this: Each p...

ACME Comedy Theatre

The ACME Comedy Theatre is a sketch comedy and improvisational theater located near Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, ACME was started...

Action emotion detail

A player tells a story. Three other players give the narrator a sign (touch, sound, gesture) if they want to hear more action, more emoti...

Actor’s Nightmare

Introduction In this scene one actor will read all her lines from a script, while the other actor must justify those lines and a scene w...

Acts of god

Two to Four players start a neutral scene. Additional players may be on the bench(es). One player is god. God periodically freezes the sc...

Advance and Expand

Introduction This exercise focuses on raising the stakes and exploration of the environment. Please set up a scene. Description The pl...

Alliteration

A free scene is played. However, one asks the audience for a letter before the game starts. All players must now start each word with thi...

Alphabet Game

This game is also known as ABC Game Rules Two Players perform a scene in which each line begins with the next sequential letter of the ...

Anette, the nice one

Anette, the nice one, is an incredibly friendly person who goes for a walk with her pet. Again and again she meets people who have little...

Animal Rollercoaster

The scene is played with 2-3 players. Before the game the audience will shout different animals to the leader. As in the games Roller ...

Animatronics Jamboree

Players Typically 6-10 Type Gimmick Rules One player from each team is sent out of the room. (This game can be played with one team,...

Anything Fabric

Time: 5 Minutes *Number of Participants: * Preferably for groups of about 10-15 people. *Required Equipment: * A piece of fabric large ...

Atlas Improv Co.

Atlas Improv Co. is a professional improvisational theatre company in Madison, WI. The company was formed in 2004 by a group of former C...

Avoid a letter

One of the players has the task to avoid a certain, predefined letter when speaking on stage. If he/she nevertheless pronounces it, he wi...

Award ceremony

A game for 3 players and more. A player goes on stage and calls a player B to the stage. For player B he defines a character, a quirk/ti...

Backwards Interview

This game is based on a fictional interview. The twist is that you start with the last sentence, and end with the first sentence; thereby...

Ballad singer

A player is the ballad singer, who starts to sing with the help of a suggestion from the audience. A second player plays in slow motion e...

Bang

A warmup for concentration. All players position themselves in a circle. In circle will now be counted upwards, player 1 says "1", playe...

Before or after

In this game, the audience directs indirectly by making decisions. 2 or more players play a free starting scene. After the scene the au...

Big Booty

Players are numbered, with the first player being Big Booty. The goal is to sing your way into a rhythm, maintain and increase it, while ...

Bingo

A scene that is played with three people. As soon as a number is spoken by the performers in the scene, they switch positions and play t...

Biographical song

The moderator asks an audience member to enter the stage. This person may sit on a chair. Some biographical data such as name, hobby, fav...

Blind Lead

These are different pair exercises in which one player closes his eyes and is led through the room in different ways. The aim is to fully...

Blindline

Players 3+ Type Scene Rules Players leave the room while the Host collects lines of dialogue. These lines are written on small slips...

Blind musical

This is a musical version of the game Whose line: The audience is asked to write a simple sentence on the notes previously provided. Eit...

Boris

Scene for 3 actors. There is a commissioner who has to solve a crime. There is a secretary who gives hidden clues and a defendant who ha...

Buzz

Actors 2-4 Suggestions location, conflict, characters Premise A scene is built from the given suggestions, but at any point, either fol...

Chain Murder Death

aka Murder Death Kill, Chain Death, Telephone Murder Actors 2-3, one patsy Suggestions location, occupation, murder weapon Premise Thi...

Charna Halpern was born and raised in Chicago. She is co-founder of the iO, formerly known as ImprovOlympic (the IOC prohibited the use o...

Chorus groove

In the chorus groove (also known as Conclusion song), 5 to 7 players/singers are placed side by side on stage. The host asks the audience...

Circle of claps - Clapping circles

Clapping circles describe various warm-up games and rhythmic exercises where the participants stand in a circle and a signal - mostly a c...

Colombian Hypnosis

This partner exercise serves to focus concentration and free the mind through deliberate cognitive overload. By separating verbal and phy...

Color Change

Three colours are given to the audience e.g. - red - yellow and - blue. Now they are asked to invent locations matching the colors, s...

Conceptual circle

Different terms of a family of concepts,such as vegetables, sports, city names are exchanged crisscross form from player to player in a c...

Conducted Story

Introduction Let’s get four or five players in a line and one person to conduct a story. Description The goal of the conducted story i...

Counting together

The players are standing in a close circle with their eyes closed or all of them are looking at the ground. Now the group counts up to 21...

Country saying

A game to practice rhymes and rhythm in the group. All players line up in a circle. Now a country rule (country saying) is recited in a ...

Cut and paste

The players play a normal scene, based on the suggestion of the audience. At any time, the moderator can call "Cut" to remove ("cut out")...

Del Close (March 9,1934 - March 4,1999), was one of the most influential teachers of improvisation theatre. He was an actor, improviser, ...

Dissociation

The player "associates" words one after the other that have "nothing" to do with each other. If a suitable word is associated or if the p...

Dr. Know-It-All

Dr. Know-it-all is an amazingly intelligent man, who will be interviewed on a special topic, and is played simultaneously by three player...

Dubbed commercial

A person is seated aside from the stage and from the other players on stage. 2 players (or 3 or even more) now play the sellers of a tel...

Duet

Duet 1: Two singers look at each other. Singer A sings his four-line verse. B sings his four-line verse. Meanwhile, A sings his again fo...

Dutch Square

In the game Dutch Square there are four players on the stage where a scene is always played by only two together. These two stand in fron...

Emotional replay

A short scene is played by two to three players with a pretence of an everyday plot (or something else). This is then repeated two or th...

Expedition

In this game for 4 people there is a moderator and an expert who has has been on an expedition. However, the expert only speaks the lang...

Fairytale Replay

A well known fairytale from the spectators will be used as a guideline. This tale is then played briefly in a neutral scene. Then the fa...

Freeze Tag

Everyone is involved, each scene is usually a two person scene. Two players start and play a short scene. When a beat is reached, one of...

From the viewpoint of

A replay game, with 3 players. One starts with a neutral scene. When these end, they will be reviewed from the point of view of one of th...

Genre replay

Genre replay is one of the most popular games at improv theater. First an arbitrary suggestion (e. g. an everyday action) is taken from t...

Gentle manipulation - dressage

A nice exercise to listen to and get into the game with each other. Player A leaves the room, the other players define an activity or ac...

Gordian knot

The players form a close circle. They all close their eyes and then stretch their arms forward. Now everyone tries to grab a different ha...

Growing and shrinking

The first player establishes and plays a scene alone. A second player comes in, establishes and plays a completely new scene with the oth...

Guess status

In this exercise, the expression of a status is practiced and one gets feedback whether the others have actually perceived the status as ...

Guiness Book

Pick an entry at random from the Guinness Book of World Records. Do a scene illustrating how this record was broken.

I got a better idea!

I got a better idea! 3 players stand side by side, slightly in a semicircle. The middle one starts to tell a story. Every action, every ...

Improverts

The Edinburgh University Theatre Company's improvised comedy troupe now known as The Improverts was founded in Edinburgh in 1989 by Canad...

Irish Drinking Song

Four players stand in a row, singing a song about a subject given by the audience. The song has a typical Irish-style, one line at a tim...

Jonathan

A warm-up game to get to know the players' names and for quick reaction. The players stand in a circle . Player A is "Jonathan". - “Jo...

He was born in Devon, England in 1933. From 1956 to 1966 he worked as a director and acting teacher at the Royal Court Theatre in London....

Klapphörnchen

The "Klapphörnchen" is a revue song, which at the end of a show performance shows the best played scenes as sung scenes or the scenes are...

Last sentence

The public is asked to provide a sentence in advance, which later must be incorporated as the last sentence in the scene. It is followe...

Mirror

Pairs are formed in each case, facing each other. One of them makes slow movements, which the other one imitates (like a mirror). So the ...

Monkey in the Middle

Three players do two scenes. Player A is called the "Monkey". He plays a scene with player B. When the host calls it (calling "Switch"...

Mousetraps

The stage will be prepared with mousetraps. There may well be a whole lot, such that it will be difficult to walk on the stage without st...

Music-Café

The director asks the audience for the name of the cafe. In this café 3 or 4 players gather and talk about this and that. As soon as the...

noise ball

The players are in a circle. They throw themselves an imaginary ball. The thrower makes a sound with each throw. The catcher repeats this...

One for all

An improv game for 3 (or more) players. *First of all, a normal free improv scene is played. It is important that in this scene there i...

One word story

One-word stories come in several forms: All in a row 4 or 5 players line up in a row. The audience dictates the title of the story and ...

Opposites

Opposites among the characters are helpful for a scene's success. From opposites can easily arise "friction", it can by itself easily dev...

Orlando Alliteration

A free scene is played. However, the audience assigns a letter to each player before the game begins. Players must now begin each word wi...

Pearl string

A game for any number of players, but preferably more than 3 to tell a little story. All players line up in a line. Player 1 takes two...

Pen Friends

Two players are sitting on stage. They ware pen-friends for many years know and they meet for the first time. After they greet each oth...

Picking gifts

The players are in a circle. One begins and picks any object from the air. He holds it in a certain way and presents it to his neighbour ...

Pootie Tang

3 players play out a scene. 1 person is Pootie Tang and speaks only in gibberish (a.k.a. Gromolo). The other two players must act as tho...

Potpourri

Any scene with any guideline will be played The catch is: the moderator interrupts repeatedly and demands a decision about the show. Ther...

Presence

Presence means the active Charisma of a person on the stage perceived and felt by the audience, it is present as a person for the viewers...

Press Conference

One player A leaves the room / venue. The host asks the audience for a famous person or character and an announcement this character has ...

Prisoner walk

All players walk in a circle one after the other, like prisoners in a prison yard. They walk in a rhythmic step. If someone claps their h...