In this lesson you will learn how to participate in three improvisation games. These games will form the basis for the Improvisation Competition.
Students stand in a circle. Starting with one volunteer, each person says ‘let’s…’ and fills in the blank (making an offer), for example, ‘let’s jump up and down’. The remaining students say ‘yes let’s’ and engage in what the first student had said (accepting the offer). This continues around the circle until everyone has had a go.
A bench or a row of chairs is placed on stage to create a 'bus stop'. One player starts, entering the bus stop, waiting for the bus or sheltering there. They need to make it obvious who they are. The second player then enters, who should be a totally different character than the first one and now, also waiting at the same bus stop, they interact. A third player, again a distinct and different character enters the scene, interacting with the first two. Then finally the fourth one enters as a different character and interacts. This is the cue for the first player to offer a reason to leave the bus stop, whether their bus arrives, they get a lift from a friend, decide to walk or even leave injured. This continues until all characters have left the scene.
One of the players is the Narrator. They have a (mimed) typewriter and start the scene by reading aloud as they type. As soon as the Narrator has given a few elements, the players take over and start playing the scene. At any point, the Narrator can take over again, perhaps switch to another location, introduce new character, provide tilts or flashbacks.
Your group will be given a scenario such as 'Trouble at the Factory' and will have one minute to discuss a scene based on this. After this minute the group must take the stage and engage in a 2 minute improvised scene.