Ages 10 - 15. 

• Enhance participants' contact with their own spontaneity.

• Foster participants' creative spirit and improvisation skills.

• Develop decision-making abilities and awareness of underlying values.

• Improve verbal and non-verbal communication skills.

• Increase self-awareness and understanding of psychological mechanisms and behaviour patterns.

• Here and now: Participants focus on the immediate task of creating and acting out scenes, emphasizing presence and engagement.

• Awareness: The activity enhances awareness of participants' own emotional and psychological processes as they navigate through improvised scenarios.

• Self-regulation and function: By reflecting on their performance and the choices they make; participants explore their own behavioural patterns and psychological mechanisms.

• Contact: Improvising scenes with a partner strengthen interpersonal connections and communication skills.

• Experimentation: Participants are encouraged to try new behaviours and approaches in a safe environment, fostering creativity and flexibility.

• None required. Optional: costumes or makeup, stage lighting.

40-50 minutes (may vary for groups larger than 10 people).

Preparation: The facilitator divides the group into pairs, arranging them in a large circle, with each pair forming a unit.

Step 1: Each pair thinks of a scene proposal for the pair to their right, considering the roles or relationship of the characters, the conflict, and the urgency of the conflict.

Step 2: Each pair assigns the roles they've devised to the next pair to their right.

Step 3: Begin the scenes. They can be performed simultaneously or one at a time while the other pairs observe. The facilitator decides on the approach.

For younger participants, simplify the scenes to focus on friendship or everyday situations instead of romantic relationships; for shy or introverted groups, allow the use of puppets, drawings, or written scripts instead of live acting; for diverse cultural or identity groups, ensure scenes are inclusive and respectful of different relationship models; for virtual settings, adapt scenes for video call interactions or use breakout rooms; for therapy or SEL groups, focus scenes on communication, empathy, and conflict resolution.

How was the experience of moving with the music? What did you discover about yourself?

What did it feel like to resonate with the energy and movement of another person?

How was the adaptation to different musical pieces and sounds? What learnings can be taken from this activity?

The expected outcomes of the "Scenes from couple to couple" Gestalt Theatre activity include a deeper awareness of personal and interpersonal dynamics, particularly in the context of communication, conflict, and emotional expression. Through improvisation, participants practice adaptability and creativity while being exposed to different perspectives and relational patterns. The activity encourages participants to step out of habitual roles, examine their reactions, and experiment with new responses. This enhances empathy, active listening, and emotional regulation. As pairs perform and witness each other's scenes, they develop insight into the complexities of human relationships and how their own behaviours influence outcomes in real-life interactions.

The facilitator's role is to help participants become aware of their feelings, the strategies used in conflict, and to encourage considering alternative strategies. Interventions may be made to give participants time to reflect on their feelings, their approach to the conflict, and any desired changes in direction.