Exercise : Improvisation – No Context vs Context

Best done in a group

One way to think of staging rehearsals is a guided improv session. Let’s explore what I see many young performers trying to do versus a simple start down the right road to a better performance.

Set up & Rules

1. Outline a stage area including where the audience is and where they, the actors, are “visible” to the audience and therefore part of the scene and where they are not.
2. Split the groups of actors around various entrance points to the stage.
3. The participants must act as part of the scene once they enter the stage until a facilitator calls “Scene” at which point the scene is over
4. If the facilitator calls “Stop”, “hold”, or “freeze” everyone must stay in character in a freeze ready to resume once instructed to do so.
5. Participants should be instructed to enter and participate in the scene as they feel so inclined after the facilitator calls “lights up”
6. Hold a group discussion after each round. Discuss how easy it was for the actors to know what to do and engage in the scene. Discuss how successful the scene was from an audiences perspective. Compare and contrast each round to the previous round(s).

Steps after Set up

Round 1: No Context

1. A facilitator calls out “lights up” at which point the scene has started.
2. Participants play out an improv scene.
3. Facilitator calls scene when they see fit to end the scene.

NOTE: The whole point of this round is not to give any more context or instruction than is given here so far. So, dear facilitator, don’t give in to their requests for more information or instruction. Usually, the scenes become progressively more successful with each round. So, if this first scenes is really rough then don’t fret.

Round 2: Context

1. Before the scenes starts have each person identify a character who they will be in the coming scene.
2. Once each character has identified a character then identify the where and what of the scene.
3. Identify what happened in this imaginary context before this scenes starts.
4. A facilitator calls out “lights up” at which point the scene has started.
5. Participants play out an improv scene.
6. Facilitator calls scene when they see fit.

Round 3: Motivated Context

1. Either continue in the same scene as identified in round two or re-do the steps in round 2 to identify a context for a new scene.
2. Have each person identify what their character wants or needs in the moment of this scene.
3. Have each person identify a high stakes consequence of something that happens if they don’t get what they want or need.
4. The scene ends when the facilitator sees fit.
5. Those who got what they wanted win. Those that don’t loose. Assign rewards as you see fit.

Don’t forget to stop after each round and evaluate what was experienced.

Moral of the Story

Having a context matters!