Improv Games List - Part 6

Welcome to the sixth part of our dive into improv exercises....

Kitty Wants a Corner

• Aims: Encourage teamwork and communication.

• Instructions: Participants form a circle and one person (the "kitty") stands in the centre, trying to get to a corner of the circle. The kitty asks a person ‘kitty wants a corner’ and the person replies ‘ask my neighbour’, after which the kitty moves to ask their neighbour. The other participants in the corner should try to change places. The kitty can take any of their spots if they aren’t fast enough.

• Adaptations: Change the shape of the circle or introduce different roles with specific tasks.

• Keywords: Teamwork, Communication, Strategy, Movement, Fun.

Action Colour Emotion

• Aims: Explore the components of an effective story.

• Instructions: One person in pairs starts telling a story. Their partner at any time can say ‘action’- make things happen, ‘colour’- details, or ‘emotion’. The storyteller should take these instructions on board for the next part of the story.

• Keywords: Emotions, Colors, Actions, Expression, Interaction.

The Box

• Aims: Foster creativity and imagination in using space.

• Instructions: Participants imagine a large imaginary box in the center of the space. They take turns pulling imaginary objects from the box and saying what they are.

• Adaptations: Introduce themes for what the box can be (e.g., a time machine, a spaceship) or limit the number of turns.

• Keywords: Imagination, Creativity, Space, Interaction, Expression.

Add an Object to a Room

• Aims: Encourage imaginative thinking and scene building.

• Instructions: Participants play different characters using a single space. One person enters the space and interacts with an object and leaves. The next person enters and interacts with an object that has already been show, and adds a new object and then leaves.  

• Adaptations: Set specific themes for the objects or limit the number of times objects can be revisited.

• Keywords: Scene Building, Imagination, Creativity, Collaboration, Interaction.

Everybody Who

• Aims: Foster inclusion and quick thinking.

• Instructions: One person starts by saying “Everybody who…” followed by a statement (e.g., “Everybody who likes pizza”). Everyone who relates to that statement steps into the circle or raises their hand. The game continues with new statements. Either after a certain number of questions, or when there is just one person who also identifies with the question, the person in the centre changes.

• Adaptations: Change the focus to specific themes (like hobbies or experiences) or limit the number of statements per turn.

• Keywords: Inclusivity, Quick Thinking, Participation, Group Dynamics, Fun.

Only Numbers

• Aims: Enhance creativity and communication skills.

• Instructions: Participants engage in a scene or conversation but can only use numbers instead of words. They must convey meaning through their tone, expressions, and context.

• Adaptations: Set a time limit for the scene or introduce a theme for the numbers used.

• Keywords: Communication, Creativity, Numbers, Expression, Challenge.

Big Booty

• Aims: Encourage energy and rhythm in group activities.

• Instructions: Participants stand in a circle. Each says a category e.g. boring superheroes. One person is nominated big booty (and doesn’t have a category name). To a rhythm everyone says ‘Big booty, big booty, ah ah big booty’, and then their name to another name. The person named then repeats their name and chooses someone etc. E.g. “Big Booty, Captain Groceries” “Captain Groceries, Super Nan”, If there is an error or a pause, that person take Big Booty’s place and everyone else shifts names to accommodate.

• Keywords: Energy, Rhythm, Group Activity, Movement, Fun.