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 THEATRE
GAMES
Back to Drama
Object Memory Exercise
Students bring a small object to school. Place
all of the objects on a table or on the floor in the middle of
the room. Each student selects an object that is not their own.
Their task is to give the object significant sentimental value.
For example they can pretend the object was given to them by
their best friend before moving. They need to think about their
object for awhile. They should make up a story (memory) based on
the object. Connect this exercise to writing by having students
write down their special memory. Their last step is to tell
their story aloud with emotion.
The Mirror
Actors on stage must trust one another and
instinctively know their next move. There are times when things
go awry and improvisation is needed. They must be in tune to
each other in order to carry off the moment. Assign students to
partners. Partners sit eye to eye, and knee to knee. They are
going to use their hands to make movements. One partner acts as
the leader (the outside of the mirror looking in), and the other
partner mirrors their movements. After a few minutes, switch
places. This activity helps to build a classroom community. It's
also a great rainy day recess activity.
The "I Love You" Game
This game might arouse a few giggles from younger
students, but it's great for teaching inflection and tone for
different purposes. Assign partners to students. One partner
acts as partner A, and the other partner is partner B. Tell
partner A to tell partner B, "I love you", but to say it as a
mother to a child. Partner B takes the next turn. Give students
different ways to say, "I love you." Some examples: sappy and
romantic, reluctant, as if they are lying, whispering, shouting,
angrily, as if they are talking to a baby, and so forth.
Emotion Party
Actors must reveal different emotions on stage.
The point of the emotion party is for everyone to experience
different emotions and change their emotional state quickly and
easily. The first person acts as the host or hostess. They show
know emotion as the second person "knocks on the door" and
enters in a highly charged emotional state. Emotions can range
from happy to anger to jealousy. Each person must be assigned a
different emotion. The first person infects the host or hostess
with his or her emotional charge. Let's say the guest is angry.
Now the host is angry. They both act angry together (not in a
physical way, but in an emotional way). The next person "knocks
on the door" and enters with a different emotion. The host and
first party guest now take on the new emotion. Each guest
introduces a new emotion to the party. This exercise can be a
springboard for discussing controlling emotions, appropriate
emotions, and not allowing other people's negative emotions to
effect you.
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Short Scenes
These two line scenes have underlying meaning.
One person says line A, and the other person says line B. Each
time a new set of actors say the lines a new situation is given.
You can make up the situations as they go.
Example
Line A - Hello
Line B - Don't
Situations: (1) Man and woman who are upset with
each other. (2) One person is unaware of danger while the other
person sees the danger. (3) One person tries to hug an unwilling
person.
Ideas for Lines:
Line A - What? Line B - Listen to me.
Line A - Stop that. Line B - Sure.
Line A - Are you serious? Line B - Yes.
Line A - Soon. Line B - Please.
Improvisations
Give students a situation and about 3 minutes to
discuss their scene. The idea of improvisation is to "think on
your feet". Students must act out the situation with little to
no planning by reacting to each other's words, actions, and
emotions.
Ideas for Scenes:
(1) Teenager comes in after midnight and is
confronted by parent.
(2) One friend is moving. They are saying
goodbye.
(3) Teacher catches student cheating.
(4) Babysitter tries to get child to go to bed.
(5) Two sisters argue over borrowed clothing.
(6) One boy tries to convince the other boy to
skip school.
(7) One person constantly shadows the other
person (to their annoyance).
(8) Two strangers are stuck on an elevator
together.
(9) A store clerk accuses someone of shoplifting.
(10) A student tries to convince his/her teacher
about lost homework with a wild story.
Character Party
Cut out magazine pictures of interesting (not
famous) people (different ages, races, and cultures). Spread
students out and give each student a picture to study. They
should not let anyone else see their picture. Their job is to
become the "character" in the picture. They must give them a
name, occupation, values, goals, mannerisms, etc. They should
spend about five minutes thinking about their character. They
should not talk to each other during this time. Take up the
pictures before beginning the party. Students must mingle with
each other at the party as their character. The party should
last 5-10 minutes. After the party is over you can show students
the pictures. See if they can guess who played which character.
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