IMPROVISATION
What is Improvisation?
Improvisation is the act of creating and performing drama spontaneously,
without a script. It allows actors to explore creativity, think quickly, and
develop teamwork skills.
Improvisation Techniques
1. Yes, And…
This technique involves accepting what another actor says (“Yes”) and
adding to it (“And…”).
Example:
Actor 1: “We’re stranded on a desert island!”
Actor 2: “Yes, and I see a boat coming toward us!”
2. Status Play:
This technique explores the relationships between characters, focusing on
their status (high or low).
Example: A boss (high status) giving orders to an employee (low status).
3. Listening and Reacting:
Actors must actively listen to each other and react naturally. This keeps the
scene authentic and engaging.
4. Objective and Motivation:
Every character should have a clear goal or motivation in the scene. This
drives the action forward.
Example: A character’s objective could be to escape a locked room.
5. Establishing Setting and Context:
Quickly set the scene by mentioning the location, time, or situation. This
gives clarity to the audience and other actors.
Example: “It’s so cold here at the North Pole.”
6. Conflict and Resolution:
Conflict makes a scene interesting. Introduce a problem that needs to be
solved, and work toward resolving it.
Example: Two characters arguing over a missing item, then finding it
together.
7. Endowment:
Giving details to an object, setting, or another character to make them more
interesting.
Example: Holding a pretend cup and saying, “This is the best coffee I’ve ever
had.”
8. Physicality and Movement:
Use your body to express ideas, emotions, or actions. Physical improvisation
can enhance a scene without dialogue.
Example: Mimicking rowing a boat or climbing a ladder.
9. Freeze and Justify:
In this technique, one actor freezes, and another justifies the freeze by
introducing a new scenario or idea.
Example: An actor freezes while holding an imaginary box. Another actor
says, “Careful! That’s a box of fireworks!”
10. Making Offers:
An offer is any idea introduced into the scene. Always accept and build on
offers from others.
Example: If an actor says, “Look at this amazing painting,” respond with
something like, “Yes, it’s worth millions!”
Key Rules of Improvisation
1. Accept All Offers: Always agree to ideas presented by others.
2. Build on Ideas: Add to ideas with “Yes, and…” rather than stopping
them.
3. Avoid Blocking: Don’t reject ideas, as it disrupts the flow.
4. Stay in Character: React as your character would in the given situation.
5. Listen and Observe: Pay attention to what others are saying and doing.
Why Improvisation is Important in Drama
Creativity: Encourages thinking outside the box.
Collaboration: Builds teamwork and trust.
Confidence: Helps students think and perform on the spot.
Problem-Solving: Develops the ability to adapt to unexpected situations.
Lesson Worksheets
Worksheet 1: Introduction to Improvisation
Activity 1: Yes, And…
1. Write an example of how you built on someone’s idea during the “Yes,
And…” game:
2. How did this technique help your scene?
Activity 2: Reflection
1. What is one challenge you faced during the exercises?
2. How did you overcome it?
Worksheet 2: Developing Improvisation Skills
Activity 1: Conflict and Resolution
1. Write a summary of the scene your group created:
Conflict: _________________________________________________
Resolution: _______________________________________________
Activity 2: Status Play
1. Describe how you showed your character’s status through:
Voice: _________________________________________________
Body language: __________________________________________
Reflection:
1. What improvisation technique helped your group the most? Why?
Worksheet 3: Performing Improvised Scenes
Activity 1: Creating a Scene
1. What was your prompt? ____________________________________
2. How did you establish the setting? __________________________
3. What was the conflict in your scene? _________________________
Activity 2: Feedback
1. What feedback did you receive from your classmates or teacher?
2. What will you improve for next time?
Final Tips for Successful Improvisation
1. Stay positive and open-minded.
2. Support your teammates and keep the energy up.
3. Trust your instincts—there’s no right or wrong in improvisation.
4. Practice makes perfect; the more you improvise, the better you’ll
become!
