Pass The Buck

Game of the Week is taken from 101 Drama Games and Activities.

A good way of developing alertness and group awareness. Everybody walks around the room. One person holds an easy to handle object, which is to be passed between the group members. The object may only be passed when you have eye contact with another person. The person passing the object counts out loud – each time the object is passed, the count increases from 1 to 20. If it is done well, people in the group will become very aware of one another. Once you reach that stage, a second object can be introduced. The count increases each time either of the objects is passed on. If two people count at the same time or an object is dropped, start again.

You can use any object, as long as it is not breakable. Try a water bottle, a book or a broomstick.
Try throwing a ball instead of passing an object – although it is doubly important that eye contact is made before throwing, so that the ball is not dropped.

Come back for a new Game next week!

Sound Pictures

The leader or one member of the group acts as conductor, whilst the rest of the group are the 'orchestra'. Using their voices (and body percussion if appropriate!), the group paints a sound picture of a particular theme, for example the seaside, a city, a jungle. The leader controls the shape of the piece by raising her hand to increase the volume or bringing it to touch the floor for silence.

Random Sound Stories

Work in small groups of 4 - 6. The groups are asked to come up with a selection of random sounds - with each member making one vocalised sound. Next, the group decides on a sequence in which these sounds are made and practices it. Each group performs its sound sequence in turn to the whole class. Now the groups are asked to make up a story in which these sounds occur - in the sequence already decided upon. The story can be narrated or acted.

Siren

By Jonathan Lambert

A good exercise for exploring and extending the vocal range. It will help to eradicate unexpected 'catches' in the throat from occurring when speaking or singing. It's also a very good icebreaker.

Before you begin, hum for a while. Don't clamp your lips together but rather see how lightly you can let them touch. Can you feel them tingle at the point of contact? Smile and see what difference that makes. OK, now let's make a start.

Follow Your Nose

A movement exercise for the whole group. Move around the room, filling up the space, changing pace, changing direction, being aware of other people but not touching them. Now become aware of your nose. Let your nose lead you around the room. Follow it wherever it goes!

Develop this by focussing on different parts of the body, so that participants begin to discover new ways of moving. Very useful for dance or physical theatre, or simply for discovering movement ideas for characters. Try being led by your stomach, your little toe, your knee, your back and so on.

What are Drama Games?

Pass The Buck

Sound Pictures

Random Sound Stories

Siren

Follow Your Nose

The Games Chart

Drama Books by David Farmer