Friday, September 10, 2010
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What are Drama Games?

Drama games are drawn from a wide range of sources, including traditional games such as Grandma's Footsteps, as well as exercises developed by directors, actors and teachers. They can be used for breaking the ice, physical warm-ups, group dynamics and encouraging creativity.

On the right you will find a list of drama games ordered by popularity, related to such themes as mime and movement, storytelling and improvisation. These are just starting points, so go ahead and invent your own games to add to those which constantly circulate amongst drama teachers and students.

Pass The Buck

Game of the Week is taken from 101 Drama Games and Activities.Book-with-shadow

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!

One Two Three

This is a fun introductory warm-up and concentration game. You can begin sitting down or standing up. In pairs, face each other. Start counting from one to three between yourselves, over and over. Once you get the hang of that part you are ready for the next stage. Instead of saying the number "one", you should clap your hands - but you would still say "two" and "three" aloud.

Once everyone has mastered that, the next step is that instead of saying "three", that person should bend their knees. You should still clap your hands for the number "one". This is a bit like trying to pat your head and rub your stomach at the same time - in fact, you could try that afterwards!

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Grandma's Footsteps

Although this is a traditional children's game, in my experience it is also great fun for grown-ups! One person is Grandma - she faces a wall. The others in the group start at the other end of the room, then try to creep up to Grandma and tap her on the shoulder. However, at any moment, Grandma can turn around suddenly. If she sees anyone moving, she points at them and that person must return to the start. No-one is allowed to move while she is watching them.

Whoever manages to tap her on the shoulder becomes Grandma (male or female) and the game starts again. It's a good activity for cultivating concentration and patience - not to mention lots of cheating!

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Count To 20

This is one of the simplest, yet most challenging drama games. Sit or stand in a circle. The idea is for the group to count to twenty, one person saying one number at a time. Anybody can start the count. Then a different person says the next number - but if two or more people happen to speak at the same time, counting must start again from the beginning. It is possible to get to twenty if everybody really concentrates - but try and be relaxed as well.

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There Is Only One Liar

A psychological but fun group dynamics game from Augusto Boal. There should be no talking until the exercise is over. The group sits or stands in a circle and closes their eyes. The leader tells them that one person will be selected by a tap on the shoulder. The leader walks around the whole circle, then asks the group to open their eyes. The group members must look around and try to guess who was chosen. They are asked to remember who they decided upon but not to reveal it at this point.

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