SHADOW PLAYGROUND
  • HOME
  • LEARN
    • GAMES & ACTIVITIES >
      • CIRCLE IN
      • CIRCLE OUT
      • NAME GAMES
      • PARLOUR GAMES
      • QUESTION GAMES
      • DRAWING GAMES
      • ENERGIZERS
      • TEAMBUILDING
      • STORYTELLING GAMES
      • RHYMING
      • PARTY GAMES
      • DINNER PARTY
      • TRAVEL GAMES
      • KIDS GAMES
      • ONLINE
      • QUESTION GAMES
      • SHADOW GAMES
    • SOCIAL COURAGE
    • COMMUNITY
    • LEISURE OVER PRODUCTIVITY
    • EXPANSIVE RELATIONSHIP TO TIME
    • IMPERFECTIONISM
    • CONNECTION TO PLEASURE & FUN
    • MINDFULNESS & EMBODIMENT
    • WELLNESS >
      • LAUGHTER YOGA
      • BREATHWORK
      • ROUTINES
      • VISUALIZATION
      • AFFIRMATIONS
    • CREATIVE PRACTICES >
      • APPLIED IMPROVISATION
      • MUSIC
      • SINGING
      • CREATIVE WRITING
      • FREESTYLE DANCING
      • CLOWNING
    • GENERATIVE CONFLICTS & SHADOW WORK
    • CELEBRATION OF ALL EMOTIONS
    • ONE WITH NATURE
    • INCLUDING EVERYONE
    • FINANCIAL LIBERATION
    • FASHION & BEAUTY
  • PODCAST
  • TRAININGS
    • PLAYFUL VITALITY RETREAT
    • DANCING WITH CONFLICT
    • DREAM SPRINT
    • IMPROVISATION BOOTCAMP
    • SOCIAL RISK WORKOUT
    • TIME FREEDOM
    • NARRATIVE RE-CREATION
    • PLAY REIGNITED
    • CREATIVE SHADOW WORK
    • STRUCTURED CHAOS
    • COMMUNICATION & FUN IN THE FAMILY
  • COACHING
  • CONTACT

APPLIED IMPROVISATION

IDEAS 

Applied improvisation is a powerful tool for helping groups improve their collaboration skills and creativity. Applied improvisation involves using the principles of improv theater to build skills and create positive change in a variety of settings, from corporate team-building sessions to community-building workshops. The key to applied improvisation is that it focuses on creating a supportive and collaborative environment, where participants are encouraged to take risks, support each other, and build on each other's ideas. 

ACTIVITIES 

Yes, And
Players stand in a circle and take turns saying a sentence. Each sentence must start with "Yes, and..." and build on what the previous player said. This exercise helps to build collaboration and positive thinking skills.

Shared memory 
Players created a shared memory, using the same 'yes, and' principles. 

Character Switch
Players act out a scene in pairs. At any point during the scene, a third person calls out "switch!" and the players switch roles. This exercise helps to build empathy and perspective-taking skills.

Freeze Tag
Players start acting out a scene. At any point, someone can yell "freeze!" and tag out one of the actors. The new actor takes their place and starts a new scene. This exercise helps to build spontaneity and creativity skills.

Gibberish Conversation
Players pair up and have a conversation entirely in gibberish. This exercise helps to build active listening and communication skills.

Alphabet Story
Players take turns telling a story, with each player starting their sentence with the next letter of the alphabet. This exercise helps to build storytelling and quick thinking skills.

Emotional Symphony
Players take turns making a sound or movement that represents an emotion. One play is the emotional conductor, guiding the group in the emotional they are exploring.

Action Replay
Players act out a scene and then replay it with a different emotion or tone.

Accents 
Invent a new accent and have a conversation in it. Try to be as consistent as possible. 

Live dubbing 
Turn off the audio for a tv show and dub the voices of all the characters. You can make up whatever they are talking about. 

Speak At The Same Time 
Players pair up and try to say the same word at the same time. Once they've gotten the hang of this, they move on to make complete sentences. 

Sentence At A Time Story 
Players take turns telling a story one sentence at a time. The story can go in any direction, and players must adapt to the previous sentence. This exercise helps to build teamwork and storytelling skills.

Word At A Time Story 
Players take turns telling a story one word at a time. This exercise helps to build quick thinking and teamwork skills.

Expert Interview
Players pair up, and one player acts as an expert on a topic while the other player interviews them. The expert must make up answers on the spot, and the interviewer must adapt to the expert's responses. This exercise helps to build improvisation and communication skills.

Mirror Exercises
Players pair up and mirror each other's movements. One player leads, and the other follows, switching roles after a set time. This exercise helps to build physical awareness and synchronization skills.

Sound Ball
Players pass an imaginary "sound ball" around the circle, each person adding a sound to it. This exercise helps to build active listening and creativity skills.
​
Word Association
Players stand in a circle and take turns saying a word. The next player must say a word associated with the previous word. This exercise helps to build quick thinking and collaboration skills.

RESOURCES 

"Impro: Improvisation and the Theatre" by Keith Johnstone. This classic book on improvisation explores the principles and techniques of improvisation as they relate to theatre and performance.

"Applied Improvisation: Leading, Collaborating, and Creating Beyond the Theatre" edited by Theresa Robbins Dudeck. This book explores how improvisation can be applied to various fields beyond theatre, such as business, education, and community-building.

"The Power of Improv: 7 Secrets to Improvising Your Way to a More Creative, Productive, and Successful Life" by Max Dickins. This book offers a practical approach to applying improvisation principles to everyday life, with tips and exercises for building confidence, creativity, and collaboration.

"Improv Wisdom: Don't Prepare, Just Show Up" by Patricia Ryan Madson. This book offers a philosophical approach to improvisation, exploring how the principles of spontaneity, flexibility, and trust can be applied to various aspects of life.

"The Yes, And Principle: The Art of Improvisation for Leaders and Entrepreneurs" by Tom Salinsky and Deborah Frances-White. This book explores how the principles of improvisation can be applied to leadership and entrepreneurship, with practical advice and exercises for building a more collaborative and innovative work culture.

  • HOME
  • LEARN
    • GAMES & ACTIVITIES >
      • CIRCLE IN
      • CIRCLE OUT
      • NAME GAMES
      • PARLOUR GAMES
      • QUESTION GAMES
      • DRAWING GAMES
      • ENERGIZERS
      • TEAMBUILDING
      • STORYTELLING GAMES
      • RHYMING
      • PARTY GAMES
      • DINNER PARTY
      • TRAVEL GAMES
      • KIDS GAMES
      • ONLINE
      • QUESTION GAMES
      • SHADOW GAMES
    • SOCIAL COURAGE
    • COMMUNITY
    • LEISURE OVER PRODUCTIVITY
    • EXPANSIVE RELATIONSHIP TO TIME
    • IMPERFECTIONISM
    • CONNECTION TO PLEASURE & FUN
    • MINDFULNESS & EMBODIMENT
    • WELLNESS >
      • LAUGHTER YOGA
      • BREATHWORK
      • ROUTINES
      • VISUALIZATION
      • AFFIRMATIONS
    • CREATIVE PRACTICES >
      • APPLIED IMPROVISATION
      • MUSIC
      • SINGING
      • CREATIVE WRITING
      • FREESTYLE DANCING
      • CLOWNING
    • GENERATIVE CONFLICTS & SHADOW WORK
    • CELEBRATION OF ALL EMOTIONS
    • ONE WITH NATURE
    • INCLUDING EVERYONE
    • FINANCIAL LIBERATION
    • FASHION & BEAUTY
  • PODCAST
  • TRAININGS
    • PLAYFUL VITALITY RETREAT
    • DANCING WITH CONFLICT
    • DREAM SPRINT
    • IMPROVISATION BOOTCAMP
    • SOCIAL RISK WORKOUT
    • TIME FREEDOM
    • NARRATIVE RE-CREATION
    • PLAY REIGNITED
    • CREATIVE SHADOW WORK
    • STRUCTURED CHAOS
    • COMMUNICATION & FUN IN THE FAMILY
  • COACHING
  • CONTACT