Theatre games

Theatre games are structured activities and exercises designed to train actors, that was developed in the 20th century by practitioners such as Viola Spolin and son Paul Sills, Joan Littlewood, Clive Barker, Keith Johnstone, Jerzy Grotowski and Augusto Boal. Theatre games are also commonly used as warm-up exercises for actors before a rehearsal or performance, in the development of improvisational theatre, and as a lateral means to rehearse dramatic material. They are also used in drama therapy to overcome anxiety by simulating scenarios that would be fear-inducing in real life.

An actor pretends to hold an imaginary ball

Improvisational theatre games have also been used in performance on stages and on television, most notably on Who's Line Is It Anyways.

Applications

Actor training and performance

Theatre games are used to develop core acting skills such as listening, reacting, embodiment, and ensemble awareness.

Improvisational theatre

Many games have been adapted for live performance formats, most famously by shows like Whose Line Is It Anyway?. Performers often engage in fast-paced, high-stakes games that challenge their creativity and highlight their ability to build narratives collaboratively in real time.

Business and organizational development

Theatre games have found significant application in the corporate world, where they are used to enhance team dynamics, communication skills, and creative problem-solving.

Examples

Zip Zap Zop: A concentration and energy-passing game where players pass a clap and a word (Zip, Zap, or Zop) in order.

Freeze:^[1] A game where players jump into scenes frozen in action, encouraging quick thinking and scene-building.

Mirror Exercise:^[2] One partner mirrors the movements of another to build empathy and non-verbal communication.

See also

• Group-dynamic game
• Theatre of the Oppressed