Imperfect Pairs: An Improv Therapy Group scenic exercise for embracing imperfection
by
Lisa Bany
Improv Exercises, ITG Games and Exercises
Start with getting suggestions for occupations, animals or other types of characters such as:
- Astronauts
- Firefighters
- Ballerinas
- Penguins
- Zombies
Then decide what would be the typical or “perfect” thing for these characters to be doing such as:
- Astronauts are floating through space
- Firefighters are putting out fires
- Ballerinas are dancing in a show
- Penguins are playing in the snow
- Zombies are eating brains
Now mix it up! Randomly choose one of the character suggestions, and a DIFFERENT action to be the scene suggestion so that:
- Astronauts are eating brains
- Firefighters are dancing in a show
- Ballerinas are putting out fires
- Penguins are floating through space
- Zombies are playing in the snow
These work well as two or three person scenes.
These scenes always end up being funnier and far more interesting than if the improvisers had made the more “perfect” choice.
Related Posts
Categories
- Advocacy (1)
- Articulate (2)
- From the Advisory Board (1)
- Improv (13)
- Improv and Children (6)
- Improv Exercises (28)
- Improv Life Lessons (23)
- Interviews (2)
- ITG Blog (29)
- ITG Games and Exercises (26)
- ITG Podcasts (3)
- Look Who Gets It (10)
- Meditation (1)
- Neuroplasticity (5)
- Self-Care (9)
- Storytelling (3)
- Teamwork (6)
- Therapy (5)
- Yes, and (13)