For the following improv games, it’s best to be in an open space with plenty of room for people to move around. Create an imaginary stage and have attendees stand on the outside of the stage. If your group is larger than 12 people, then you may need to get creative on how you use your space.

Everyone huddles up in a circle and introduces themselves with an alliterative name (“Jazz Hands John”) and a physical action (“hands spread out and shaking”). After all alliterative introductions are made, someone starts a chain by saying their alliterative name & action and then passing it to someone else by saying their name and doing their action. The person who receives the pass says their name and action and then says someone else’s name and action. And the chain begins.

Watch a video explanation of the Alliteration Introduction  game…

Everyone huddles up in a circle. Someone starts by turning to their left and looking a person in the eye and together they clap at the same time. The clap is then passed around the circle. At some point a person makes eye contact across the circle with someone and passes the clap. The chain begins based upon the eye contact given. (The goal is to go fast.)

Watch a video explanation of the Pass the Clap  improv game…

Have the group space out in the open area. Explain that everyone will be acting out an activity. This activity begins when someone starts by saying something like, “Let’s… put up the dishes.” Everyone in the group says, “Yes! Let’s put up the dishes” and they start moving their body as if they are putting up the dishes. After a few moments have someone say something new like,” Let’s… do yoga.” The group replies, “Yes! Let’s do yoga” and everyone does a few yoga poses. Continue until everyone has had a chance to start a “Yes! Let’s…” activity.

Watch a video explanation of the Yes! Let’s  improv game…

Everyone huddles up in a circle. One person says a single word to begin a story. The person to their left says another word, then the next person says another word, continuing around the circle. The object is to tell a coherent story, one word at a time. (You may go through the entire circle multiple times.)

Watch a video explanation of the One Word at a Time Story  improv game…

Players tell a story out of order, once sentence at a time. One player steps forward and makes up the first line (“ My grandmother bakes the best cookies.”). A second player steps forward and makes up a last line that has absolutely nothing to do with the first line (“  And that’s when I jumped out of the plane.”). A third player steps to the middle and says their line (“That snakebite hurt!!!”). The rest of the players each fill in a line of the story wherever they can, trying to bring things together and end up with a story that makes complete sense. Every time a new line is added, the players go down the string and repeat their lines first to last.

Watch a video explanation of the String of Pearls  improv game…

2 players participate. Player 1 starts the scene with a line of dialogue based off an idea prompt from the audience. Player 2 responds by adding more details. Player 1 closes the scene by responding to the details given by Player 2. The goal is to establish who the characters are, the relationship between the characters, where the characters are (location), and what is their shared goal/objective in the scene.

Watch a video explanation of the Three Line Scenes  improv game…

Four or five players line up with one person as the story conductor. The game starts when the story conductor points to a player and they start telling a story. When the story conductor points to another person, they take over telling the story. The goal is to keep the storytelling going from player to player until a logical ending point happens.

Watch a video explanation of the Story Conductor  improv game…

Three players are an expert advice panel and one player serves as host. One player gives good advice, one gives bad advice, and one gives absolutely HORRIBLE advice. The host assigns each player their role of being the person that gives good advice, bad advice and HORRIBLE advice. The host asks the audience for a topic an expert would know a lot about. The host takes the audience suggestion and begins the Expert Panel conversation. The host asks for questions from audience members and directs each player to answer the question by sharing good, bad and horrible advice. This game can be a lot of fun with the horrible advice being so creatively awful that it’s hilarious.

Watch a video explanation of the Expert Panel  improv game…

Following the improv games, begin a conversation with meeting attendees to learn their feelings and thoughts about living and speaking in the moment.

How did it feel to speak spontaneously by living in the moment?

Which game was the most fun to play and why?

What were some challenging moments during the games?

Talk about the need to pay attention and the importance of listening throughout each game?

How did your stuttering influence your ability to participate?

What are some ways you can use improv in your everyday life?