y level: Low

Description: A short story built with the listener's participation.

Set-up: Players in pairs, facing each other.

Instructions: Player A tells a story, asking pl

The only thing to fear is fear itself. As an improvisation workshop leader I met a lot of people very uncomfortable with the idea of having to perform in front of a group. "Improv is not for me, I couldn't think of what to say" is something I heard many times. I found that the best encouragement to provide them with is a proof of their own ability.

So I use this little game to highlight the fact that we can all came up with short stories on the fly. Most people are surprised of the fact that words can came so easily. It's a good way to alleviate their fear of "blanking out" and it get them to focus and perform together without being exposed to the entire group too soon. As for everything to do with improvisation, the secret is to concentrate on your partner(s).

Name: Her name was?

Category: Verbal warm-up

Difficulty level: Low

Description: A short story built with the listener's participation.

Set-up: Players in pairs, facing each other.

Instructions: Player A tells a story, asking pla

at to say" is something I heard many times. I found that the best encouragement to provide them with is a proof of their own ability.

So I use this little game to highlight the fact that we can all came up with short stories on the fly. Most people are surprised of the fact that words can came so easily. It's a good way to alleviate their fear of "blanking out" and it get them to focus and perform together without being exposed to the entire group too soon. As for everything to do with improvisation, the secret is to concentrate on your partner(s).

Name: Her name was?

Category: Verbal warm-up

Difficulty level: Low

Description: A short story built with the listener's participation.

Set-up: Players in pairs, facing each other.

Instructions: Player A tells a story, asking pl

short stories on the fly. Most people are surprised of the fact that words can came so easily. It's a good way to alleviate their fear of "blanking out" and it get them to focus and perform together without being exposed to the entire group too soon. As for everything to do with improvisation, the secret is to concentrate on your partner(s).

Name: Her name was?

Category: Verbal warm-up

Difficulty level: Low

Description: A short story built with the listener's participation.

Set-up: Players in pairs, facing each other.

Instructions: Player A tells a story, asking pl

osed to the entire group too soon. As for everything to do with improvisation, the secret is to concentrate on your partner(s).

Name: Her name was?

Category: Verbal warm-up

Difficulty level: Low

Description: A short story built with the listener's participation.

Set-up: Players in pairs, facing each other.

Instructions: Player A tells a story, asking pl

y level: Low

Description: A short story built with the listener's participation.

Set-up: Players in pairs, facing each other.

Instructions: Player A tells a story, asking player B for details from time to time (e.g. names, locations, events etc.) and integrating those details into the story so it ends up being the product of both A and B's imagination. The game finishes when either of them finds an ending to the story.

Variation: With groups of three, four and more.

If you are using this game in a workshop, do not forget to allow time for participants to share their impression after playing the game.