Introduction to Improvising

Creative Task

* Hitchhiker 20 Mins

Make an audience.
Put four chairs on stage to make a car shape.
A driver and passenger sit in the front two seats.
They start their conversation and, in the middle of it, the hitchhiker approaches and sticks out their thumb.
The hitchhiker has to have a defined physicality, character, and vocal quality. For example, they come in really sad, or as a character like a robot or a pirate.
As soon as the hitchhiker gets in the car, everyone in the car takes on their character, too.
Keep in mind, the scene still has to continue. It’s not just be a funny character – there has to be a conversation.
After a moment, the driver comes up with a reason to leave the car.
Everyone slides over, returning to a neutral character. Examples: The driver becomes an audience member, the previous passenger becomes the driver and the previous hitchhiker becomes the passenger.
They start a neutral conversation.
Then, a new hitchhiker approaches with a different physicality, character and vocal quality.
Encourage the driver to think of creative reasons to stop the car. For example: they run over an animal, they go to get petrol, they stop to post a letter, they get takeaway food.
Cycle through your class so that everyone has the opportunity to play.

Make an audience.
The teacher sets themselves up as the strict headmaster of a prestigious school.
Every student is called into the office one by one and asked to explain why they’re in trouble e.g. “Why did you arrive late?”
“Why didn’t you do your science homework?”
“Why did you fall asleep in class?”
The student must improvise an excuse, but it must be creative. e.g.
“Why are you late?” > “I was delivering presents with Santa last night and we got stuck over Greenland.”
“Why didn’t you do your science homework” > “I did, but it was so good NASA took it to help them build a new spaceship.”
The headmaster can they decide how many hours of detention they deserve.
The more outrageous the headmaster is, the funnier it becomes.
After a few examples, you can nominate a student to become the headmaster.
They can question the student further and the student must respond.