Drama: Improvisation Prompts and Character Choices
Creating scenes with clear characters, goals, and choices
Drama: Improvisation Prompts and Character Choices
Creating scenes with clear characters, goals, and choices
Drama - Grade 4-5
- 1
Your character is a student who just found a mysterious key on the playground. Choose one clear character goal for the scene and explain it.
A goal is something the character wants.
A strong answer gives the character a clear goal, such as wanting to find out what the key opens. The goal should help guide what the character says and does in the scene. - 2
Create a character choice for a librarian who is secretly very excited about a new book arriving. Describe the character's voice, movement, and facial expression.
A strong answer describes specific choices, such as a quiet but fast voice, quick tiptoe movements, and a wide smile. These choices show excitement while still fitting a librarian character. - 3
Improvisation prompt: Two friends are building a blanket fort when they hear a strange sound inside it. Write the first three lines of dialogue for the scene.
Try using the rule of accepting the idea and adding something new.
A strong answer includes three lines that begin the scene and show the characters reacting to the strange sound. The dialogue should give the actors something to build on. - 4
In improv, actors often use the idea of 'Yes, and.' Explain what 'Yes, and' means in your own words.
Think about how a teammate can help keep a story moving.
'Yes, and' means accepting what another actor offers and then adding a new detail. It helps the scene continue instead of stopping the action. - 5
A character enters a scene carrying an invisible heavy suitcase. List three physical actions the actor could use to make the suitcase seem real.
The actor could lean to one side, bend their knees, grip the handle tightly, or move slowly as if the suitcase is heavy. These physical choices help the audience imagine the object. - 6
Improvisation prompt: You are a chef whose soup has started talking. Choose a character reaction and explain why it fits the scene.
Choose one main emotion and show it clearly.
A strong answer chooses a reaction, such as surprise, fear, curiosity, or excitement, and explains why the chef would act that way. The reaction should help make the scene interesting. - 7
Write a short character description for an explorer who is afraid of butterflies but trying to act brave.
A strong answer describes both the explorer's bravery and fear. For example, the explorer might stand tall and speak boldly, but jump back whenever a butterfly comes near. - 8
Your scene takes place at a bus stop in the rain. Name two character choices that would help the audience understand the setting without using real rain.
Use your body and voice to show what the audience cannot actually see.
The actors could huddle under an imaginary umbrella, shake water from their sleeves, stomp in puddles, or speak over the sound of rain. These choices help create the setting through action. - 9
Improvisation prompt: A pet hamster has been elected mayor of the town. Write one problem the characters in the scene might need to solve.
A strong answer gives a clear and playful problem, such as the hamster mayor cannot reach the microphone or keeps making decisions by running on a wheel. The problem should create action for the scene. - 10
Choose one character from this list: a nervous astronaut, a cheerful robot, or a sleepy dragon. Write how the character would say, 'I think we should go now.'
Change the speed, volume, or attitude of the line to fit the character.
A strong answer shows the chosen character through voice and word choice. For example, a nervous astronaut might whisper, 'I really, really think we should go now before something goes wrong.' - 11
In a scene, your partner says, 'This map says the treasure is under the teacher's desk.' Write a response that uses 'Yes, and' to continue the scene.
Do not say the idea is wrong. Add to it.
A strong response accepts the treasure idea and adds a new detail. For example, 'Yes, and the desk is guarded by the world's sleepiest dragon.' - 12
A character wants to apologize but is too proud to say sorry directly. Describe how the actor could show this conflict through words and actions.
The actor could avoid eye contact, speak softly, offer to help, or say something like, 'I guess I should not have done that.' These choices show the character wants to apologize but is struggling. - 13
Improvisation prompt: Three characters are trapped in an elevator that starts playing dance music. Give each character a different reaction.
Different reactions make the scene more fun and clear.
A strong answer gives each character a unique reaction. One character might panic, one might start dancing, and one might try to fix the elevator while tapping their foot. - 14
Explain why listening is important during improvisation.
Listening is important because actors need to hear and understand each other's ideas. Good listening helps actors respond clearly, work as a team, and keep the scene moving. - 15
Create your own improvisation prompt. Include a setting, at least two characters, and a problem they must solve.
A good prompt gives actors enough information to begin but leaves room for imagination.
A strong answer includes a clear setting, two or more characters, and a problem. For example, 'In a space zoo, two zookeepers must find a missing moon monkey before visitors arrive.'