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Exercises/Applied Improv & Theater Games
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Exercises for Applied Improv & Theater Games

Techniques borrowed from improv theater, such as yes-and exercises, mirroring, or role-play, build listening, spontaneity, and comfort with uncertainty. Reach for one when you want participants to practice responding in the moment rather than planning ahead.

This category groups exercises by shared theme, based on what the exercise actually asks people to do.

106 exercises

0 - “Two Person Scene” Theory

Applied Improv · 5 to 15 minutes

Digital Presence

Applied Improv · 5 to 15 minutes

Pattern Observation Game for Developing Awareness - Johnny Oops

Team Reflection · 5 to 15 minutes

PFP: March 2003

Asynchronous Remote Game · Under 5 minutes

5 Cultivating a Willingness to Play

Team Reflection · 5 to 15 minutes

7 Practicing Generosity of Interpretation

Team Reflection · 5 to 15 minutes

Improv Prototyping

Applied Improv · Under 5 minutes

Continuous Improvement Exercise for Teamwork: Through The Wringer

Applied Improv · 15 to 30 minutes

Funny Group Guessing Game That Creates Laughter - Butt Charades

Applied Improv · 5 to 15 minutes

PFP: February 2004

Team Reflection · 5 to 15 minutes

Quick Partner Game for Fun & Improving Reflexes - Knee Tag

Applied Improv · Under 5 minutes

Team Memory Challenge For Improving Recall Skills - Keyboard

Applied Improv · 5 to 15 minutes

Investor role-playing

Relationship Mapping · 5 to 15 minutes

TGL: April 2009

Ideation Warm-Up · 5 to 15 minutes

Fast-Paced Circle Game for Fun, Quick Reactions & Energy - Wah

Circle Dialogue · 5 to 15 minutes

Fun Trust-Building Game For Improving Communication - Hog Call

Applied Improv · 5 to 15 minutes

DICE Framework • WorkshopBank

General Collaboration Exercise · 60+ minutes

PFP: July 2004

Team Reflection · Under 5 minutes

Fun Mind-Reading Game Mystifies Groups - Black Magic

Team Reflection · 5 to 15 minutes

Fun Mystery Thinking Game Tests Perception - Bang, You're Dead

Team Reflection · 5 to 15 minutes

Group Guessing Game to Build Observation Skills - Dead Or Alive

Team Reflection · 5 to 15 minutes

Fun Lateral Thinking Game for Listening Skills - The Psychiatrist

Relationship Mapping · 15 to 30 minutes

Suspenseful Group Game For Building Awareness Skills - Ghost

Team Reflection · 5 to 15 minutes

Exciting Dice Game For Strategic Decision Making - Farkel

Team Reflection · 30 to 60 minutes

Fun Guessing Game For Developing Observation Skills - Instigator

Team Reflection · 5 to 15 minutes

The Potato Poke

Team Reflection · 5 to 15 minutes

Cafe Scenes channeling self exercises

Applied Improv · 5 to 15 minutes

Dancing on a Slippery Floor

Team Reflection · 5 to 15 minutes

ZOOM: A Creativity Game

Prompted Conversation · 5 to 15 minutes

Interactive Guessing Game For Non-Verbal Communication - FFEACH

Team Reflection · 5 to 15 minutes

System Sculpting

Applied Improv · 5 to 15 minutes

Smart Rats or…Not?

Team Reflection · 5 to 15 minutes

Fun, Fast-Paced Circle Game With Animal Gestures - Speed Rabbit

Circle Dialogue · 5 to 15 minutes

Live Action Response

Team Reflection · 5 to 15 minutes

Asynchronous Reciprocity

Asynchronous Remote Game · 5 to 15 minutes

Say It with Mime

Applied Improv · Under 5 minutes

Force Field Analysis

Ideation Warm-Up · 5 to 15 minutes

Continuous Improvement Activity For Team Growth - Ducks In A Row

Applied Improv · 15 to 30 minutes

Fast-Paced Partner Game Requiring Quick Reactions - Slap Bang

Team Reflection · Under 5 minutes

Puppets

Relationship Mapping · 5 to 15 minutes

Find Critical Thinking Games & Exercises

Team Reflection · Under 5 minutes

Top Ten Interactive Group Games & Activities: ICF Academy

Team Reflection · 5 to 15 minutes

Podcast: Essential Props & Tools Every Facilitator Should Carry - playmeo

Adventure Initiative · 5 to 15 minutes

Navigating Power Dynamics Workshop • WorkshopBank

Visual Thinking · 5 to 15 minutes

Skits

Team Reflection · 5 to 15 minutes

How to Talk - Weather, Sports, Busy

Applied Improv · 5 to 15 minutes

PFP: April 2003

Applied Improv · 15 to 30 minutes

Hilarious Secret Passing Game that Builds Suspense - Alien

Personal Disclosure · 30 to 60 minutes

Ball Sliding

Team Reflection · 5 to 15 minutes

Peanut Butter and Jelly

Team Reflection · 5 to 15 minutes

Gamestormin' for the Unions in D.C. - Facilitation Method

Circle Dialogue · 5 to 15 minutes

Play it Again

Team Reflection · 5 to 15 minutes

Master the Art of Business Strategy Workshop • WorkshopBank

Team Reflection · 15 to 30 minutes

Subsequent Beat exercise

Applied Improv · 5 to 15 minutes

Readers Theatre

Team Reflection · 5 to 15 minutes

15 Theater Games for Drama Groups (Large or Small!)

Applied Improv · 5 to 15 minutes

game of the scene

Team Reflection · 5 to 15 minutes

Strategies for Facilitation Success - playmeo

Team Reflection · 5 to 15 minutes

Professional Development Workshops in Singapore - playmeo

Adventure Initiative · 5 to 15 minutes

Improving Team Motivation • WorkshopBank

Applied Improv · 5 to 15 minutes

Are Elimination Games OK to Play? - Ep 29 of Facilitator Tips video series

Team Reflection · Under 5 minutes

Hilarious, Fast-Paced Story-Telling Game - Panic Picture

Workspace Ritual · 5 to 15 minutes

Spoons - A lateral thinking game - Facilitation Method

Relationship Mapping · 5 to 15 minutes

How To Play Fun Lateral-Thinking Games - Ep 23 Facilitator Tips video

Team Reflection · Under 5 minutes

Primed to Perform Workshop • WorkshopBank

Applied Improv · 5 to 15 minutes

Role Simulation

General Collaboration Exercise · 5 to 15 minutes

Get-To-Know-You Games & Ice-Breakers - playmeo

Psychological Safety Opener · 5 to 15 minutes

Facilitation Fundamentals - playmeo

Relationship Mapping · 5 to 15 minutes

Guided Mindfulness Activity to Nourish Wellbeing: Inner World Art

Team Reflection · 15 to 30 minutes

Low Response Rates • WorkshopBank

Applied Improv · 5 to 15 minutes

Invent a Game

Name Learning · 5 to 15 minutes

Football Retro

Team Reflection · 5 to 15 minutes

The Orchestra

Relationship Mapping · 5 to 15 minutes

Back to School Games & Activities: Lesson 1

Team Reflection · 5 to 15 minutes

MethodKit - How to use

Team Reflection · 5 to 15 minutes

Hear the Music

Team Reflection · 5 to 15 minutes

SALTO-YOUTH - Toolbox - NextGenVoice Toolkit: Youth Participation and Social Justice in Practice

Youth Group Game · 5 to 15 minutes

Back to School Get-To-Know-You Games: Lesson 3

Ideation Warm-Up · 15 to 30 minutes

FBI Feedback Model • WorkshopBank

Applied Improv · 5 to 15 minutes

Marooned: Team Building Game Guide & Facilitator Script (2026)

General Collaboration Exercise · 5 to 15 minutes

Meddlers Game for Change Management - Management 3.0 Practice

Team Reflection · 5 to 15 minutes

Pizza Retro

Team Reflection · 5 to 15 minutes

Ancient Number

Relationship Mapping · 5 to 15 minutes

Mime exercises

Applied Improv · 5 to 15 minutes

Play That Tune

Team Reflection · 5 to 15 minutes

The V For Vendetta (Movie)

Applied Improv · 5 to 15 minutes

Lullaby Retro

Team Reflection · 5 to 15 minutes

Activities & Ideas to Improve Company Culture

Visual Thinking · 5 to 15 minutes

SALTO-YOUTH - Toolbox - Tool for youth work and projects - or recruit participants

Youth Group Game · 5 to 15 minutes

Mood - Previous - Well - Improve - Action - Points

Applied Improv · 5 to 15 minutes

Improv Class

Applied Improv · 5 to 15 minutes

Silent Games

Applied Improv · 5 to 15 minutes

Holistic Advantages and Impediments Team Review

Applied Improv · 5 to 15 minutes

Making The Game Come Alive

Team Reflection · 30 to 60 minutes

Donut Shop

Workspace Ritual · 5 to 15 minutes

Jedi Mind Trick

Circle Dialogue · 5 to 15 minutes

Companies & Management - MethodKit

Applied Improv · 5 to 15 minutes

Forum Theater

Team Reflection · 5 to 15 minutes

TGL: April 2014

Applied Improv · Under 5 minutes

Yam it, Jam it, Damn it

Team Reflection · 5 to 15 minutes

The Grinch

Team Reflection · 5 to 15 minutes

Helicopter

Relationship Mapping · 5 to 15 minutes

MethodKit - Digital cards

Team Reflection · 5 to 15 minutes

TGL: December 2013

Applied Improv · Under 5 minutes

TGL: March 2008

Applied Improv · Under 5 minutes

Effective Employee Feedback Techniques & Methods

Applied Improv · 5 to 15 minutes

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