Why Play Games: The Purpose of Warm-ups

What are the purposes of warm ups?

• They prevent injury
• They relax mental and physical tension
• They prepare you physically and mentally for performance work
• They help you be more expressive with your body.

Warm ups for Drama:

A to Z Drama Games

1, 2, 3, Buzz! Count around a circle replacing certain numbers with the word "buzz". 2 Truths, 1 Lie Get to know the group by learning something about them and about how well they can lie! 8 Count Shake An energetic physical warm-up that helps to generate energy. About Me Understand more about a group by discovering facts about them. Boom Chicka Boom This is a camp style game that is great for warming up the voice and developing accents. Catch My Name Get to know everyone in the group by passing a ball or similar soft object. Change Places If .... Test the listening skills of your group whilst getting to know more about them. Circle Story A group creating and telling a story together, one word or sentence at a time. Connect Me Connect to different words to spark discussions or to delve into characters. Count Up, Count Down A team game to encourage patience, turn taking and focus. A great challenge. Doctor's Surgery There's only one spare seat in the waiting room and nobody wants you to sit in it! A great energy game promoting teamwork. Ewy Chewy Toffee A good warm-up before any vocal work - exercise the jaw and facial muscles Fruit Bowl / Anyone Who? A classic game than can be adapted and used in a variety of ways. Fruit Salad Warm-up with a fun game that is great as a starter but can be developed beyond 'fruit'. Grandmother's Footsteps A firm favourite of younger players....creeping up on a suspicious Grandmother. HASH (Happy-Angry-Sad-Happy) Focus on the characterisation during quick changing emotions Hi John, You're Jolly A descriptive name game with a group reaction. Jumping Jelly Beans! A firm favourite game that is fun and energetic. Just A Minute The one minute challenge - could you tell when one minute has passed? Master Master, Who Am I? A game to encourage accent, a silly voice or character to disguise your identity. Mexican Clap Pass a clap around a circle in super-fast speed....whoosh! Name Gesture A common name game to encourage imagination, physical movement and mime when introducing yourself. Nursery Rhyme Action Create an improved version of well-known nursery rhymes with actions. Park Bench A classic improvisation game based around the characters you might meet on a park bench. Pass The Emotion Pass emotions around the circle and see everyones smiley face! Pass The Squeeze Work as a team to pass a squeeze from person to person around the circle. Pass The Word How many different meanings can a word have based on how it is said? Personal Advert Create a personal advert to highlight the best and worst of you or your characters personality. Random Sound Story Use some random sounds as the basis for creating a story. Sculptor & Clay Mould and create a statue out of the clay of another person Secret Leader A game of teamwork and concentration where a detective must spot a secret leader also can help build dramatic tension. Shape Shifter Quick thinking game requiring pairs to create shapes called out to them. Shazzam! A popular large group game where groups go into battle against one another. Ship Ahoy! A classic game - useful to develop listening skills and spatial awareness. Sit, Lie, Stand A fun improvisation exercise, and possibly even more fun to watch! String Tension Bring a scenes energy up and down with a simple piece of string. Traffic Lights An exercise to focus minds ready for a drama workshop. Trust Circle An exercise that requires a great deal of trust between the members of the circle and the person inside the circle. Trust Falls Develop pair work with a trust exercise. Trust Lift Lift a person above your heads with this trust exercise. Trust Walk Developing pair cohesion with a game where each person needs the support of the other. Unfortunately / Fortunately Create an elaborate story, in pairs or as a group, with many twists and turns. Wink Murder An old favourite to out-fox the detective and claim as many victims as possible. Word Ping Pong A great exercise to bring those involved into the Drama thought space. Yes Let's A twist on 'follow the leader' where everyone has a chance to lead the actions of the group.