From Stage to Script: Devising Theater
with
Improv
by Tavish Forsyth
This is a method to create ensemble generated “devised� theater with young students, non-actors, and novice performers. In this process artists use improv and non-hierarchal collaboration as a tool for creating theater. Perhaps this method could be used to stage dramatic one-act plays or comedic sketches. Perhaps the final performance manifests as a video, story board, loosely scripted scenario or finely polished piece of writing.
Step 1: Preparing Self Generative Artists During this phase of the devising process, actors look inward to explore their own abilities and mental states. This might include an energy warm-up, meditation, personal exploration, or writing prompt. Sample 1. Shake Out 2. Standing Meditation 3. Physicalized Emotional Exploration Artist Habits & 21st Century Skills Develop the Craft Observe
Step 2: Preparing the Ensemble During this phase of the devising process, actors focus on working together and embracing failure, playing collaborative games and team building exercises that may call for participants to listen, adapt, respond, lead, follow, sing, dance, support, develop rhythm, associate, overcome a challenge, stay alert, etc. Sample 1. 5 Random Lines and an Emotion 2. Partnered Counting to Three 3. Blind Group Counting Artist Habits & 21st Century Skills Develop the Craft Collaborate Envision Stretch & Explore
Step 3: Empowering Players During this phase of the devising process, actors focus on deepening their connections to each other, increasing their ability to take risks, be vulnerable and engage empathy through trust exercises and story sharing. Sample 1. Sustained Eye Contact 2. Partnered Story Share 3. Solidarity Circle Artist Habits & 21st Century Skills Develop the Craft Express Observe Communicate Reflect
Step 4: Ad-Lib Exercises During this phase of the devising process, actor’s pair off and focus on creating narrative through “Yes, And” ad-libs. Sample 1. Yes ____, And _____. 2. What you just said is very important to me because _____. 3. I know because _____. Artist Habits & 21st Century Skills Engage & Persist Communicate Observing Collaborate Stretch & Explore Reason Effectively
Step 5: Scenes & Documentation During this phase of devising process, actors will perform patient, side-coached improv scenes. Observers will document snippets of dialogue and action that inspire them. Perhaps scenes are recorded with a video camera. Sample 1. 3 Line Scenes 2. Scenes with Tilts 3. Character Matching Scenes Artist Habits & 21st Century Skills Develop the Craft Communicate Observe Reflect Stretch & Explore
Step 6: Pitching a Premise During this phase of devising process, actors will select two different snippets of dialogue and pitch a premise to the group which honors the scene from which the dialogue was derived. 1. Dialogue Sample Artist Habits & 21st Century Skills “The roads were really wet on the way here.” Envision “So what you’re saying is you live dangerously.” Think Creatively Sample Pitch A couple is on a date at a museum. Person A is infatuated with the idea that Person B likes to live dangerously based on an off-hand comment about the roads being wet. Person B is happy to be on a date, but is deeply concerned about the Person A’s infatuation with danger. It might ruin the date.
Step 7: Group Ownership During this phase of devising process, actors accept someone else’s premise. Overnight, they must then develop the premise into a script, a beat sheet, a short story, a piece of poetry, or a story board. The following day, actors will swap scripts with one another, and direct someone else’s script. The directors and actors are allowed to make edits, so long as they honor the text and service the story. Example Steve writes a play called “Danger Museum” Charlotte writes a poem called “Ready or Not” Steve directs a performance of “Ready or Not” Charlotte directs a performance of “Danger Museum” Artist Habits & 21st Century Skills Express Stretch & Explore Engage & Persist
Reason Effectively
Beat Sheet Example for a Comedic Sketch • Jon and Nick are at the museum on a date. • They admire the indoor sculpture garden. • Nick comments about the roads being wet. Jon says you must like danger to have driven here in the rain. Nick laughs. • The date continues. Jon notices a painting and is excited about how dangerous it is. Nick is concerned. • The date starts getting awkward, so they decide to leave. They go to Nick’s car. • Nick puts on his seat belt. Jon is disappointed because that’s not dangerous. Jon refuses to wear his seat belt. • Jon says, “at least the ride home will be dangerous.” Nick says, “I know the roads are still pretty wet.” Jon says “Yeah, that and I cut the break lines to impress you.” Nick says, “What?” Jon says, “I thought you liked danger!” • Black Out. End of Sketch.
For More Information Contact: Tavish Forsyth 603-505-2185 birdcityimprov@gmail.com