Openings, games and formats – some inital thoughts
Hello! We’re Improv Earth – finding light in dark times.
How, in practice, might we actually bring sustainability into improv? Here are some initial ideas we came up with in the WhatsApp chat and when we met.
Openings
Ask-fors
There are an infinate number of ask-fors or audience suggestions. We have two basic options.
Normal ask-fors
We ask for suggestions as normal, eg a place, an object, and then in our scene bring our own experience and ideas to play and develop a story that relates to sustainability.
For example: “restaurant” could lead to a scene relating to GMOs, veganism or food miles.
Sustainability ask-fors
Ask for suggestions that are explicitly related to sustainability.
One of us wrote:
“I went to a show recently where the group was giving a "history" twist to short form games and I thought that could be applied to sustainability as well maybe. For example the audience could give you an object that the group needs to use in a scene to solve an environmental catastrophe
Another idea: "Give me a number between 1 and 16", and then revealing the relevant Sustainable Development Goal, and using that as a jumping off point. Or asking for two numbers and exploring connections between the two goals.
Monologues
As well as using the suggestion to jump straight into a scene, we could use other openings, like a monologue - either individual or team - to generate ideas for the scene.
This might work well to develop ideas with a clear sustainability angle that the whole team can engage with if we bring our sustainability minds to the monologue.
Games
Documentary
Inspired by Feature Film, a documentary that engages with sustainability in some way.
Rondologue
This is a version of La Ronde that includes characters giving monologues about their feelings and thoughts. These monologues are heard by the audience and other players, but not by the other characters.
It could be an interesting way of exploring the differences between what people say and do about climate change / sustainability and what they think and feel.
Eg a character might care deeply about climate change, but feel forced by their job to do stuff that’s damaging.
Katy Bateson invented the form and talks about it in her podcast: Episode 9 - La Rondalogues - We Are Improv Podcast by The We Are Improv Podcast
~ There must be lots of other opportunities - suggestions please!