Improv Theatre Games for Beginners: Freeze
A Simple and Funny Way to Improve Basic Improvisation Comedy Skills
Nov 21, 2008
The recent popularity of the television show “Who’s Line is it Anyway?” has ignited a wave of interest in improvisational theatre. This unrehearsed, irreverent art form is a fantastic way for those with an interest in performing but without the time to commit to rehearsing a full stage production to get some experience in the world of theatre.
For those just starting out, the challenge of generating coherent scenes on the fly can be a daunting one. Basic games like “Freeze” are a great way for beginners to gain confidence in their abilities while still producing entertaining results.
How to Play “Freeze”
Freeze is best played in groups of 5-8. Less than five and actors barely get a chance to catch their breath between scenes. More than eight and it’s difficult to ensure that everyone gets adequate time on stage. As with most rules of improv, however, this is just a suggestion. A creative group of actors can make practically any game work, regardless of the number of members.
At the beginning of the game, all the actors should stand in a line at the back of the stage. One actor then comes forward to ask the audience for a simple, everyday action. The actor should take the first suggestion that appeals to them and immediately begin to pantomime said action. It’s less about the actual action and more about giving the actor an excuse to be moving when another actor is ready to step in.
The “Freeze”
The upstage actors watch for an interesting position and then one will shout “freeze.” The downstage actor should immediately freeze in whatever position they find themselves in when “freeze” is called. The actor who called “freeze” should then come downstage to join the first actor, take up a position nearby, and then immediately launch into a new scene. The actor joining the scene has the responsibility of the first line.
The two actors then continue their scene until another of the upstage actors calls “freeze.” Both onstage actors should immediately freeze and the new actor should make their way downstage. Studying both frozen actors, the new actor should choose one, tap them out, and assume the exact same position as the actor who should now make their way back to the line at the back of the stage.
The new actor then launches into a new scene, completely unrelated to the previous one. The positions of the actors should inspire this new scene in some way, and the new actor onstage should make some attempt to justify them as part of the new scene.
Ending the Game
This process then repeats itself until the actors onstage begin to feel the game has run its course. Someone should then call out “scene,” usually after a particularly funny or clever line, and thus ends the game.
“Freeze” is a fantastic game for beginners because it is so simple. There are no complicated rules or consistent elements between scenes to remember, so actors can concentrate on being in the moment. Whenever the two actors on stage begin to struggle, one of the upstage performers can always save them simply by calling “freeze.” A new scene begins, and the previous scene is over and forgotten. “Freeze” is an excellent way for newcomers to improv comedy to get used to thinking on their feet and accepting the suggestions of their fellow actors.
