Drama Game: Groovy Image Factory

Age: 7 to adult

In this game (previously titled Essence Machines) we make our own human versions of GIFs!

Pairs

Announce a phrase, such as ‘The dog ate my homework’, ‘Here we go again’, ‘I want to be alone’ or ‘Get your act together’. Give pairs 60 seconds to work out repeating actions and words. One person speaks the phrase while the other reacts dramatically. Physical movement is important, and the action should loop over and over (just like a GIF). Share the work – then sit back and enjoy how many different ideas have been generated.

Whole class

Now move onto the group GIF. Stand in a circle and explain that we’re going to create one big Groovy Image Factory out of the whole group. Announce a theme (see ideas below), then one person at a time steps forward to begin a repeating movement plus words/sounds. As other people join in, they should try to relate to players already in the space, so that a linked GIF with repetitive actions is built up. They can be people or objects which move (and make sounds).

For example, if the theme is shopping, the first participant could mime paying an imaginary shopkeeper, whilst saying ‘I’ll have two of those, please.’ Another player could step in as the shopkeeper, saying ‘Shall I wrap them for you?’. Not everybody needs to be directly related; others could be a cleaner, a shoplifter, a lost child, an escalator and so on.

Director’s tips

• Once the GIF is set up, FREEZE the action with a clap of the hands. Next, press an invisible button (and make a ‘BEEP’ noise) to start the machine again in slow motion (movement and sound). Stop it again and press the beep button TWICE to make the machine move twice as fast.
• Be careful not to let it go on for too long or get too busy. People who start off the game will soon get tired of making their movements.

Themes

Book, emotion, folk tale, football match, historic event, hospital, medieval castle, movie, pirate ship, poem, proverb, save the earth, school, song