Age: 7 to adult
Players: Whole Group
Time: 10 minutes
Skills: Energiser, Icebreaker
Materials: Extract(s) from a play, or any text
Develop pragmatic (social language) skills by exploring lines from a play – or any dialogue
Begin with a pair of lines such as these, or the examples below:
A: To be or not to be?
B: That is the question.
Choose lines from a play, story or course book dialogue. It may help to display the text on a screen, board or in handouts. Stand in a circle. Player A chooses someone across the circle, walks to them and says the first line in any way they like. Player B reacts according to how they perceive the meaning and responds with the second line in a way that feels appropriate. Player A takes Player B's place while B crosses to a third player, reciting the opening line in a different way. The aim is to put different emphasis on the words each time and to explore how the same words can be used to mean many different things.
Director's tips
- Suggest different emotions: happy, sad, shy, teasing, pumped, jealous
- Describe a situation for the encounter: bus stop, courtroom, desert island
- Can also be played in pairs
- This game is not only ideal for leading into rehearsing a script but also of great benefit to second language learners.
Alternative couplets
A: You have such beautiful bright eyes.
B: But I'm not just a pretty face, you know.
MACBETH: This is a sorry sight.
LADY MACBETH: A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight.
A: Do you want me to help you with anything?
B: I'd really appreciate it
A: I've completely forgotten your name
B: Don't worry, I'm sure you'll remember it