Drama game: Future perfect

Age: 10 to adult

Players: Small groups

Time: 15-30 minutes

Skills: Devising, Improvisation

In groups, devise a short scene or still image, summarising a topical environmental, social, or political problem. Show your image or scene to the other groups. Next, devise a second scene to show your ideal solution to the problem. Discuss whether the second situation is realistically achievable.

Suggested topics

• Environmental issues: climate change, greenhouse gases, mass production, transport, pollution, carbon footprint, sustainability, warming oceans, forest fires, energy sources.
• Social issues: homelessness, bullying, vaping, racism, poverty, crime, mental health, diversity.
• Political issues: proportional representation, devolution, Brexit, equal opportunity, international relations, NHS, phone hacking, refugees, parliamentary system.

Director's tips

• Generate ideas for topics with a mind mapping activity in groups or pairs
• As well as ‘heavy’ topics, the approach can also be used to suggest solutions for fictional or funny situations.