We had a great first session! We talked up top about creating a safe and respectful environment in which to play.

We're going to try to always play to the top our our intelligence and not use lazy stereotypes or shock for the sake of it. We will also be aware we will sometimes be operating in and unfiltered way and assume best intentions as a default.

Please feel free to contact Chris at any time if you have any questions or concerns.

CREATE A GAME GAME

We started off by creating brand new short form games. We had 2 teams of 4 (team A and team B) and i issued each team with a name of a new game (Trees & Roundabout) and each team had 2 minutes to devise the rules. The other team then played the game.

SIT ON THE CHAIR

We then played to deceptively simple game “Sit on the chair”. I chose this one to start as it brings many of the aspects of short form I to play. The central conceit is that we play a scene and the performers are trying to sit on the chair. This involves coming up with justifications why the other person should get up from the chair.

Everyone got to play this a few times as we looked at different ways to play this and what makes for an entertaining scene.

In short form, there are often times when the game is set up like a competition. It's important that we remember that winning doesn't really mean anything, and what were trying to do is create the best piece of work we can. The setup of competition can be fun to play against, but we must be prepared to lose when it's for the good of the scene.

Here's some of the things to keep in mind:

• You need to give up the chair when it’s justified - if a character refuses to get off the chair then the game doesn’t work
• Don’t give up the chair for no reason - equally if people are too nice then the game doesn’t work. There should always be someone on the chair!
• Have fun showing a little bit of the performer wanting to sit on the chair. Argue back if you can outwit the reason that your scene partner has given for you to get off the chair, but ultimately give up the chair when justified.

STORYTHROW

This is one of the original 7 improv olympic games. It’s a pointing story game - each player speaks when the host is pointing at them. There are 5 players, each with a distinct role:

1. Narrator - tells the story