Solo Improv
Cameron asks:
hey im doing a improv show but im doing it alone so could you give me a few games that can be played with one person id really appreciate it thanks
Hi Cameron, thanks for your question. I don’t have much personal experience with performing solo improv. But I’ve run across a few things that might help.
Solo improv training
There a good discussion on Yesand.com on How to practice or exercise alone?
There are also some exercises at the back of Mick Napiers’ book Improvise
Solo improv performing (long form)
The most famous name in solo improv is probably Andy Eninger (inventor of the Sybil format), so I recommend having a look at his website.
This is also a great article about some of Andy’s teaching.
And of course there is the wonderful Jill Bernard, creator of Drum Machine. You can read some advice from her here.
There are some great solo improv shows around. Last year I saw Greg Ellis created a one man Sherlock Holmes mystery in ‘Holmes Alone’. And I know I know Dan Allan does a show inspired by Powerpoint Karaoke (to give a couple of NZ examples).
Solo improv performing (Short Form)
There are a few short form games that can be played solo; poems, songs, story telling games, monologue scenes (video diary, dating video, that kind of thing), or multi-character scenes where you play all the characters. (Here‘s what the improv encyclopedia has to offer.)
The other way to go about things is audience interaction, get members of the audience up and play games and scenes with them. Audience members can produce wonderful things if treated with kindness and respect, but it takes a skilled performer to do it.
Final thoughts
So there it is Cameron. I hope it helps a bit. If you’ve got any questions drop them in the comments, and I’ll do my best to answer them.
May 16th, 2011 at 8:19 am
There are a lot of fun games you can play with the audience by yourself!
One game to play with the whole audience is “Yes Dear.” You get a relationship between two people, like Doctor/Patient. You assign the audience one of the roles. Their only line is “Yes, Doctor” or whatever would be appropriate given the role, “Yes Dear” or “Sir Yes Sir” whatever, depending on how they’ve been cast. Then you play the other part.
YOU: So, you’ve been experiencing some pain?
AUDIENCE: Yes, Doctor.
YOU: Have you been doing anything you shouldn’t be doing?
AUDIENCE: Yes, Doctor.
YOU: You have??? Have you been staying up all night?
AUDIENCE: Yes Doctor.
YOU: Have you been going to all night raves?
Whatever it is, you just get the audience’s character in trouble or yourself in trouble. It’s fun.
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You can do Gibberish Poet. You translate an audience volunteer’s poem line by line. There’s a three person version where you make another audience volunteer do an interpretive dance of each line.
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One Person Hesitation played off like the old Kevin Nealon bit. You’re giving a speech or something and you go “uhh uhh” they shout things, and you incorporate those suggestion.
May 18th, 2011 at 5:37 am
Thanks Jill!
I’m going to have to try “Yes Dear”.
November 22nd, 2011 at 6:53 am
“Yes Dear” does sound awsome… With the “Gibberish Poet” routine, does the audience member generally have a pre-written poem, or do they just make it up on the spot?
…heheh…. “the old Kevin Nealon bit”…. classic.
-Billy Green, Laugh Entrepreneur
April 18th, 2012 at 3:16 am
This past year, a fellow improv friend and I developed a two man show for the Renaissance Festival scene. This spring, well, this weekend actually, we were offered a stage at a Ren Fest, however my partner is performing in a musical currently. This has left me in the same situation, trying to develop games for a single man show! I will report back any successes… and failures. At this point I will be performing 3-4 shows per day, and I should have enough material that I will not do the same game twice in a day, except possibly in a late day encore performance.