In this workshop series, you’ll be playing a sequence of drama games. You won’t be told the final style we’re aiming for until the end. Trust the process: play boldly, reflect honestly, and notice how it feels to work in these unusual ways.
---
Session 1 – Breaking Language & Logic
1. Gibberish Conversations
Task: In pairs, have a serious conversation using only gibberish.
You can’t use real words.
Use tone, rhythm, gestures, and facial expression to show meaning.
Reflection:
How did you try to make yourself understood?
Did your partner “understand” even without words?
---
2. Broken Telephone (Illogical Version)
Task: Play “Chinese whispers” — but each time, deliberately misinterpret the sentence.
E.g. “The cat is on the roof” → “The hat is on the soup.”
Reflection:
How did the meaning change?
Was it frustrating, funny, or both?
---
3. Circular Conversations
Task: In groups of 3–4, hold a conversation about something trivial (e.g., lunch, the weather).
Every line must bring you back to the starting point.
The conversation must go on… and on… and on.
Reflection:
How did it feel to circle back endlessly?
Was there humour in the repetition?
---
---
Session 2 – Waiting, Ritual, Contradiction
4. Waiting Without Purpose
Task: In pairs, imagine you’re waiting for something important — but you don’t know what.
First in silence.
Then add small, meaningless bits of dialogue.
Reflection:
What did you notice about the feeling of time passing?
Did you feel tension? Boredom? Comedy?
---
5. Illogical Questions & Answers
Task: One partner only asks questions, the other only answers — but answers must never make sense.
Q: “What time is it?”
A: “The fish wore a hat.”
Reflection:
What happened when logic disappeared from the dialogue?
Did it create humour, frustration, or confusion?
---
6. Status Freeze (Contradictions)
Task: Create freeze-frames of everyday scenes (e.g., job interview, dinner).
Add dialogue that completely contradicts what your bodies show.
Reflection:
What effect does it create when words and actions don’t match?
Did the audience laugh or feel uncomfortable?
---
---
Session 3 – Absurdist Structures
7. Repetition Improvisations
Task: In pairs, you may only use 1–2 lines (e.g., “Shall we go?” / “We can’t.”).
Build a whole scene using repetition, tone, and physicality.
Reflection:
How much meaning can you create from so little text?
Did it ever feel pointless? Funny? Strange?
---
8. The Endless Game
Task: In groups of 3–4, invent a “ritual game” with rules.
The rules keep changing arbitrarily.
The game must continue without an end.
Reflection:
How did it feel to play a game that never finished?
Did the “rules” give it meaning — or not?
---
---
Final Reflection – The Reveal
You’ve just explored:
Nonsense language
Circular conversations
Waiting without resolution
Contradictions between words and actions
Repetition and ritual
Meaningless games
This is the world of Theatre of the Absurd.
Last questions:
Which activity felt the strangest to you? Why?
Which activity was the funniest? Why?
How do these games comment on human life, routines, or communication?
---
Extension
Performance challenge: In groups, create a 3–5 minute sketch using at least two techniques from the workbook.
Journal challenge: Write about how Absurdist theatre might reflect the human condition.
---
No comments:
Post a Comment