The Playbook: Improv Games for Performers

by William Hall (editor)

Improvisation games, formats and notes.
Over 370 games for performance and class. This book is perfect for individuals and improv groups who want to expand their collection of games. Teachers will love the variety of drama games for their classes. Over 11 long form formats are also included. You will also find useful tips, resources as well as notes on improvisation.

The games have been collected since 1986...and cover the familiar to the obscure.

The Playbook offers games – from the classic to obscure – and breathes new life through variation. It includes different versions when appropriate for some of the 370 documented games, so that each ensemble can add variety to a set list, find new joy in an old format, or embrace risk by experimenting with a twist on a trusted cast/audience favorite.

All the games are indexed by category. This feature is immensely helpful to performers scrambling to find just the right Audience participation, Restriction, or Music-based scene – when time is of the essence. Recall a game concept or a component, but not the title? Search and find a game multiple ways.

Unfamiliar terms are explained in the short glossary. This quick tool can be a helpful reference for the beginning student or group – and especially for teachers to use in the classroom or to distribute copies of The Playbook for use as theatre text books.

It contains notes from Keith Johnstone about some of his personal observations and reviews about performance games. This improv guru of legend has shared his insights and opinions and provides some tips on making these games more effective. Improv theorists, teachers, and players, take note and enjoy.

This book offers thoughts on improv and performing. From takes on Theatresports™, to hosting a show, to forming your own improv group, you'll find some insights and practical tips based on the wisdom of those who have been performing improvisation for decades. Tap into this rich and ready resource.

There are over 10 long form improv formats for your group to try.

Genres: Art, Theatre

142 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 27, 2014

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Reviews

[Dan Richter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Handliches Buch zum In-die-Jackentasche-Stecken und schnell ein paar Impro-Games für die Show zusammensuchen. Die meisten Games sind bewährte Klassiker, ein paar Exoten sind dabei, ein bisschen Trash, ein bisschen Irrelevantes.
Hübsch die kleinen eingestreuten Zitate der Impro-Gurus. Am Ende kommentiert Johnstone einige der Games: "It's crap!" "Yuck!" "I don't like it."
Zwei kleine Interviews, eins mit Johnstone und ein sehr schönes mit Randy Dixon.
Der Drucksatz ist ein Desaster, die der Autor lieber einem Profi hätte überlassen sollen, aber da man das Buch ohnehin nur als kleines Vademecum benutzt, ist das auch wieder fast egal.

Tip: Aus der Vielfalt der Games, diejenigen markieren, die man für geeignet hält und dann bei Bedarf auswählen.

[Nico · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm afraid I've 'misplaced' the book after reading it, but it's a nice compact set of (mostly classic) short-improv games. The descriptions are short, but thanks to this the small book can hold a rather extensive collection. Other than the gamedescriptions themselves not much more information.