Give and Take
One person moves and the rest of the group freezes. Then another person 'takes' focus.

Goal
awareness of giving and taking focus
situational awareness
Instructions
Type: Focus, Improv, Ensemble Building
Purpose: This is a great game to play to help kids understand the idea of when to give focus and when to take focus. It’s useful when beginning an improv unit and you have a few kids who consistently tend to dominate the scenes.
1. Group walks around neutrally.
2. Tell them that after you say “action”, there can only be one person moving (taking) at any given time. Everyone else must be frozen (giving).
3. Once another person starts taking, the current taker must freeze. The taker must continue his/her movement until someone else begins to take.
4. The taking should pass randomly throughout the group. There should be no sounds.
5. There should be no overlapping taking.
Continue this exercise until you feel the group’s are working seamlessly and everyone is taking an equal amount.
Variations
2 people at a time can be moving
3 people at a time can be moving
Consider adding sounds in addition to movement.
For advanced groups, consider allowing them to have one sound taker and one physical taker at any given time. (i.e. one person must always be making a sound and one person must always be physically moving)
Play in 2 groups so one group gets to observe
Debrief
- Was it difficult to wait your turn to take?
– How can this be useful when rehearsing a scene from a play?
– What skills were required to be successful as a group?
• What did you notice that made it easier or harder for
you?
• How did it feel to pay attention to the all players in the room?
• How did it feel when you made a choice to move in the room?
• How was it easier or harder for you to move or watch for movement?
Background
6.3 in AINbook
http://www.bbbpress.com/2013/12/drama-game-give-and-take/
Author
I help teams connect, collaborate, and perform at their best in both virtual and in-person environments. As an executive and leadership coach, I design highly engaging experiences where people can think together, navigate challenges, and strengthen the way they work. With a background in leadership coaching, facilitation, and applied improvisation, I create interactive retreats, conferences, and networking events that energize participants and create lasting impact. My work creates the conditions for psychological safety, honest communication, and deep collaboration, allowing teams to build trust, navigate challenges, and achieve meaningful results together. I am deeply committed to mission-driven organizations. As a board member of the International Applied Improvisation Network, I partner with nonprofit and social justice leaders to help their teams thrive in fast-changing environments.
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