Warm Ups

 

In class before our lesson well and truly begins, we always start with some drama warmups.  For example, we have ‘Splat’, a drama classic, splat is a reactionary game. The class gathers in a circle, and someone is in the middle. The person in the middle points at someone else saying ‘SPLAT’, they then duck and the two people on either side of them have to shout splat at each other and see who says it first. The first person to do so gets the other out. The point of this game is to wake us all up, it allows the class to become hyped up and focused.  We need to focus on who is in the middle, who the person is pointing at. So, it is most important that we are awake and aware of everything.  What I have learnt from this warmup task is that when you are tired in a morning its hard to act well. The ability to act can take up a lot of energy and if you don’t have that energy, then your performance will be terrible. If you manage to become hyped up by doing something fun, you will always be more ready to act.

For an example of how to play 'Splat' CLICK HERE!

In addition to ‘Splat’ we also play
the television warm up game. Within this game we would all be different tv channels. Our tutor will randomly pick a number and if you are that number you need to think of a tv show, any tv show of your liking and recreate it.  For instance, you could do at news report, a cooking show or a well know tv show like ‘The Walking Dead’, which I actually did once. During the game you would know you were doing a good job because the tutor wouldn’t ‘change channels. It is a really fun game and every time it was your turn would have to change your channel. No repeats! This warmup game taught me a lot; like how quick you need to be with improvising. If you are on stage and some one forgets their lines or if you even forget your lines, you need to be quick and carry on the performance somehow. This game tests your speed and creativity and how well you can act on the spot by improvising.

Furthermore, a similar style of warmup we often use in class is ‘Wink Murder’. Once again, we gather in a circle, with one person leaving the room to be the detective and another in the circle chosen to be the murderer. By murder, we mean winking at others thereby causing their ‘death’. Every time a person is winked at, they have to act out a dramatic death. Whilst the detective tries to figure out whom the murderer is. This is a particularly good warm up for an acting course, as we are needed to highlight our skills even in games.

Moreover, warmups are not just games, they are used to allow us to loosen up and prepare ourselves for the day. This can be done with tongue twisters, such as “Peter piper picked a peck of pickled peppers”. Tongue twisters allow us to articulate our mouths and voices. To stretch our mouths, in order to make sure we can pronounce and enunciate our lines properly throughout the plays and tasks to come. Another part of our bodies that we need to warm up is our bodies. To do so we can complete posture warmups. Posture is extremely important for actors; it affects how the audience sees our performance and it can help how you speak and act in everyday life. Without a good posture your performance could be terrible! It could convey completely the wrong message about your character and twist how the play is meant to be seen. If you have bad posture, you are also more likely to mumble, and your audience is less likely to hear you.

Posture is one thing but to warmup our bodies, it is essential to complete physical activities like running or star jumps. These type of activities allow your body to release serotonin and helps us to wake up and have more energy.

The purpose of all of these warmups is to help you wake up, release your nerves, and prepare for the day. Not only this but when you are in a new group or cast warmups allow you to get to know one another. The ability to work together is a key part of being an actor, you are part of a cast, and your performances need to be seamless. Which if you are awkward and nervous around one another does not happen.

I believe that a further warmup that would help towards group cohesion would be a good thing. I have found such a thing in a game called ‘Shazzam!’. ‘Shazzam’ is a large group game where different groups go into battle against one another. This would be particularly appropriate for a class as they typically don’t have small groups. Once the class is split into two groups, they are told they are in battle in a war. A war between Giants, Knights and Wizards and that in the war there a three moves they can use.

·       The Giant: Stomp your feet whilst saying “Fee Fi Fo Fum”

·       The Knight: Thrust forward as with a sword whilst saying “En Garde”

·       The Wizard: Twirl a wand in the air saying “Shazzam”

Not unsimilar to Rock, Paper, Scissors, the Giants beat Knights, Knights beat Wizards and Wizards beat Giants. The groups will decide which move they will use first and commence with the battle.

This warmup can be changed depending upon what we are doing in class, by changing the characters, actions, and words. Therefore, this warmup can be used to improve not only teamwork but characterisation, improvisation, and vocal work.

To find further drama warm up games Click Here!