Clowndance Syllabus
Game: The Applause Game
One person leaves the space. While they're out of the room the rest of us decide on an action that we want them to do. It could just involve their body- we might want them to lie flat on their back or do a pirouette, or it could involve something in the space- we might want them to tip over a chair or hide behind a curtain.
We then invite the person who has been out back into the space and greet them with warm applause as they enter the stage. The game is that the performer on stage has to work out what it is that the audience wants them to do. The audience guides the performer using applause, smiles and cheers when they're getting closer to the goal, and silence, frowns or even booing when they getting further away from whatever it is we want them to do. The only rule is that the audience must not speak.
When the performer on stage does whatever the action is that the audience has chosen for them, we once again applaud wildly. They take a bow and exit.
Reflection
Could we as audience, spot the moment when the performer worked out what they needed to do?
What strategies did people use?
Could it have lasted longer or had we had enough?
We then invite the person who has been out back into the space and greet them with warm applause as they enter the stage. The game is that the performer on stage has to work out what it is that the audience wants them to do. The audience guides the performer using applause, smiles and cheers when they're getting closer to the goal, and silence, frowns or even booing when they getting further away from whatever it is we want them to do. The only rule is that the audience must not speak.
When the performer on stage does whatever the action is that the audience has chosen for them, we once again applaud wildly. They take a bow and exit.
Reflection
Could we as audience, spot the moment when the performer worked out what they needed to do?
What strategies did people use?
Could it have lasted longer or had we had enough?