Overview

Games featured here have been used by drama and dance practitioners, educators, and artists in various formats for many years. If we have sourced a game from a specific website, it is credited at the end of the game description.

Most of these games can be adapted up or down with the right supports (e.g., supporting scripts or sentence stems for younger students). Use your professional judgment about whether these games are right for your group.

Notes:

  • It may be worthwhile to review procedures for participating safely in drama games before playing (e.g., be prepared to stop when the teacher needs your attention, etc.). Explicit rehearsal of procedures and routines are beneficial for all students and essential for some.
  • Games should include the right to pass and the right to return when students are ready and able to participate again. This honours the social and emotional access needs of students including the need for longer transitions and opportunities to observe before participating, and physical access needs including the need for rest if an activity is overstimulating or tiring. It also honours preferences if a game includes touch that does not feel safe or appropriate for a student (for any reason).
Game Name
Skill Focus
Recommended Panel

Pass the Clap / Passez la claque

Concentration, Ensemble-building, Energizer

Any

Ying Yang Blat / Zip, Zap, Zoom

Concentration, Ensemble-building, Energizer

Any

The Name Circle / Le cercle de noms

Concentration, Ensemble-building

Any

Action Names (Moving Names) / Noms d'action

Concentration, Risk-Taking, Ensemble Building, Energizer

Any

Thief and Guard / Le voleur et le gardien

Concentration, Ensemble-building, Risk-taking

Any

Count to 20 / Compter à vignt

Concentration, Ensemble-building

Junior/Intermediate/Senior

Strike a Pose, Do Nothing, French Telephone / Prenez une pause, Ne rien faire, Téléphone français

Concentration, Risk-taking, Ensemble-building, Energizer

Junior/Intermediate/Senior

Name Battle / La bataille des noms

Concentration, Ensemble-building, Energizer

Any

Hand Over Hand / Main dessus main dessous

Concentration, Ensemble-building, Energizer

Junior/Intermediate/Senior

The Wind Blows / Le vent souffle

Concentration, Ensemble-building, Physical warm-up, Language skills, Energizer

Any

Say Their Name / Dis son nom

Concentration, Ensemble building, Risk-taking, Non-verbal communication

Any

Non-verbal Introduction / Introduction non verbale

Concentration, Ensemble building, Risk-taking, Non-verbal communication

Any

Spaghetti Game / Le Jeu de spaghetti

Non-verbal communication, Risk-taking, Energizer

Any

Captain Tap / Capitaine Tap

Concentration, Risk-taking, Ensemble-building, Active Listening

Any

Do you have a game you'd like to add?  Let us know using the Feedback form in the menu on the left!

Further Resources

  • Booth, David. Games For Everyone. Pembroke Publishers Limited, 1986.
  • Booth, David & Charles Lundy. Improvisation, Learning Through Drama. Harcourt Brace Jananovich, 1985.
  • Boal, Augusto. Games For Actors and Non-Actors. Routledge, 1992.
  • Neelands, Jonothan.  Beginning Drama 11-14.  David Fulton, 1997.
  • Swartz, Larry. The New Dramathemes. Pembroke Publishers, 2002.