Ten Second Objects

Age: 6 to adult
Players: Small Groups
Time: 10-20 minutes
Tags: #Mime and movement #Co-operation

Small groups make the shape of an object using their bodies – in only ten seconds!

• Divide into groups of 4-6 players. When you call out the name of an object, the groups have 10 seconds to make the shape of the object using their own bodies, joining together in different ways. Count down slowly from ten to zero. Groups will find their own unique ways of forming the object. Try a simple one first, such as a car – then try these: washing machine, volcano, pencil sharpener, cuckoo clock, bowl of spaghetti.

  Director’s Tips

  • Encourage groups to use different levels with their body shapes, i.e. high, medium and low.
  • Choose objects from a play you are rehearsing or a theme you’re exploring.
  • Ask groups to devise an object of their own for others to guess.
  • Feel free to include movement and sounds.
  • Use the game as a way to generate ideas for physical theatre.

  More Ideas

  • Choose a location, for example a fairground. Each group makes an object that could be found there.
  • Call out a letter of the alphabet – make the shape of an object beginning with that letter.
  • Objects/characters from a story, movie or TV programme.
  • Make objects that change: Christmas cracker, hatching egg, Jack in the box, melting candle, frogspawn-tadpole-frog,
  • Modes of transport, famous buildings, furniture, animals…