From ‘101 MORE Drama Games and Activities’
Age: 7 to adult
Players: Small Groups
Time: 10 – 20 minutes
Skills: Improvisation, Mime, Verbal Communication
Quick ways to revamp a fairy tale – or any story
Ask groups to choose a fairytale and then to take a few minutes to compile a number of “What if?” questions, such as:
What if… Jack’s Mum climbed the beanstalk
What if… Rapunzel cut off her hair
What if… the Ugly Duckling had turned out to be a turkey
The groups should choose their favourite question from the list (or combine one or two of them) and prepare a short improvised piece to perform to the other groups.
Director’s Tip
- Alternatively you can ask students to bring a fairytale up to date
- Who would the three bears be if the story was transposed to a modern setting?
- What contemporary object or device could you use to represent Jack’s beanstalk?
- Give the groups free rein to have fun with the stories
What If can be used in other parts of the curriculum:
What if…
- Sea levels rose by half a metre?
- Dinosaurs had not been wiped out?
- There was no gravity?
- There was no electricity?
These questions could be answered using drama, writing or art!
Browse all the Games!
Count To 20
One of the simplest, yet most challenging drama games where the group tries to count to twenty.
Daft Definitions
Put random words together to invent new concepts! Great storytelling warm-up.
Drama Games for Language Teaching (teenage to adult)
14 easy to use drama games and activities suitable for a range of ages and language levels.
Drama Games for Story Books
Two activities for exploring story books through drama
Family Portraits – Online/Socially Distanced
Groups have just a few seconds to make comical family tableaux.
Fruit Salad
A game of quick reactions and verbal dexterity
Grandma’s Footsteps
Perfect game for exploring dramatic tension.
Groovy Image Factory
Quickly generate repeating actions and sounds or words
Guess The Pet
A variation on the Mirror Game for younger students
Guess Who I Am (inc Online Version)
A fun way of creating characters from any picture.
Imaginarium
An exciting and completely unpredictable way to quickly develop a scene
Night Watchman
The museum is closed for the night. The watchman is making his rounds. But something strange is going on...
Open and Close
In pairs, create a still image where one of you has a higher status than the other and let others
Pecking Order
Can you work out where you stand in the pecking order?
Podcasts and Webinars with David Farmer
Podcasts and Webinars about drama teaching featuring David Farmer
Poetry in Motion
Poetry can be explored and presented effectively through drama and movement
Random Sound Stories
A story is told by the group or in pairs, with each person adding one word at a time.
Sculptor and Statue
In pairs, create a still image where one of you has a higher status than the other and let others
Shoe Shuffle
Develop imagination and mime skills using everyday objects
Siren (Voice Warm-Up)
An effective and easy humming warm up for exploring and extending the vocal range.
Soundscapes
The group is conducted to create a sound picture or “soundscape” using their voices and bodies.
Sources of Light
Create objects that make or reflect light
Status Pictures
In pairs, create a still image where one of you has a higher status than the other.
Story Orchestra
The group tells a story, with a conductor guiding the narrative
Ten Second Objects
Small groups make the shape of an object using their bodies - in only ten seconds!
Three Changes
An observation and getting to know you game - with online version
Three Word Sentences
Sometimes three words are just enough.
Two Truths And A Lie
Play online or live - tell your partner three things about yourself – two of which are true and one
What Are Drama Games?
Children's natural tendency towards make-believe play can be utilised at school through structured play and drama.
Where Do You Stand? (inc Online Version)
A fast and effective way of discovering everybody’s opinions about a subject - online or offline.
Count To 20
One of the simplest, yet most challenging drama games where the group tries to count to twenty.
Daft Definitions
Put random words together to invent new concepts! Great storytelling warm-up.
Drama Games for Language Teaching (teenage to adult)
14 easy to use drama games and activities suitable for a range of ages and language levels.
Drama Games for Story Books
Two activities for exploring story books through drama
Family Portraits – Online/Socially Distanced
Groups have just a few seconds to make comical family tableaux.
Fruit Salad
A game of quick reactions and verbal dexterity
Grandma’s Footsteps
Perfect game for exploring dramatic tension.
Groovy Image Factory
Quickly generate repeating actions and sounds or words
Guess The Pet
A variation on the Mirror Game for younger students
Guess Who I Am (inc Online Version)
A fun way of creating characters from any picture.
Imaginarium
An exciting and completely unpredictable way to quickly develop a scene
Night Watchman
The museum is closed for the night. The watchman is making his rounds. But something strange is going on...
Open and Close
In pairs, create a still image where one of you has a higher status than the other and let others
Pecking Order
Can you work out where you stand in the pecking order?
Podcasts and Webinars with David Farmer
Podcasts and Webinars about drama teaching featuring David Farmer
Poetry in Motion
Poetry can be explored and presented effectively through drama and movement
Random Sound Stories
A story is told by the group or in pairs, with each person adding one word at a time.
Sculptor and Statue
In pairs, create a still image where one of you has a higher status than the other and let others
Shoe Shuffle
Develop imagination and mime skills using everyday objects
Siren (Voice Warm-Up)
An effective and easy humming warm up for exploring and extending the vocal range.
Soundscapes
The group is conducted to create a sound picture or “soundscape” using their voices and bodies.
Sources of Light
Create objects that make or reflect light
Status Pictures
In pairs, create a still image where one of you has a higher status than the other.
Story Orchestra
The group tells a story, with a conductor guiding the narrative
Ten Second Objects
Small groups make the shape of an object using their bodies - in only ten seconds!
Three Changes
An observation and getting to know you game - with online version
Three Word Sentences
Sometimes three words are just enough.
Two Truths And A Lie
Play online or live - tell your partner three things about yourself – two of which are true and one
What Are Drama Games?
Children's natural tendency towards make-believe play can be utilised at school through structured play and drama.
Where Do You Stand? (inc Online Version)
A fast and effective way of discovering everybody’s opinions about a subject - online or offline.
