In Annie Baker's 2009 play
Circle Mirror Transformation, a
group of people take an adult drama class together. Each has had an impactful
event in their recent past which they attempt to overcome, with help from one
another. The class, led by the eccentric Marty, plays various theatre games
together to instill trust in each other and in themselves.
Theatre games are essential to an actor's training. Some
games aim to build mental or physical stamina, while others center on focus and
trust between yourself and your fellow actors. Others prove great warm-ups for
the voice and the body! It's always a good idea to do a combination of games as
a warm-up before a performance. You can pick and choose to include a
vocal/physical warm up, a focus warm up for the mind, and perhaps another that
forces you to put your trust in others.
Here's a guide to the theatre games featured in Marty's
class!
1-10
All members lie on the ground with their eyes closed. They
must count to ten together, but only one person may say one number at a time
and there can be no rhythm, no pattern, no secret communication. For example,
if two people say the number "seven" on top of each other, the entire
group must start again!
Purposes: Trust, Energy, Focus
 |
Huntington Theatre's Production of Circle Mirror Transformation
Playing 1-10 |
When I Go to India
One person starts this game by saying "When I go to
India, I'm going to bring..." and lists one object-it could be anything.
The next person says the same phrase, lists the previously stated object and
then adds their own object. It continues and each person must list what the
others have said as well as add their own item at the end.
Purposes: Memory, Improvisation, Living in the Moment
Explosion Tag
Similar to the classic playground game of tag, this version
merely adds the factor that the person who is "it" must be exploding
in some way until they tag another. This can be vocally, physically, or a
combination of both.
Purposes: Vocality, Physicality, Releasing Inhibitions
Recreating Places, Scenes, or Conversations
One member from the group decides to recreate a place or conversation from their past. If recreating a place, he or she may ask other members of the group to be items in the space, or they may use the available furniture in the room if they wish. If recreating a conversation, he or she will cast other members from the group to be those having the conversation from their past, and he or she will watch from the outside.
Purposes: Self-reflection, Emotional Recall
 |
Seattle Repertory Theatre's Production of Circle Mirror Transformation
Recreating a Scene |
Telling Stories As Another
In this exercise, a member from the group will tell a
personal story from their past, or perhaps a collection of facts about
themselves. Then another member must re-tell the story as the other person. The
intent is to speak with the same speech patterns, intonation, gestures, and
mannerisms as the original speaker.
Purposes: Trust, Listening, Noticing Detail
Nonsense Conversations
This is a game for two people. Each person gets a silly
word, or a nonsense phrase. That phrase is the only thing they are allowed to
say to the other person, but they must communicate enough with the person that
those watching the exercise can understand what the conversation is about. As
an example from the play, one character can only say "Goulash" while
the other can only say "Ak Mak."
Purposes: Communication, Vocality, Physicality
One-Phrase Conversation
Similar to Nonsense Conversations,
in this exercise for two, each person gets one phrase or sentence that they are
allowed to say to the other person. Typically these phrases contrast with each
other, which creates clashing objectives that players can fight for. For
example, one person’s phrase may be “I want to go,” while the other’s is “I
need you to stay.”
Purposes: Vocality, Physicality, Fighting for Objectives
Circle Mirror Transformation
Not only the title of the play, but also an excellent game! The group stands in a circle, with one person in the middle. That person begins an abstract movement, sound, or a combination of the two. Once they have created it, the group begins to mirror the person in the middle. Then a member from the outside circle steps in and transforms the motion/sound, swapping places with the person in the middle of the circle. The cycle repeats.
Purposes: Vocality, Physicality, Releasing Inhibitions
 |
Playwright Horizons' Peter Jay Sharp Theatre's Production of Circle Mirror Transformation
Playing Circle Mirror Transformation |
These are some of the games played in Marty's class in Circle Mirror Transformation, though
there are so many other theatre games out there! Hopefully, this gives you an
introduction to some of the more common games. Don't miss the opening of Circle Mirror Transformation on July 17!
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