... mime, living statues and object

This is the art of simple drama by using gestures without sound. Apart from traditional mime, there is also the art of living statues.

Miming In Groups

• Split your group in to smaller ones, say 4 to 6 young people in each.
• Write out a number of simple tasks that each person needs to perform to the others (maximum three minutes) within the group e.g.
  • Making a pancake
  • Changing a car tyre
  • Playing a goalkeeper
  • Waking up and washing
  • Making a cup of tea
  • Singing a song
• Ask each act to build in a small problem that they need to deal with
• Or, ask each person to act out the name of a book, film or TV programme in the style of the TV programme 'Give Us A Clue'
• Or, get the group to act out a simple story
• Give some tips - use facial expressions (happiness, sadness, being annoyed), use exaggerated movements.

Living Statues and Objects

This is a great one to use at events like your AGM or in public

• Design a number of characters that people can dress in but with faces disguised by either a mask or face paint e.g. robot, rag doll, toy
• Place them around your event and ask them to stay absolutely still for a few minutes (it could be easier if they are on chairs or props)
• When they need to move, they do so in the style of the character, but only for a short while (10 to 20 seconds) and stay still again.
• Watch peoples faces!!

For other ideas, visit the Theatre Games page of the Twisted Tale Theatre bms.westport.k12.ct.us/twisted/games.htm

World of Mime Theatre: www.mime.info/
This is an internationally subscribed website that can give you a better insight to the art of miming and resources such as web-sites, videos and workshops.

Discussion: Mime - A skill of communicating face to face with people without verbal language i.e. those who are deaf or from another country. What gestures could be seen as offensive?