Method

This exercise is best done in pairs.

A scene is started (normally off a relationship suggestion).

Every line of dialogue must consist of 7 words or under.

After those 7 words the improviser must stop talking and let their scene partner talk.

You can also do this as a scenic exercise in front of students.

Teaching Notes

This is a deceptively simple exercise but it has many, many benefits to the improviser’s playing style:

• You only have time for one point, one gift, one brick for the cathedral
• It's easier to listen when there’s not much to remember
• It gives you access to tempo, silence, theatrical pauses
• No one can steamroller a scene and do this exercise as well
• It makes scene feel more theatrical, more authored - you have to write what you’re going to say before you say it

It doesn’t have to be EXACTLY seven words - the exercise won’t work if you’re stressed about that.

There’s something very confident and professional about improv scenes that actually have complete sentences - rather than dialogue that simply peters out or is interrupted by an irritated scene partner.