30 Powerful Improv Prompts for the Drama Classroom

Improvisation is a key skill of drama that enables actors to think on their feet and react in the moment. It helps to develop creativity, spontaneity, and collaboration skills. In this list, we have compiled 30 improvisation prompts that can help you explore different scenarios and characters in a safe and supportive environment. Each prompt provides a starting point for you to create a story and engage in role-playing. Remember, the key to improvisation is to let go of any self-consciousness and trust your instincts. 

1. You’re at a job interview, but you don’t know anything about the job.
2. You’re stuck in an elevator with a stranger.
3. You’re at a party, but you don’t know anyone.
4. You’re trying to sell a product to a skeptical customer.
5. You’re lost in a foreign city and don’t speak the language.
6. You’re on a first date with someone you met online.
7. You’re waiting for a bus that never seems to come.
8. You’re stuck in a time loop, living the same day over and over again.
9. You’re a superhero trying to save the world from an evil villain.
10. You’re a detective trying to solve a mysterious crime.
11. You’re a contestant on a reality TV show.
12. You’re a journalist trying to uncover a scandal.
13. You’re a ghost haunting a house.
14. You’re a spy on a secret mission.
15. You’re a pirate searching for treasure.
16. You’re a celebrity trying to avoid the paparazzi.
17. You’re a time traveller trying to fix a historical event.
18. You’re a chef competing in a cooking competition.
19. You’re a fashion designer preparing for a fashion show.
20. You’re a scientist trying to find a cure for a deadly disease.
21. You’re a musician trying to write a hit song.
22. You’re a talk show host interviewing a celebrity.
23. You’re a stand-up comedian performing in front of a tough crowd.
24. You’re a flight attendant dealing with difficult passengers.
25. You’re a lawyer defending an innocent client.
26. You’re a salesperson trying to sell a house with a haunted history.
27. You’re a teacher trying to engage a disinterested class.
28. You’re a soldier trying to survive a battlefield.
29. You’re an astronaut on a mission to Mars.
30. You’re a character in a fairy tale trying to break a curse.

Ready to put a spin on it and turn the improv upside down? Here’s a list of ways to manipulate the above scenarios:

• Change the setting: Alter the location of the scenario to a different time or place to make it more intriguing.
• Add a twist: Introduce an unexpected element to the situation that will challenge the actors to think creatively.
• Vary the tone: Change the mood of the improvisation prompt by adding a different emotion, such as anger, fear, or joy.
• Alter the characters: Change the roles of the characters or introduce new ones to the scenario to make it more complex.
• Change the stakes: Raise or lower the stakes of the scenario to create a more interesting dynamic between the characters.
• Reverse the roles: Flip the roles of the characters to create a new perspective and explore different viewpoints.
• Use props: Introduce a prop into the scenario to add an additional layer of challenge or interest.
• Change the genre: Alter the genre of the improvisation prompt to make it more exciting or challenging, such as making a horror prompt comedic.
• Use different prompts together: Combine different prompts together to create a more complex scenario and push the actors to think creatively.
• Add a time limit: Give a time limit to the improvisation prompt to add pressure and force the actors to make quick decisions.

Improvisation is a fundamental part of drama that allows actors to create engaging and dynamic scenes on the spot. By manipulating improvisation prompts, actors can challenge themselves to think creatively and explore different scenarios and characters.