Improv Acting Techniques: Exploring Motivation in Improv
I’ve been working lately with the idea of motivation in improv to get the fire lit in a scene. Motivation in acting is the reason why a character acts or reacts in the way they do.
Many times, I will make a strong character choice for myself or endow my scene partner with a strong choice, but I often forget about starting with a motivation. For me, motivation in improv is about making an internal psychological choice towards the other character or characters in the scene. It’s a simple improv acting technique that helps create depth easily.
A short-form game that illustrates this is, believe it or not, Silly, Stinky, Sexy. I’ve seen this game played big and fast just for laughs, but I’ve also seen it performed beautifully at the National Theatre by Improbable in their incredible production Lost Without Words. In this context, they used subtle motivation in improv to drive the characters’ actions and reactions.
On the surface, this game could seem pretty, well, silly. But when played slowly and truthfully among a group of characters with pre-existing relationships, it becomes rich and complex. It creates instant backstory without having to rely on plot or exposition, and it’s also great for practicing passing focus in group scenes. As an improv acting technique it can elevate a scene from lighthearted fun to something more meaningful.
After watching Improbable play this game with former professional actors, it got me thinking about the potential for extending this game further and using it to explore motivation in improv. Since then, I’ve experimented with a few variations, and I’ve found them to be incredibly engaging and fun. I share them here for you to try out in your own scenes.
Variations on the original
- Pick three contrasting motivations from the list below and substitute them for the original ‘silly, stinky, sexy.’
- Have each of the four players pick three contrasting motivations independently from one another. You may end up with 12 different choices, and it’s fascinating to see how the dynamics shift.
- Have four players play the game and discover motivations based on what unfolds in the scene.
Some Extra Tips for practicing Stagecraft
- Make use of entrances and exits to help with passing focus.
- Try a 2 or 3 player version, or 5 or 6 if you want to suffer!
- Choose domestic or familiar locations where characters would naturally have pre-existing relationships.
Motivations Menu for Improv Scenes
Below is a menu of possible motivations to use in your improv scenes. Feel free to adapt or come up with your own. If you discover a really fun one then let me know!
- You admire them
- You are in awe of them
- You love them
- You find them very funny
- They always excite and surprise you
- They leave you lost for words
- You find them confusing
- They make you feel awkward
- They make you feel nervous
- They make you feel insecure
- You take everything they say as an attack
- They make you feel shy
- You are jealous of them
- They bring out your competitive side
- You feel supported by them
- You feel protective of them
- They make you feel relaxed
- They bore you
- You are fascinated by them
- They irritate you
- They shock you
- You feel sorry for them
- They inspire you
Group Scenes Location Menu
- Dinner party
- Coffee with friends
- Workplace party
- Staff room
- Family meal time
- Wedding reception
- Office lift
- Surprise party
- Conference
I hope you enjoy this list of ways to play with group scenes and motivation in improv (here in the form of beliefs about the other characters). Playing with improv acting techniques like these can help bring out the subtleties in character relationships and create richer scenes. Please keep a look out for my follow up blog on “Secret Wants”, which is another great exercises that plays with the idea of motivation in improv.