Theatresports
Where are we?
Description
This is a Game. It is in the following categories:
How it Works
Theatre Sports is really a collection of formats. We'll summarize the general rules, and then describe the variations for the different sub-formats:
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The game is introduced by an MC, who does a warm-up and then introduces the judges and the 2 teams
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The game is lead by judges
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Each game has a fixed duration
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A toss decides which team starts with a challenge
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Challengers go first. Possible challenges are the classic games, but anything goes. One might challenge the other team to play the dullest scene possible.
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Teams can protest or baulk at a challenge. The judges may accept the baulk, in which case the challengers need to come up with a new challenge. Reason for baulking at a challenge might be "we've already done this game tonight".
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The judges carry a horn, which they use to issue a warning for boring. After a warning the scene should be concluded ASAP.
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Judges can issue penalties, for e.g. obscenities, smart-assing or whatever. A punished player gets a basket over his head for a number of minutes
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Scenes must end on time; the judges indicate the time, and warn the players e.g. when they got 30 seconds left. Or they honk a warning for boring, after which the scene must end.
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After each challenge (played by both teams) the audience decided by means of cheering, yelling of applause which team won, as interpreted by the judges. Winners get 5 points, losers get nothing.
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The whole show lasts about 45 minutes.
Variations
Some troupes let the judges issue the challenges. Other troupes allow the winning team a free scene.
Danish variety: in this format there is only one judge, called an Ombuds. The Ombuds is both Commentator, MC and scorekeeper.
This format is quite often played with props, in a décor. Sound and light effects are also used. The Danish version is a bit simpler, and can be used to play with beginners.
Some troupes start an evening off with a 20-minute Danish game, and then play a 45-minute full version after the intermission.
Theatre sports are played all over the world, and teams from different cities and troupes quite often meet in competition.
Origin
Theatresports is a registered trademark by Keith Johnstone . A complete overview can be found in his book Impro for Storytellers .