Drama Warm Ups: An Introduction When we engage in drama activities, it is very important to properly warm up for a number of reasons. We shall be dividing the warm-ups into three categories: - Mental (focus, teamwork and emotional connections) - Physical (the body) - Vocal (the voice) Mental warm up The following warm-ups are very important for the actor to engage concentration, to connect with themselves and their group mates, as well as to get in the zone for their performance. Here are some examples: I’m going on a picnic This is a simple memory game. Everyone must sit in a circle. The first person in the circle starts by saying, “I'm going on a picnic and I'm taking a (any object, for example a basket)". The next person in the circle must then continue "I'm going on a picnic and I'm taking (whatever the first person said, like basket, then adds their own item)". The next person then says, ‘I'm going on a picnic and taking a (mentions first two objects, as well as adding a new one).” The game goes on until a person cannot string together all of the items effectively. Zoom Eek A Zoom (car) is passed around the circle. Anyone can stop it and reverse it by shouting "EEK!" It must then change direction. No one can say “EEK” more than once. If you are feeling very strong, you can send two cars in opposite directions but that takes a lot of concentration. ReflectionFace your partner and try to get inside their head. Observe their movements closely. As they move, mirror their movements and facial expressions as exactly as you can in real time. Mirror their facial expressions. | Improv: Alphabet game | Have two volunteers go to the front. Ask the audience what the relationship between the characters are. Then ask for a setting suggestion. Lastly, ask students to | stipulate the dilemma. Have the volunteers act out the dilemma, The trick is that each person needs to start the beginning of heir dialogue with the next letter of the alphabet, starting with A, B, C and so forth. Ifa person starts with the wrong letter, they are out and they must be replaced with a person from the audience, Continue until the end of scene or alphabet. Make a story Participants sit in a circle or rows. There needs to be a specific order that is adhered to throughout the game. Each person is only allowed to say one word per go. The object is to try and string together a story. If a person wants to end a sentence, they say full stop and say the first word of the next sentence. Physical Warm Up Posture: It is very important in Drama to have a good posture that allows the actor to take in any role, and move freely without strain on the body. We encourage actors to stand in a neutral or aligned position for the best possible results. Take note of the following: 1. Your feet should be parallel (not pointing outwards or inwards) and should be the same distance apart as your hips. 2. Your arms should hang loosely at your sides from your shoulders. Your shoulders should not be hunched up. They sometimes getlike that from siting at a desk writing, sitting in front of a computer or playing on your phone. Try to stretch and relax them so that they hang at ease. 3. Your chin should not be pushing forward or down into your chest. Check that your spine is not slumping forward or being held very stiffly upright. 4. Don't lock your knees, yet keep them soft and straight. 6 Physical Warm Ups for Actors 1. Work your neck. Roll your neck around forward, side to side, backward. Roll it around in one direction, then the other. 2. Shoulders. Shrug your shoulders up, down, then roll them forward and backward. Circle your arms. Swing your arms in a circle in one direction, then the other, then in opposite directions. 4. Stretch your ribs by raising your arms above your head, then leaning to one side, feeling the tension release on your ribcage. Hold for a beat, then return to the upright position and lean to the other side. Breathwork. Assume an erect posture, inhale deeply and slowly through your nose. Exhale slowly and deliberately through your mouth. Repeat a few times to slow your heart rate down and relax. 6. Folds. Bend forward at the waist, dropping your head, with arms extended down, holding for 10. Then come back up all the way into a slight backward bend, holding for another 10 seconds. Repeat a few times until you feel your posture has improved. Shake everything out. Start shaking your hands, then your arms, then your entire body to release any lingering tension. Physical warm ups can also be the type of warm up you do for sport or dancing. Mix it up each day but be sure to target all parts of the body, from head to toes! * * N3 Facial Warm Ups for Actors Having an expressive face is key to good acting. Warming up and loosening your facial muscles can allow your face to be more expressive. 1. Massage. Begin your facial warmups by massaging your face in slow, circular motions to loosen the muscles around your mouth, eyes, and forehead. 2. Use the “lion/‘mouse” technique. Stand in front of a mirror and stretch all your facial muscles. Open your mouth wide, like a lion foaring. Then scrunch your face into a meek, small, expression, like a mouse. Switch back and forth. 3. Stretch your tongue. Pull your tongue out, pull it down as far as you can, then up, then side to side. This will help you move your mouth and to enunciate and articulate.Why are drama warm ups important? For the following reasons: - We need to be mentally focused and alert so that we can be Creative, offer up interesting ideas and contributions, remember our lines, respond to other actors and our cues, and inhabit the character we need to portray. - We need to be physically prepared seeing as we use our bodies a lot during performances. Warming up decreases the risk of injury, as well as making movement easier and more effective. - We need to be vocally warmed up to prevent vocal strain, as well as to use our instrument, the voice, to the best of its ability in speaking clearly, articulating properly and projecting effectively. There is a multitude of drama warm ups available in books and on the internet, and you can even make up your own ones! Just remember to warm up in all three areas (mind, body, voice) and to do this consistently before each rehearsal or performance for at least ten minutes.