Short-form game
Freeze Tag
Anyone may freeze a scene, replace a player in their exact position, and justify that position with an entirely new scene.
Also known as: Freeze, Freeze and Justify
How to run it
- Two players start a scene with plenty of physical movement.
- Any player may call "freeze" at any point. The scene stops dead.
- The caller taps out one of the two and assumes their exact physical position.
- They immediately begin a completely different scene justified by that position.
- Continue indefinitely, encouraging everyone to call at least once.
What it teaches
Justification, and reading meaning into shape. The oldest and most widely played improv game there is.
Coaching notes
Insist on accurate positions — approximate copies remove the constraint that makes the game work. Encourage freezing on interesting shapes rather than on laughs.
Where it usually goes wrong
Players freeze only when they have an idea, so the game becomes a queue of prepared bits.