A very insightful post – thank you for writing it.
From my experience improv generally lacked safety tools, which are commonly used in larps, freeforms, and story games. Adapting and integrating them into improv practice can be extremely helpful in the situations you've described.
"Can I Be Honest With You" practically sounds like a meta-technique from larp. As an actor, I can communicate to another actor, for instance, that I don’t want to explore a particular topic, without breaking character or interrupting the scene.
Simple meta-techniques can be regulatory cues, like using the word "rotten" in the scene (let’s escalate even more!) or "pure" (this is too intense! let’s de-escalate!) – an example from the larp Inside Hamlet. Or "this is not the way to heaven" as a light way to indicate that we’re not comfortable with the direction the scene is going.
You can also establish Lines & Veins for a specific improv group or performance – Lines are things we absolutely don’t want in the scene, and Veins are things we can mention or refer to but won’t focus on or act out.
I also highly recommend Meg Baker’s old publication "I Will Not Abandon You vs. Nobody Gets Hurt" as two approaches to safety tools in role-playing games.
A very insightful post – thank you for writing it.
From my experience improv generally lacked safety tools, which are commonly used in larps, freeforms, and story games. Adapting and integrating them into improv practice can be extremely helpful in the situations you've described.
"Can I Be Honest With You" practically sounds like a meta-technique from larp. As an actor, I can communicate to another actor, for instance, that I don’t want to explore a particular topic, without breaking character or interrupting the scene.
Simple meta-techniques can be regulatory cues, like using the word "rotten" in the scene (let’s escalate even more!) or "pure" (this is too intense! let’s de-escalate!) – an example from the larp Inside Hamlet. Or "this is not the way to heaven" as a light way to indicate that we’re not comfortable with the direction the scene is going.
You can also establish Lines & Veins for a specific improv group or performance – Lines are things we absolutely don’t want in the scene, and Veins are things we can mention or refer to but won’t focus on or act out.
I also highly recommend Meg Baker’s old publication "I Will Not Abandon You vs. Nobody Gets Hurt" as two approaches to safety tools in role-playing games.
This was fantastic to read, Will!