One by one, students form and add to a group sculpture based on a prompt from the game leader. It’s a great way for young actors to practice teamwork as they learn about making good stage pictures.

Step-by-Step Instructions

• Explain to the students that they will be working as a group to create a single sculpture based on a title you will give them. 

• For example, the title of the sculpture might be “Lost.” When anyone in the group has an idea for how to depict that title as a frozen figure, they should step on to the stage and freeze in the pose they have in mind. 

• One at a time, other members of the group can enter and connect to the sculpture, contributing their own ideas through their own frozen poses. Entering students should take care to connect with some part of the sculpture already in place, and should try to 1) add levels to the stage picture to keep it interesting, 2) avoid hiding the other actors already on stage, and 3) contribute to a single unified “masterpiece” that expresses the title. 

• Suggested Titles: “Spring has Sprung,” “The Dungeon of Dark Despair”, “The World’s Funniest Joke”, “War and Peace”, The Many Faces of Love”, “Modern Art”, “Music, Music, Music”, “Searching for Treasure.” 

VARIATION: Body Sculpture Masterpieces in Teams

• Once the entire group has made several “masterpieces,” divide into teams and assign each team a different title. Then give the teams five minutes to work on their own, creating a sculpture that conveys that title. 

• After five minutes, come back together and let the groups show each other their finished creations.

MORE DRAMA GAMES AND THEATER ACTIVITIES YOU MIGHT ENJOY:
BODY SCULPTURE STATUES - Students pair off to create statues that represent a title supplied by the game leader.
MIRROR TABLEAUX - Teams of students quickly assume the exact positions modelled by a leading group.
TABLEAUX - Students focus on facial expression, interaction, and body position to create frozen stage pictures.