Ad Break
Also known as: Advertising
Actors perform a series of short commercials based on audience suggestions; the coach changes the parameters between takes and the scene instantly restructures. The format is useful for building adaptability, clear editing, and energetic pitch delivery.
Players
2–8
Duration
5-12 min
Difficulty
Beginner
Full description
Setup and Launch
Ask the audience to name an existing or fictional product. Explain that actors will play a short commercial, and you will then stop it and give new instructions for the delivery.
Set expectations: after each of your instructions, the commercial is replayed with the adjustments. Clarify that you may change genre, style, target audience, delivery rhythm, or ad format.
Play
Run the exercise as a series of quick replays with contrasting instructions.
-
Base commercial. Launch the first version of the ad for the suggested product without additional conditions.
-
Stop and instruct. Stop the scene and give one change: genre, style, target audience, rhythm, or format (e.g., trailer, infomercial, public service announcement).
-
Replay. Actors start fresh and carry the same ad into the new delivery style, staying focused on the product.
-
New cycle. Repeat the stop and give the next instruction; each time aim for a noticeable contrast and clarity of idea.
Key rules
Change only one variable at a time (genre, style, audience, rhythm, or format) so the contrast reads clearly and actors don't get lost.
Keep the commercials short and energetic; stop on time and immediately formulate the next instruction without long pauses.
Remind them of the focus: we are selling a product and its benefit, not performing a storyline sketch — a slogan and call to action help maintain clarity.
If an instruction "doesn't land", reformulate it more specifically (e.g., "for children", "noir", "ASMR") and restart from scratch.
Ask actors to start each version fresh rather than "patching" the previous one — this makes the differences between versions more visible.
Context
What to try next
Similar formats, so you can keep the rehearsal moving without stopping to search.
Press Conference
A short guessing game where one performer gives an improvised press conference and tries to figure out which famous person they are from the journalists' clues.
Confessions
Short verbal sparring game where players confess absurd audience-suggested "sins" in bold characters while others jump in with sharp one-liner comebacks. Great as a show…
Radio
A short-form game where players run a live radio show: a host, producer, and band perform an improvised hit song based on an audience-suggested title and mood.
Props
Short-form scene where each actor uses an audience volunteer as a live prop instead of objects. Trains physical invention, creative object work, and safe audience intera…
Ten Genres
A short-form game where actors play one story while the host regularly switches performance style from a pre-collected list of ten audience-suggested genres. Use it to t…
A Day in the Life
A short-form game where performers recreate one real volunteer's actual day based on a short onstage interview. Trains active listening, detail retention, and turning mu…