Theatresports tests students' improv skills

Gisborne Intermediate drama students Celia Willoughby and Eden Hutley play a Theatresports game using props. In this example, they use a mop head as a head of hair. Pictures by Liam Clayton

Budding actors from Ilminster Intermediate and Gisborne Intermediate came together for a friendly competition in Theatresports on Monday and while they weren’t being judged or marked, they tried their hardest to outperform the opposition.

Theatresports is a form of improvisational theatre which uses the format of a competition for dramatic effect.

People may remember the popular programme Whose Line is It Anyway where professional actors competed in a number of categories.

The school teams took part in a number of theatresport games such as Party where the guests are given a character, for example a rapper and tinkerbell, and the host has to guess who they are based on their actions at the party. Another game involved using props and making them into various other things — large fans became fighting swords, dresses and dog leashes for the GisInt team.

In the classic Space Jump teams had to jump from scene to scene.

Dylan Babbington takes a drama class in the lunch break at Gisborne Intermediate and said it was great to come together with Ilminster in a competition which tested the students’ improvisation skills.

“It’s great to do something that is in the arts space for a change rather than traditional sport.”

Theatresports requires a good imagination, the ability to think and act on the spot and interact with other team members in a positive way.

“Not only is it great fun, but it’s very entertaining to be in the audience,” says Ilminster Intermediate drama teacher Keren Rickard.

In the past the schools have had a judging panel giving marks, but they decided to make it a fun exercise rather than a formal competition this year.

“I would normally have the drama students audition to be part of the Theatresports team but this year we’ve done thing differently.”