Drama Games: The Why? Game
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Aim and Purpose
- Self disclosure.
- Personal reflection.
- Cognitive development.
- Building trust.
Materials/Resources
- None.
Order of Activity
- With the group seated in a circle choose one player to be in the "hot seat".
- The "hot seat" player will answer questions asked by the other players.
- Explain that the group will ask questions of the "hot seat" player.
- They will then ask a new "Why?" question based on the previous response.
- The first question must be something superficial and simple, is the aim to dig deeper and have the individual reveal more about themselves with each subsequent question.
Example:
GROUP MEMBER 1:(superficial first question) Why are you wearing a watch?
HOT SEAT: Because it's important that I know what time it is.
GROUP MEMBER 2: Why is it important for you to know the time?
HOT SEAT: Because I don't like to be late for things.
GROUP MEMBER 3: Why don't you like to be late?
HOT SEAT: Because I don't want to miss out on anything.
GROUP MEMBER 4: Why don't you want to miss out on anything.
HOT SEAT: Because...
...and so on.
- In this example within only four questions the "Hot seat" player has already started to disclose information about themselves following a very superficial first question.
Notes on the Game
- This game has the ability to have huge effects on a group with the revelations sometimes becoming very personal. If handled properly and with respect the positive impact on a group dynamic can be significant.
- As moderator it may be important to sometimes interject to push the deeper thinking. It is possible that questions will start to circle and the same responses given repeatedly from the "hot seat".
- The game ends when the player in the "hot seat" cannot respond with anything other than "just because."
Extensions to the Game
- This game is designed to help actors get in touch and become empathic with a character they are playing. In this circumstance the actor would answer questions in character, hopefully revealing depths of their character that they had not previously considered.
- The game can be modified to have players answer questions from the point of view of literary characters or figures from history.
Drama Games Unit D: Deeper Thinking Games