Balancing the Stage

This game is easiest with two players. Place a chair, block or other marker at the centre of the stage to mark the pivot. Players perform a normal scene, but when one player moves towards the pivot, the other should match the movement on the other side, and, of course, this movement should make sense in the context of the scene. If Ralph moves right to look out of the apartment window, Cindy moves left to phone the police. The characters can only come together in the centre of the stage.

Encourage the audience to make a noise (“Ooooh!”) if the players aren’t balancing each other.

Each player can use the centre marker to make sure they are lined up with their partner. (The other player should always appear to be directly behind the marker.) Getting the distance right is more of a knack.

I suggest that, at least to start with, you choose one player who will lead the movements, so the other must follow. (In our own workhops, this worked much better than give and take. The leader can have fun challenging the other player.)

You can play Balancing the Stage with more than two players, but either they should all begin on stage, or new players should enter simultaneously from opposite sides. The game is easier to follow if players work in pairs, rather than trying to work out the centre of gravity for three or five players. More complex is not more entertaining.