Build Up Break Down

Build Up Break Down is a short form game that usually requires four people. The game starts with someone doing a one-person scene. After a while, one of the people in the background can clap, and the person in the scene must freeze in whatever position they were in. That person then joins the scene and changes it completely based on whatever position the first person was in when they froze. After the two-person scene goes on for a while, a third person can clap and make the two people freeze. The third person then joins the scene and changes it based on the positions of the two other people. This process is repeated for the fourth person. This is the "Build Up" stage. After the fourth person joins the scene, they can clap at any point, freezing the three other people and leaving the scene. The three people are then back in the scene that they were in the "Build Up" three-person scene. The people then have to justify why they are in those positions in that scene. Similarly, at any point the third person can clap and leave the scene, freezing the other two. They must then go back to the first two-person scene and justify their positions. This is the "Break Down" stage. This process repeats for the two-person scene until there is only the original improviser on stage. The first person must justify why they are in this position and should end the game with something funny.

Tips

 * This game is best played with a lot of body movement - talking scenes aren't encouraged. People should be doing wild movements that they then have to justify in the next scene.