Top 5 Drama Games to Engage Tricky Teenagers

Never Underestimate the Power of Drama Games

Despite games being a staple part of the drama teacher’s repertoire, some educators (including the powers above) deem them silly time wasters. I couldn’t disagree more. I was once told by a seasoned mentor that ‘games are a rehearsal for life’ and I have always found this to be true. A well-selected and well-delivered game can prime students for the lesson ahead, boost participation, create a conducive rehearsal atmosphere and hook students into the learning within the first 10 minutes. However, the keyword here is well-selected, meaning there needs to be a ‘why’ behind your choice of game, otherwise, it is just a timewaster.

The ‘Why?’ Behind the Game

Before delving straight into a game, there needs to be some thinking invested as to why you selected a certain game. What is its purpose? Perhaps the game foreshadows certain aspects of the lesson ahead, or it may involve the retrieval of previously taught skills. Maybe your students have arrived in class feeling slow, sluggish, and uncooperative. Likewise, they may be bursting with uncontainable energy. Whatever your reason, you need to be clear on the aim of the game (excuse the pun) in order to glean the most from the experience. 

Too Cool or Too Self-Conscious? 

With all those raging hormones, teaching teenagers can, at times, prove impossible. Games that may involve teenagers having to be silly, creative, collaborative, and enthusiastic can only worsen this struggle. Therefore, it’s best to pre-empt some of the obstacles and attitudes you may encounter. The games below are all relatively gentle on the more vulnerable aspects of the drama classroom while being age-appropriate. 

5 Drama Games to Engage Tricky Teenagers 

Medusa

Have you ever heard of the mythical Gorgon, Medusa? Well, this game is inspired by the character. Medusa had the power to turn her enemies to stone, which is exactly what can happen to unlucky players in this quick drama game.

Players: Whole Class (including the teacher)

Purpose: Focus, Concentration, Impulse

Time: ~ 5 minutes

Rules: 

1. Firstly, make a circle, asking everyone to place their hands behind their backs.
2. Next instruct all students to look down at their feet. When you count down from three, everyone must lift their heads and look directly at another player.
3. Use the command ‘3, 2, 1, look’ to signal your class to do so.
4. If you find yourself looking directly at another player, then you are both out. 
5. Explain to your class how everyone must look at somebody; avoiding looking at other players by staring at the wall or the floor means disqualification. 
6. Play until there are two winners left standing. 

It’s Your Turn

‘It’s Your Turn’ works wonders for engaging students of all abilities. This is a delightfully speedy warm-up game which tricky teenagers will definitely get on board with. 

Players: In Pairs

Purpose: Improvisation, Subtext, Objectives, Actioning, Vocal Skills, and Physicality

Time: 2-5 minutes

Rules: 

1. Begin by asking students to find a partner (if there is an odd number, a group of three is okay).
2. Secondly, instruct the students to label themselves A and B.
3. A must play the older sibling, who is trying to make the younger sibling (B) take out the rubbish, as it’s their turn. 
4. B disagrees and decides that they don’t want to take out the rubbish. 
5. Encourage the students to improvise a scene based on this situation, outlining how they are only allowed to use the line ‘It’s your turn’ to communicate with one another.
6. Allow the students to improvise the back and forth of ‘it’s your turn’, exploring different vocal qualities, subtext, actions and physicality which will allow them to persuade their partner. 

Name Zombie

This game is a classic in my classroom for many reasons. Children of all ages, including teenagers, enjoy the fast-paced and frantic atmosphere that this warm-up game creates.

Players: Whole Class (including the teacher)

Purpose: Icebreaker, Collaboration, Confidence and Quick Thinking 

Time: ~ 5 minutes

Rules: 

1. Make a circle and choose one student to be the zombie. This person must stand in the middle.
2. The zombie starts the game by slowly walking towards a player in the circle, at random.
3. The only way that player may save themself, is by calling out the name of another player in the circle.
4. The zombie then walks towards that player, who must also call out another name and so on.
5. If a student is not fast enough, and the zombie taps them on the shoulder, then they become the zombie. 
6. Emphasise how the zombie must walk slowly, while encouraging the students to say a variety of names.

Rock Paper Scissors Tournament

This game is an easy crowd-pleaser to get your teens in a playful and collaborative mood. 

Players: Whole Class

Purpose: Participation, Energy, Collaboration, Gentle Warm-Up

Time: 2-5 mins

Rules:

1. Ask students to find a partner and play one round of ‘rock, paper, scissors’.
2. The loser must stand directly behind their partner, placing their hands on their shoulders to form the beginning of a chain-like conga line.
3. The winner (with loser attached) must find another winner to play against. The winner of this new game will then increase their chain to three people behind them.
4. The cycle of winner vs winner continues until there are only two winners left, each with their own chain of classmates behind them.
5. The game ends with a sudden death final round to see which team will be victorious.

Chair Invader

The words ‘organised chaos’ come to mind when thinking about this activity, but it is in fact a favourite warm-up game for some of my trickiest teenagers.  

Players: Whole Class

Purpose: Collaboration, Impulse, Focus, Risk-taking, Problem Solving, Objectives. 

Time: ~ 5 minutes 

Resources: Chairs

Rules:  

1. Instruct your students to sit down in a chair, expertly spread out across the room by you, prior to starting. 
2. Choose one person to be ‘the chair invader’. This student must stand across the room from their empty chair. Their objective is to sit down. 
3. As a class, the remaining students must work together to stop that person from sitting down in an empty chair. 
4. They must achieve this by swapping seats with others in the room. NOTE: physical contact or moving the chairs themselves is not allowed. 
5. Time your students using your phone or a stopwatch, to see how long they can last before the person sits down. 

Want Some More?

I can’t recommend Drama Menu’s collection of drama games and demonstrations enough. Browse their great collection on YouTube for more fun drama games to engage tricky teenagers.