I’m not always able to track where I’ve learnt a game with any certainty, but this ensemble-building warm-up comes from Augusto Boal’s treasure trove of improv exercises, Games for Actors and Non-actors.
The Basics
The conceit of the game remains the same even if the details shift a little in the variations listed below: players stand in a circle and hold hands, then messily rearrange themselves to form a large knot cluster. The group must then work together to untangle the tumult and return to their original positions in the circle without letting go of their partners’ hands (or talking).
Variation One:
After players have formed the initial circle and held hands, Boal offers a beginning ritual in which they then expand into the space as far as they can until only their fingertips are touching, and then contract the circle as tightly as they can so that they’re occupying the least amount of space as possible. I tend to omit this step, but it’s a good way to start building some comfort amongst the group, especially if they’re playing together for the first time. Play then continues with one of the following…
Variation Two:
While still holding hands, one self-selecting player begins the entanglement process by moving across or into the circle and then traveling over or under the hands of another pair (while taking care not to loosen their grips with their own partners on each side). New players then perform the same process, randomly creating a denser clump of knots, until no more such moves can be made. The ensemble then attempts to collaboratively return to the original circle slowly, safely, and in silence (and without breaking any of the links).
Variation Three:
Rather than beginning the process with players already holding hands in one large circle, participants create the tangle by randomly reaching across the circle and holding hands with two other random players. (You can coach the process with “everyone take your right hand, reach out and take someone else’s excluding those players on either side; now do the same with your left…”) After everyone has forged two connections in this manner, the group seeks to untangle through the same careful process. It’s possible in this iteration that an untangled group might actually form several smaller circles!
The Focus
Players must work together closely (literally and figuratively) in order to declutter the group.
Traps and Tips
1.) Know your group. As is the case with most warm-ups designed to build ensemble, there is a certain element of trust that already needs to be present for the game to feel safe and inclusive. Players should be aware of mobility issues and limitations, and comfort levels in general. For those who need a wide personal sphere, this exercise might prove wildly uncomfortable or just completely inappropriate, so don’t assume every ensemble will enjoy this highly physical game without having built some rapport beforehand. It’s also nice to warn players that they’ll be exploring a game that involves such close proximity so that they can dress appropriately.
2.) Pace the untangling. If everyone starts twisting and pulling and seeking their own extraction all at the same time, you’ll increase the likelihood of strain or injury, so make sure the desire to solve the riddle of the knots doesn’t eclipse the more important goal of keeping everyone safe. This can become a particular concern if you’re using the warm-up with younger players who can have a tendency to inadvertently introduce a level of competitiveness that can work against the greater good of the group. Especially in the third iteration, there may be moments when players need to briefly break and reconnect their grips so that they’re not bending each other’s wrists in dubious ways.
3.) Consider a leader. This is another variation on the variations, but I’ve also seen the game utilize a designated leader (perhaps standing part from the circle) who assumes the job of conducting the disentanglement (with or without the use of speech). This changes the central dynamic of the exercise a little, but if you’re stuck, or your group includes a player that would prefer not to be in the thick of the knots, this allows a different form of involvement. It can also provide a chance to positively single out a (willing) participant for a leadership position who might not normally step into such a role.
In Performance
If your ensemble is hesitant to play (appropriately) in each other’s space, this game can help to break the ice a little!
Cheers, David Charles.
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Photo Credit: Tony Firriolo
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