We’ve compiled a list of 10 simple improv topics and related prompts that will have you thinking on your feet and entertaining your audience in no time. So, without further ado, let’s go!
1. “Awkward First Dates”
Prompt 1: Imagine you’re on the most awkward first date ever. What would you say to break the ice?
Prompt 2: Create a character who is overly obsessed with their pet rock during a first date. How does your date react?
Prompt 3: Your date confesses they can communicate with aliens. React to this revelation in the most surprising way possible.
2. “Supermarket Shenanigans”
Prompt 1: You’re at the grocery store, and you suddenly discover that everything in the store is now made of chocolate. How do you react?
Prompt 2: You and your scene partner are rival spies trying to outsmart each other while shopping. What gadgets do you use, and how does the checkout showdown unfold?
Prompt 3: The supermarket intercom announces a surprise dance-off competition in the produce section. Show us your grooviest moves!
3. “Lost in a Haunted House”
Prompt 1: You and your friend find yourselves trapped in a haunted house. Describe the creepy sounds and sights you encounter.
Prompt 2: Create a hilarious ghost character who just wants to make friends with the living. How do you respond to their spooky requests?
Prompt 3: Your flashlight suddenly dies. How do you cope with the darkness and unexpected surprises in the haunted house?
4. “The Great Pie Heist”
Prompt 1: You and your partner are master pie thieves attempting to steal the world’s largest pie. Describe your cunning plan.
Prompt 2: A surprise celebrity chef judge is about to taste your stolen pie. Convince them it’s the best pie they’ve ever had!
Prompt 3: The police are closing in on you. How do you escape the scene of the pie heist, and what wacky disguises do you use?
5. “Time-Traveling Tourists”
Prompt 1: You’ve accidentally traveled back to the time of the dinosaurs. Describe the hilarious encounters you have with these prehistoric creatures.
Prompt 2: As time-traveling tourists, you arrive at a famous historical event. Interact with the people of that time while trying not to disrupt history too much!
Prompt 3: Your time machine malfunctions, and you find yourselves in a futuristic world. How do you adapt to the advanced technology and customs of this strange era?
6. “The World’s Worst Job Interviews”
Prompt 1: You’re interviewing for the position of a professional banana peeler. What skills and qualifications do you highlight?
Prompt 2: Your interviewer asks increasingly bizarre and irrelevant questions. Answer them with confidence and humor.
Prompt 3: Pretend you’re interviewing for a job as a professional clown in a serious corporate office. How do you convince the interviewer that your clowning skills are an asset?
7. “Alien Invasion News Report”
Prompt 1: You’re a news anchor reporting on an alien invasion. Describe the absurd and comical alien features you encounter.
Prompt 2: Interview a local who claims to have befriended the aliens. How does this person describe their intergalactic friendship?
Prompt 3: As the on-site reporter, attempt to communicate with the aliens using interpretive dance. How does this attempt at inter-species communication unfold?
8. “Surviving a Zombie Apocalypse”
Prompt 1: You and your scene partner are survivors in a zombie-infested world. Describe your hilarious survival tactics and close encounters.
Prompt 2: Create a character who believes zombies are just misunderstood and tries to befriend them. How do your fellow survivors react to your unconventional approach?
Prompt 3: Pretend you’ve found a secret stash of zombie-themed party supplies. How do you use them to your advantage in the midst of the apocalypse?
9. “Mismatched Roommates”
Prompt 1: You and your roommate have drastically different lifestyles. Illustrate the humorous clashes and misunderstandings that arise.
Prompt 2: Your roommate insists on turning your living space into a miniature golf course. Play along and describe your epic golfing adventures indoors.
Prompt 3: You both discover a magical creature living in your closet. How do you negotiate sharing your space with this fantastical roommate?
10. “Survivor: Office Edition”
Prompt 1: You and your coworkers are stranded in the office after a fictional “office supply shortage.” Describe the outrageous challenges you face to survive.
Prompt 2: Create a character who thinks they’re the true office hero and constantly tries to save the day with hilariously misguided plans.
Prompt 3: Hold a tribal council-style meeting to vote off the coworker who’s been hogging all the paperclips. Convince the group why they should stay or go.
There you have it ya’ll —ten simple improv topics to kickstart your improvisational adventures. Remember, in improv, there are no wrong answers, only opportunities for creativity and laughter.
