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Scene stealers

Create a scene, face unexpected twists, and see where your imagination takes you.

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You’ll need

  • Scene cards
  • Twist cards
  • Simple props (optional)

 Before you begin

  • Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. There's also more guidance to help you carry out your risk assessment, including examples.
  • Make sure all young people and adults involved in the activity know how to take part safely.
  • Make sure you’ll have enough adult helpers. You may need some parents and carers to help. 

Planning and setting up the activity

  • Create a set of scene cards featuring simple scene ideas. Here's some examples:
    • Waiting for a bus 
    • Lost in a shopping centre 
    • Exploring a mysterious cave 
    • Stranded on an island 
    • Preparing for a camping trip 
  • Create a set of twist cards which can change the scene. Here's some examples:
    • It’s now a musical
    • Everyone is a superhero
    • The scene takes place 100 years in the future
    • Nobody can say the word ‘and’ 
    • One character knows a secret 
    • Everything happens in slow motion

Running the activity  

  1. Divide everyone into small teams.
  2. Gather everyone together and explain that each team will create a short performance. Make sure everyone understands that they need to be supportive and respectful to each other.  
  3. Give each team a scene card and allow five minutes to plan. 
  4. Once teams have started rehearsing, give each team a twist card. 
  5. Teams must adapt their performance to include the twist. 
  6. Repeat with one or two additional twist cards if time allows. 
  7. Encourage teams to think quickly, work together, and make the most of unexpected changes. 
  8. Invite teams to perform their scenes to the rest of the group. 
  9. Celebrate creativity, teamwork, and commitment rather than polished performances. Award fun categories such as: 
    • Most unexpected twist 
    • Best teamwork 
    • Funniest moment 
    • Most creative solution 

Reflection

Performing often involves adapting to the unexpected. Ask everyone to think about how their team responded when the twists were introduced. What helped them stay creative? How did they build on each other's ideas? What surprised them most about the final performances? 

Safety

All activities must be safely managed. You must complete a thorough risk assessment and take appropriate steps to reduce risk. Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Always get approval for the activity, and have suitable supervision and an InTouch process.

You must run your activities in line with the Safeguarding Code of Conduct for Adults (Yellow Card) and report any concerns to the UK HQ Safeguarding Team.

  • To make it easier, give teams more planning time and use simpler twist cards. 
  • To make it harder, rather than giving rehearsal time, turn it into an improvisation exercise.  

Make it accessible

All Scout activities should be inclusive and accessible.

Explorers Performing Arts Activity Badge