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Exercises
One player has eyes closed, the other has eyes open. The blind player takes the arm of the sighted player. Without speaking, the pair walk around the space. The blind player sets the pace and the sighted player guides the route. As comfort is built, the blind player may speed up the rate of travel.
Exercises
Players stand in a circle. All turn to the right, facing the back of the person in front of them. Each player puts feet together and takes hold of the hips of the person in front of them. On the count of three, everyone sits on the lap of the person behind them. Then they remove their hands from the hips of the person in front of them. When ready, everyone stands on the count of three.
Topics
to give trust before it’s been earned
Interactive play requires trust between the players. When you trust spects, they’re more likely to trust you. The challenge is, trust needs to be present from the moment you begin to play, so there’s no time for it to be earned. This is why inter-actors need the ability to entrust spects before the trust has been earned.
Exercises
A faller stands on a chair or table with arms crossed over chest and back to the catchers. The catchers stand in two lines facing each other, with interlaced arms outstretched. When ready to fall, the faller calls out, “Ready?” When they’re prepared, catchers reply in unison, “Ready.” The faller says, “Falling.” Catchers respond, “Fall on!” The faller falls backwards into the arms of Catchers. The process is repeated, giving each player the opportunity to fall and catch.
Topics
to count on the reliability of someone
In interactive performance, trust is more than a platitude. Saying that you trust someone is nice, but it doesn’t mean anything until it’s put into action. Trust is demonstrated through the risks that players are willing to take with each other.
Exercises
Catcher stands behind Faller, with hands a few inches from Faller’s shoulders. Faller asks, "Ready?" Catcher responds, "Ready." Then Faller falls backward, keeping the body straight. Catcher catches Faller, then sets Faller back up to center. Catcher moves hands back a few more inches and the process is repeated. Continue falling farther each time, until either player feels the limit of safety has been reached. Then trade roles.
Topics
Trust must be earned, and it usually takes a while to happen. This serves us well in life, but not in interactive performance. As an inter-actor, you’re expected to play with total strangers in ways that are intimate, aggressive, bold, and vulnerable, with barely any time for trust to be earned. This is why entrusting is an essential skill for all inter-actors. Entrusting is the conscious act of giving trust before it has been earned.
Exercises
Two catchers stand at the far side of the room. With eyes closed, another player walks toward the catchers and is gently stopped before hitting the wall. The blind player opens eyes and takes the place of one of the catchers. The replaced catcher moves into the line of people who are waiting to cross the room.
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