Guess what happens next? Exactly.

Quick Description

One player begins telling a story. From time to time they ask the listener(s), “Guess what happens next?” What ever they say, is accepted as EXACTLY right. It is incorporated into the story and the story continues.

How to Play

Have everyone get into pairs. One player begins telling a story to the other player.

From time to time, the storyteller stops telling the story and asks the listener, to guess what happens next in the story.

After the listener makes their guess, the storyteller enthusiastically replies, “Exactly”.

The storyteller includes what the listener said and continues telling the story.

Continue as long as you like. Have the players switch roles and play again.

Notes

• Notice how much fun the other person is having. Let that inform the way you pass control of the story to them. Often you can tell when they want to add a suggestion or when they are confused.

• Allow yourself to discover the story along with them. When their response does not seem right or goes in a very different direction that you imagined – enthusiastically respond with positive energy and see where it goes.

• As a performance game, it can be played with the audience shouting their guesses or you can ask for an audience volunteer, bring them to the stage and discover the story.

• As a teaching game, it can highlight the principle of accepting what your partner offers, even when you don’t understand it.

Variations

When working on Zoom, WebEx, MS Teams or any other video platform, demonstrate the structure in the main session then send everyone into separate rooms to play it on their own.

Play the game with an audience as a performance game. The audience is always delighted when you enthusiastically shout “exactly!”

Origin

I learned this game years and years ago when I first started learning improv games. I believe learned it from Keith Johnstone.

Video of the activity

Big thanks to Corey Rosen for making this video. Find out more about Corey and check out his book HERE.

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