Improv exercises are meant to encourage spontaneity, co-creation and 'thinking on your feet'. They originate in theatre improvisation, where the performance is created on the spot without a predefined script. Outside of performing arts improv can be used, for example in team-building, training communication skills and therapy. In futuring processes improv can be helpful as an ice-breaker, a way to train the 'speculative mind' or visualise a scenario, an exercise in collaborative storytelling or worldbuilding or in any other phases where the process tends to become overly analytical, bogged down in rigid worldviews or overconfident. Improv can shake-up the status quo and take people out of their comfort zones in a playful and harmless manner.

There are thousands of improv exercises available, that can be applied in as many different settings. On this page we will only mention a few techniques that we repeatedly use in FoAM's futuring workshops, with links to other improv resources online and in books.

Exercise for becoming aware of the participants' streams of (un)consciousness observing what emerges. The exercise involves giving of (imaginary) boxes in which there are gifts that the receiver always wanted to receive. The goal of the exercise is to imagine, on the spot, what might be in the box. At the end of the exercise the group will end up with a (often surprising) collection of 'gifts'. The exercise can stop here, or the 'gifts' could be used as a basis of a speculative/visioning/storytelling experiment.

• Step 1: Explain the improvisation: “I will give each of you a box. in the box is a gift, the gift you always wanted to receive. Enjoy the gift for a few moments, then start walking, changing directions when you feel like it. Keep the box for a while, then swap the box with someone else. Let go of its contents and focus on the process of giving a gift to someone. The receiver accepts the box and again receives a perfect gift (the contents of the box change through the process of 'giving'). Keep passing the boxes around, giving and receiving. Please do so in silence. At some point I will ask you to open the box and tell me what is in it. Please answer without thinking too much - what comes up is the best thing it could have. Any questions?”

• Step 2: When the questions have been answered, ask the participants to stand in a circle and experience the sensations of standing still and noticing what thoughts and feelings emerge in their minds.

• Step 3: One by one, give the participants a 'box' by holding a box-like space in between your hands (different sizes for different people).

• Step 4: Observe what happens and support the participants if you see they are blocked or uncomfortable (give them another box, suggests they lift it above their heads to feel the weight, shake it, put their hands in it…)

• Step 5: After some minutes, pull one participant from the group and ask: “Can you open the box please? What’s in the box? Put your hand in a bit deeper… is there anything else else is in the box? How about if you shake it? Did anything come loose? And if you smell it?” The facilitator notes down the contents of the box, thanks the participant and invites him/her to sit on the perimeter and observe the others. One by one all the participants should have a chance to discover what is in their boxes.

• Step 6: Once everyone has spoken and is sitting down, the exercise is over. Read out the list of gifts from everyone's boxes and reflect on the exercise.

• Keith Johnstone: Impro. Improvisation and the Theatre and Impro for storytellers
• Improv Encyclopedia
• ImproWiki
• Imprology
• Theatre of the oppressed