Form a group of 4

1) In the group, imagine there are two people in dialogue with one another. Don't write the dialogue. Instead draw two rows, left to right. In those rows use lines to indicate when each of the characters is speaking, and for how many seconds. For example (only for example):

Character A	______5_____	__2___		___2____		__1__		_1__
Character B	_1_	__1_	_____5_____				_1_		______10_______

This says nothing about what they are doing or saying. It only indicates the pattern of taking turns, and how long each turn of speaking lasts.

2) Now after the pattern is agreed upon, split up into two pairs of actors and go to separate places to work. Each pair takes the exact pattern agreed upon, and makes a scene in which the characters speak and act and their speaking is to fit into the pattern...exact to the second.

3) Next, come back together as a group of 4. Each pair keeps their own acting and gestures, but gives the dialogue from the scene they made to the other pair of actors. So now, each pair has their made-up acting and gestures, but uses the other pair's dialogue. Learn to perform, with precision, this hybrid scene. The fact that both pairs had that same original agreed-upon pattern of speech to start with, means that there ought to be no problem fitting in the other pair's dialogue into the spaces for speech in your piece. You will feel strangely, look bizarrely, and have many doubts of course.