Electric Company
Electric Company is a word-building exercise or game inspired by the classic television show, in which performers combine syllables, sounds, or partial words to construct complete words collaboratively. The exercise trains phonemic awareness and builds comfort with breaking language into its component sounds. It works well as a playful verbal warm-up.
Worth Reading
See all books →
The Improv Handbook
The Ultimate Guide to Improvising in Comedy, Theatre, and Beyond
Tom Salinsky; Deborah Frances-White

The Art of Making Sh!t Up
Using the Principles of Improv to Become an Unstoppable Powerhouse
Norm LaViolette; Bob Melley

Business Improv
Experiential Learning Exercises to Train Employees
Val Gee

Playing Along
37 Group Learning Activities Borrowed from Improvisational Theater
Izzy Gesell

The Improv Book
Improvisation for Theatre, Comedy, Education, and Life
Alison Goldie

The "Yes And" Business Evolution
Improv Skills for Leadership and Life
Tracy Shea-Porter
Related Exercises
Bong Bong Bong
Bong Bong Bong is a rhythm and focus exercise in which players pass energy around a circle using the words "Bong," with specific gestures indicating direction changes or skips. The exercise demands sustained concentration and punishes hesitation or incorrect gestures. It is commonly used as a warm-up to sharpen group focus before scene work.
Dog, Dog, Dog
Dog, Dog, Dog is a group warm-up exercise in which players repeat a word while performing a corresponding action, then switch to a new word and action on a signal. The exercise trains focus, the ability to follow group shifts, and comfort with repetitive, committed physical choices. It builds ensemble synchronization.
Mind Meld
Mind Meld is a convergence exercise in which two players simultaneously say unrelated words, and the group then attempts to find a single word that connects the two. Players count down and speak at the same time, narrowing toward a shared answer through successive rounds of association. The exercise trains group mind, lateral thinking, and the trust required to commit to a choice without hesitation.
Energy Breathing
Energy Breathing is a breathing exercise that combines breath work with visualization and physical energy. Players breathe deeply while imagining they are drawing energy from the ground, the air, or the group. The exercise prepares the body for physical performance while centering the mind.
How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). Electric Company. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/exercises/electric-company
The Improv Archive. "Electric Company." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/exercises/electric-company.
The Improv Archive. "Electric Company." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/exercises/electric-company. Accessed October 15, 2026.
The Improv Archive is a systemically maintained repository. The archive itself acts as the corporate author.