First and Last Line
First and Last Line is a variant of First Line Last Line in which both the opening and closing lines are pre-set. Performers must craft a journey between two fixed points, creating the sense that the ending was inevitable rather than forced. The exercise trains the storytelling skill of reverse engineering a satisfying narrative arc.
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Related Exercises
And Then
And Then is a storytelling exercise in which each contribution to a group story must begin with the phrase "and then." The connective phrase enforces forward momentum and prevents storytellers from stalling or backtracking. The exercise trains narrative drive and the habit of advancing rather than circling.
Advancing and Expanding
Advancing and Expanding is a scene technique exercise in which players practice the dual skills of moving a narrative forward and deepening the current moment. A caller instructs performers to either advance the plot or expand on the present beat with more detail and emotion. The exercise builds the storytelling instinct for when to push forward and when to linger.
Rewind and Unblock
Rewind and Unblock is a coaching exercise in which a facilitator stops a scene at a point where it has stalled or gone off track, rewinds to a specific moment, and asks the performers to make a different choice. The exercise teaches performers to recognize blocking patterns and practice alternative responses in real time.
Repeat and Add
Repeat and Add is an exercise in which performers replay a sequence of actions or dialogue, adding one new element with each repetition. The growing accumulation trains memory, physical precision, and the ability to commit to established choices while continuing to build.
Enter and Exit
Enter and Exit is a physical exercise in which performers practice making clear, purposeful entrances and exits from the stage. Each entry or departure must communicate character, intention, or emotional state without relying on dialogue. The exercise highlights how much information an audience reads from the simple act of walking on or off stage: pace, posture, direction of gaze, and physical tension all communicate story before a single word is spoken. Enter and Exit builds awareness of the stage as a defined space with its own rules and teaches performers that every entrance is an offer and every exit is an edit.
How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). First and Last Line. Retrieved March 18, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/exercises/first-and-last-line
The Improv Archive. "First and Last Line." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/exercises/first-and-last-line.
The Improv Archive. "First and Last Line." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/exercises/first-and-last-line. Accessed March 18, 2026.
The Improv Archive is a systemically maintained repository. The archive itself acts as the corporate author.