Killer Bunny
Killer Bunny is a physical attention and tag exercise in which one or more participants secretly designated as the killer bunny attempt to eliminate other players through a covert signal -- typically a wink, a pointed finger, or a specific gesture -- while the group moves through the space and attempts to identify and call out the killer before being eliminated themselves. The exercise trains sustained peripheral awareness, active observation, and the management of divided attention.
Structure
Setup
All participants circulate through the space. One participant is secretly designated as the killer bunny, either by the facilitator privately or by a dealt card or whisper system that keeps the identity concealed from the group.
Progression
Participants move through the space and interact naturally -- making eye contact, briefly acknowledging others, passing by. The killer bunny uses a pre-agreed covert signal (a slow wink, a finger point, a specific phrase) to silently eliminate players. A player who receives the signal must wait a short beat before responding -- slumping, freezing, or making a death sound -- to avoid immediately revealing the killer's identity.
Other participants who believe they have identified the killer bunny may make an accusation. If correct, the round ends. If incorrect, the accuser is eliminated.
Conclusion
The round ends when the killer bunny is correctly identified, all players have been eliminated, or the facilitator calls time.
How to Teach It
Objectives
Killer Bunny targets peripheral awareness, sustained attention, and the ability to observe others without telegraphing what one is watching. It trains the split focus required on stage between attending to scene partners and maintaining awareness of the larger ensemble and space.
How to Explain It
"You need to stay aware of everyone in the room without looking like you're watching them. The killer bunny is someone in this circle -- you need to notice what's happening without making it obvious you're watching. Pay attention to everything."
Scaffolding
Begin with a slower-paced version in which the killer bunny acts only when they are in close proximity to a target. Increase pace and distance range as the group becomes more comfortable with sustained peripheral attention.
Common Pitfalls
Players who are eliminated often immediately look at the killer, revealing their identity to the group. Coach eliminated players to fall and remain still or move to the edge of the space without making eye contact with the killer. The game loses its tension when eliminations become a performance rather than a covert act.
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Related Exercises
Bunny
Bunny is a high-energy circle exercise in which players pass a rhythmic pattern around the group through a combination of chanted sounds and synchronized gestures. The player designated as the bunny performs a central action, typically holding both hands beside the head like ears while chanting "bunny bunny," while the two players on either side perform complementary supporting gestures. The bunny then passes to another player across the circle, and the pattern repeats with increasing speed. The exercise builds group rhythm, peripheral awareness, and comfort with looking foolish. It is widely used as a warm-up in both theatrical and corporate training contexts, valued for its ability to lower inhibitions, demand focus, and generate collective energy through structured silliness.
Vampire
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Blind Hunt
Blind Hunt is a spatial awareness exercise in which blindfolded players navigate the room to locate a specific target, guided only by sound or verbal cues from the group. The exercise builds trust, listening skills, and comfort with physical vulnerability. It requires careful facilitation to maintain safety.
Clown 12345
Clown 12345 is a clowning exercise that progresses through five numbered stages of physical and emotional exposure, developing performers' comfort with presence, visibility, and playful self-expression. Each stage increases the degree to which the performer is fully available to be seen, culminating in full clown engagement with no protective distance between the performer and the audience.
How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). Killer Bunny. Retrieved September 29, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/exercises/killer-bunny
The Improv Archive. "Killer Bunny." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/exercises/killer-bunny.
The Improv Archive. "Killer Bunny." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/exercises/killer-bunny. Accessed September 29, 2026.
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