Opposite Side Speech
Each player chooses the opposite side of a non-issue and presents a committed defense. Success comes from being convincing in delivery despite the obviously wrong position.
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Related Exercises
Yes Lets - or Rather Not
Yes Lets - or Rather Not is a variation of Yes Lets in which players can either accept a suggestion with enthusiasm or politely decline it, requiring the group to navigate agreement and disagreement gracefully. The exercise teaches that saying no can be done supportively and that the group can redirect without blocking.
The Lawyer
Participants take on the role of defending or advocating for unexpected positions, developing persuasive communication and perspective-taking skills.
Arguments
Three players: one in center, two on sides taking opposite positions. The center player must maintain logical and emotional agreement with both simultaneously.
Premise Lawyer
Premise Lawyer is a scene exercise in which one performer acts as an advocate for the scene's central premise, arguing for its logic and defending its reality whenever it is challenged or abandoned. The exercise teaches players to commit fully to established premises and resist the temptation to bail out when an idea feels risky.
Predator/Defender
Each player secretly chooses a predator and a defender. On 'Go,' everyone must keep their defender between themselves and their predator. Illustrates interconnected systems.
Yes Based Conversations
Yes Based Conversations is an exercise in which performers practice having conversations built entirely on agreement and mutual support. Each speaker accepts what the other has said and adds their own perspective without contradiction. The exercise breaks the habit of default negation and demonstrates how agreement generates more productive scenes than conflict.
How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). Opposite Side Speech. Retrieved March 17, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/exercises/opposite-side-speech
The Improv Archive. "Opposite Side Speech." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/exercises/opposite-side-speech.
The Improv Archive. "Opposite Side Speech." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/exercises/opposite-side-speech. Accessed March 17, 2026.
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