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.
Structure
Setup
Two or more performers take the stage. The first performer makes a simple physical action with a line of dialogue. The second performer repeats that action and line exactly, then adds their own new action and line.
Progression
Each subsequent performer (or the same performers in rotation) must replay the entire accumulated sequence from the beginning, then add one new element. The chain grows longer with each pass. Early elements must be reproduced with the same physical specificity and vocal delivery as the original.
As the sequence grows, the challenge shifts from creativity to memory and precision. Performers must recall not just what was said but how it was said, not just what was done but exactly how the body moved. The audience watches the chain develop and can spot when performers alter established elements.
The exercise typically continues until a performer cannot recall the full sequence, at which point the group either starts a new chain or the facilitator resets.
Variations
A solo version has one performer build an entire sequence alone, adding a new element each pass. A group version passes the sequence around a circle, with each person adding one element. A scene version applies the structure to a developing scene, where each replay adds a new beat to the narrative. A physicality-only version removes dialogue entirely, building a sequence of pure movement.
How to Teach It
Objectives
Repeat and Add develops memory, physical precision, commitment to established choices, and the discipline of exact repetition. It trains performers to honor what has been created rather than improving or editing previous contributions.
How to Explain It
"The first person does an action and says a line. The next person repeats that exactly, then adds their own. Each pass, you replay everything that came before, then add one new thing. Be precise. Repeat what was done, not your version of it."
Scaffolding
Begin with short chains of three to four elements to build confidence. Increase the chain length as the group improves. Emphasize physical precision over cleverness. The exercise is about accurate reproduction, not comedy.
Common Pitfalls
The most common error is performers paraphrasing or approximating earlier elements rather than reproducing them exactly. The drift from original to approximation compounds with each pass, until the sequence bears little resemblance to how it began. Insist on precision. A second issue is performers making their additions too complex, creating elements that are difficult for the next person to replicate accurately.
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Related Exercises
Repetition
Repetition is a paired listening exercise in which participants hold a conversation one sentence at a time, with each person required to repeat their partner's last statement before responding. The exercise forces genuine listening by making the repetition a prerequisite for the reply.
Scene Repeater
Scene Repeater is an exercise in which performers replay the same scene multiple times with different constraints, adjustments, or stylistic shifts each round. The repetition reveals how changing a single variable transforms the entire scene, developing versatility and deepening understanding of scene mechanics.
Copy Line
Copy Line is a scene exercise in which one performer repeats back the exact words their partner just said before delivering their own new line. The mandatory echo forces performers to genuinely hear what was said before responding, building the habit of listening-before-speaking and preventing the common improv drift of planning the next line while the partner is still talking.
Take That Back
Take That Back is an exercise in which players improvise a scene and when the leader rings a bell, the speaking actor must replace their last line with something different. The exercise trains performers to generate multiple possibilities for any moment and demonstrates that the first idea is rarely the best.
Simple Continuation
Simple Continuation is a scene exercise in which a facilitator starts a scene with a basic premise and the performers continue from that point, practicing the skill of receiving an offer and building on it without the pressure of initiating from scratch.
Replay Gibberish
Replay Gibberish is a short-form game in which a scene is first performed in coherent dialogue, then replayed entirely in gibberish. The performers must convey the same story, emotions, and relationships using only invented sounds, facial expressions, and physicality, demonstrating how much communication exists beyond words.
How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). Repeat and Add. Retrieved September 28, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/exercises/repeat-and-add
The Improv Archive. "Repeat and Add." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/exercises/repeat-and-add.
The Improv Archive. "Repeat and Add." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/exercises/repeat-and-add. Accessed September 28, 2026.
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