Three in the Middle
Three participants stand in the center of a circle and collectively respond to prompts or create scenes, requiring ensemble coordination and spontaneity.
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Related Exercises
Follow the Follower
Follow the Follower is an applied improv exercise in which a group sits in a circle and simultaneously makes sounds and movements while attempting to mimic everyone else -- with no designated leader and no pre-assigned role of follower. Because everyone is following everyone at once, leadership emerges organically from small initiations that the group collectively amplifies. The exercise makes visible how group behavior self-organizes without authority, and how individual actions propagate through a collective system.
Who's the Leader?
Group stands in a circle with one member in the middle. The group silently chooses a leader whose movements they mimic. The center person tries to identify the leader.
Circle of Expectation
Circle of Expectation is an exercise in which a player enters the center of a circle and the group collectively projects a silent expectation through focus and attention. The center player must respond to the group's energy without verbal instruction. The exercise develops sensitivity to the unspoken demands of an audience.
Donut
Donut is a scene exercise in which performers arrange themselves in two concentric circles, inner and outer rings facing each other to form pairs. Each pair engages in a brief scene or exchange before one circle rotates, creating new partnerships. The structure generates rapid variety, exposes every player to every other player in the group, and builds the ensemble's collective comfort level. Donut is particularly effective for new groups or workshop settings where performers need to establish working relationships quickly.
Invocation
Invocation is a group opening exercise in which the ensemble collectively summons the energy, imagery, and thematic associations of a single audience suggestion through a ritualistic spoken-word performance. The ensemble stands in a circle or cluster and riffs vocally on the suggestion, building a shared stream of imagery, associations, and emotional responses. The Invocation creates source material for subsequent scenes while unifying the ensemble's focus and establishing a collective creative state. Developed by Del Close, the Invocation is a signature opening for Harold performances and other long-form shows.
Check-In
Group sits or stands in a circle and each person speaks briefly about how they are arriving. No interruptions. Can be enhanced with imaginary catch between speakers.
How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). Three in the Middle. Retrieved March 17, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/exercises/three-in-the-middle
The Improv Archive. "Three in the Middle." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/exercises/three-in-the-middle.
The Improv Archive. "Three in the Middle." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/exercises/three-in-the-middle. Accessed March 17, 2026.
The Improv Archive is a systemically maintained repository. The archive itself acts as the corporate author.