Death in a Minute
Death in a Minute is a short-form game in which performers must create and complete a scene that ends with a character's death, all within sixty seconds. The time constraint forces economy and bold choices. The game rewards clear scene construction and the ability to establish stakes quickly enough for the death to land.
Worth Reading
See all books →
The Improv Handbook
The Ultimate Guide to Improvising in Comedy, Theatre, and Beyond
Tom Salinsky; Deborah Frances-White
Acting Through Improv
Improv Through Theatresports
Lynda Belt; Rebecca Stockley
Improvising Real Life
Personal Story in Playback Theatre
Jo Salas
Improvisations in Creative Drama
A Program of Workshops
Betty Keller
Truth in Comedy
The Manual of Improvisation
Charna Halpern; Del Close; Kim Howard Johnson
The Improv Illusionist
Using Object Work, Environment, and Physicality in Performance
David Raitt
Related Games
Death Con
Death Con is a short-form game in which performers play characters who must die onstage in increasingly creative, dramatic, or absurd ways. The audience or host may assign a specific method or style of death, and performers must commit fully to the dying with physical commitment, theatrical specificity, and genuine emotional investment. The game rewards physical bravery, comedic timing, and the willingness to commit to absurdity completely.
Crisis Situation
Crisis Situation is a scene game in which performers are placed in an extreme or emergency scenario that demands immediate action and high-stakes decision-making. The urgency of the premise drives fast-paced, committed play. The game rewards performers who raise the stakes rather than defusing the tension.
Famous Last Words
Famous Last Words is a short-form game in which performers deliver dramatic or comedic final statements in response to various scenarios provided by the audience or host. Each performer must produce a distinct, character-specific statement appropriate to the conditions of their fictional demise or farewell. The game rewards invention, quick character establishment, and the ability to find the specific, surprising last thing a particular person would say.
Chance of a Lifetime
Chance of a Lifetime is a short-form game in which performers are placed in a high-stakes scenario where everything rides on a single moment or decision. The built-in dramatic tension drives emotional commitment and heightened play. The game rewards performers who invest fully in the imagined consequences.
Oscar Winning Moment
Oscar Winning Moment is a short-form game in which performers are prompted to deliver their most dramatically intense, emotionally overwrought acting at a specific beat in the scene. The contrast between the ordinary scene context and the sudden burst of award-caliber drama produces the comedy. The game rewards fearless emotional commitment and a sense of theatrical timing.
Peas in a Pod
Peas in a Pod is a scene game in which two performers must play characters who are extremely similar in personality, speech patterns, and worldview. The comedy arises from the pair's unified front and the challenge of maintaining interest without conflict. The game teaches performers to find the game within agreement rather than relying on opposition.
How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). Death in a Minute. Retrieved March 17, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/games/death-in-a-minute
The Improv Archive. "Death in a Minute." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/games/death-in-a-minute.
The Improv Archive. "Death in a Minute." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/games/death-in-a-minute. Accessed March 17, 2026.
The Improv Archive is a systemically maintained repository. The archive itself acts as the corporate author.