Mousetraps
Mousetraps is a slapstick performance game in which the stage is covered with spring-loaded mousetraps and two blindfolded performers must navigate the space barefoot while playing a scene. The anticipation of stepped-on traps and the performers' genuine reactions drive the comedy. The game is a spectacle piece that rewards physical bravery and the ability to stay in scene under duress.
Worth Reading
See all books →
The Improv Handbook
The Ultimate Guide to Improvising in Comedy, Theatre, and Beyond
Tom Salinsky; Deborah Frances-White

The Improvisation Game
Discovering the Secrets of Spontaneous Performance
Chris Johnston

Theatrical Improvisation
Short Form, Long Form, and Sketch-Based Improv
Jeanne Leep

Acting Through Improv
Improv Through Theatresports
Lynda Belt; Rebecca Stockley

Drama Games and Improvs
Games for the Classroom and Beyond
Justine Jones; Mary Ann Kelley

112 Acting Games
Gavin Levy
Related Games
Stunt Double
Stunt Double is a short-form game in which a performer has a designated stunt double who steps in whenever the scene requires physical action, danger, or emotional extremity. The main actor and their double must coordinate seamlessly, and the comedy comes from the abrupt transitions between them. The game rewards precise physical continuity and deadpan switching.
Commercial Capers
Commercial Capers is a performance game in which players create spontaneous advertisements for fictional products, combining exaggerated sales tactics with improvised scenarios. The game builds confidence in public presentation and rewards creative collaboration under time pressure. It works well as both a workshop exercise and an audience-facing performance piece.
Zapping
Zapping is a channel-surfing game in which a host or audience member clicks through imaginary television channels, and performers must instantly create a new show, commercial, or program with each click. The rapid switching rewards quick initiation and the ability to establish a distinct world in seconds.
Now You See Me
Now You See Me is a performance game in which one or more players must make themselves invisible to the scene while remaining onstage. The visible performers interact with the audience and each other while the hidden players find opportunities to affect the scene without being acknowledged. The game rewards stealth, timing, and creative physical choices.
How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). Mousetraps. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/games/mousetraps
The Improv Archive. "Mousetraps." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/games/mousetraps.
The Improv Archive. "Mousetraps." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/games/mousetraps. Accessed October 15, 2026.
The Improv Archive is a systemically maintained repository. The archive itself acts as the corporate author.