The Improv Archive

Framing

The technique of establishing context, relationships, and expectations at the top of a scene. Effective framing gives the audience the information they need to understand who the characters are, where they are, and what their relationship is, allowing the unusual behavior or game to land with greater impact.

Mentioned In

Getting to Yes And17 mentionsThe Routledge Companion to Improvisation in Organizations13 mentionsImprovising Cinema8 mentionsMask Improvisation for Actor Training and Performance6 mentionsThe Upright Citizens Brigade Comedy Improvisation Manual6 mentionsComedy and Distinction5 mentionsImprovisation for the Theater3 mentionsThe Applied Improvisation Mindset3 mentionsWhose Improv Is It Anyway?3 mentionsCreating Improvised Theatre2 mentionsFunny on Purpose2 mentionsLong Form Improvisation and American Comedy2 mentionsTheatrical Improvisation, Consciousness, and Cognition2 mentionsDevising Performance1 mention

Further Reading

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Cover of Comedy and Distinction

Comedy and Distinction

The Cultural Currency of a 'Good' Sense of Humour

Sam Friedman

Cover of Devising Performance

Devising Performance

A Critical History

Deirdre Heddon; Jane Milling

Cover of The Routledge Companion to Improvisation in Organizations

The Routledge Companion to Improvisation in Organizations

Miguel Pina e Cunha; Dusya Vera; António Cunha Meneses

Cover of Getting to Yes And

Getting to Yes And

The Art of Business Improv

Bob Kulhan; Chuck Crisafulli

Cover of Improvisation for the Theater

Improvisation for the Theater

A Handbook of Teaching and Directing Techniques

Viola Spolin

Cover of Mask Improvisation for Actor Training and Performance

Mask Improvisation for Actor Training and Performance

the compelling image

Sears A. Eldredge

How to Reference This Page

APA

The Improv Archive. (2026). Framing. Retrieved March 17, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/learn-improv/concepts/framing

Chicago

The Improv Archive. "Framing." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/learn-improv/concepts/framing.

MLA

The Improv Archive. "Framing." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/learn-improv/concepts/framing. Accessed March 17, 2026.

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