HOW IT WORKS
TERMS
Words you’ll hear a lot.
PLAYER SURFACE
The designated playing area. Players must perform their scene on the player surface unless otherwise stated.
CAUCUS
A brief team huddle to share ideas and prepare for a scene.
PUCK FLIP
IRL’s version of a coin toss. Used to determine which team gets the choice.
MATCH
The full competition between two teams, made up of several scenes.
SCENE
A performance created on the spot, inspired by a mix of the assigned scene rules (below).
SCENE RULES
NUMBER OF PLAYERS
How many players must be present in the scene.
UNLIMITED
Any number of players can take part in the scene – the team decides.
SPECIFIC NUMBER
Exactly the announced number of players must take part in the scene.
ALL
Every player on the team must take part in the scene.
SCENE CARDS
How each team interacts with each other during the scene.
COMPARED
Teams perform their interpretation of the scene one at at time. A puck flip decides who goes first.
MIXED
Both teams must collaborate to perform the scene together.
SHEEP
A four-player scene where each performer has their own theme. Players enter one at time every 30 seconds, shifting the scene toward the newest player’s theme, then exit in reverse order. The performer whose theme is active leads the scene.
CATEGORIES
The format of the scene.
FREESTYLE
No restrictions. Go wild!
REPETITION
When the ref blows the whistle, the player must change what they said or did.
DÉJÀ VU
Each scene is repeated a specified number of times, each within a different genre.
MIMED
Players may not make any noise, including speaking or sound effects.
MUSICAL
No speaking allowed – the scene must come through in interpretative actions driven by the music accompanying the scene.
SINGING
All words in the scene must be 🎵suuuuuuuung🎵.
RHYMING
Sentence ends must rhyme with the preceding sentence end.
VOICE BOX
A player inside the player surface performs the actions while a player outside the player surface must speak for them.
WITHOUT ARMS
The player is not permitted to use their arms during the scene. Another player will stand behind them to be their arms for the duration of that scene.
WITHOUT TALKING
Players may not use words, but can – and should! – use sound effects.
WITHOUT BORDERS
No restrictions aside from following the scene card. Players may leave the playing surface.
PENALTIES
Given by the referees. One point lost in a match.
NO RESPECT
Not following the given scene rules.
OUT OF BOUNDS
Leaving the playing surface before the scene ends.
TALKING ON THE BENCH
Talking on the bench outside the allotted 30-second caucus, including during another team’s scene.
RUDE
Treating another player, audience member, referee, or anyone else disrespectfully.
CLICHÉ
Copying a well-known movie, show, or book without putting your unique spin on it. Or copying another team’s idea from any previous scene.
