This game is one of our favourites at the moment, an opportunity to tell three different stories simultaneously? Yes please.

A deceptively simple games that can make performers feel incredibly clever or gloriously lost.

Three performers each establish a different scene based on different audience suggestions.

Whenever the ref calls "Pan Left" or "Pan Right", everyone immediately shifts to the next scene and continues exactly where they left off.

The challenge is remembering multiple characters, relationships, and storylines while switching between them at high speed.

Three separate scenes are established.
Each performer plays a different character in each scene.
The referee periodically calls "Pan Left" or "Pan Right".
Performers instantly rotate to the next scene based on the direction called.
Each scene must continue immediately, however, you can skip forward in time if it makes sense or tickles you to do so.

Keep your characters distinct.

If all three characters sound the same, you'll quickly lose track of who's who.

Strong physicality helps enormously. A posture, voice, or signature gesture can instantly remind you which scene you've returned to.

Focus on the relationships and objectives within each scene.

Aim for diversity between the scenes too - play with genre, tone/energy, context

Look for moments to heighten.

As with every game where a Ref is in charge of the hoop, let the power go to your head.

Initially Refs are encouraged to let each scene establish their scene before panning

Keep the players guessing, as a ref you can play with direction and timing, vary both of those things.

Towards the end of the game build pace.

Look for resolutions for each scene, as each scene ends, don’t come back, it’ll be awkward.

If it looks like the scene isn’t going to resolve itself just end on a big ol’ laugh.

Scene One: A pirate captain discovers a stowaway.

Pan Right.

Scene Two: A wedding celebrant is in love with the father of the bride

Pan Right.

Scene Three: Two slices of bread make a toast.

Pan Left.

Suddenly you're back on the pirate ship, discovering that the stowaway is the captain’s great aunt…

What happens next?

Improv skills for this game: listening, commitment, storytelling, adaptability, memory, and most importantly failing joyfully.

If you’re in an improv troupe give Pan Left, Pan Right a crack.

Or if you would like to see Pan Left, Pan Right live come and see us live in Carlton on Friday Nights.

These Are The Games We Play - Pan Left, Pan Right