Magic Toolbox

What is the Magic Toolbox?

A Theatre Games Facilitator and Players only need an open space. However, it can be helpful to have a Magic Toolbox that stores items that make the games easier to coordinate. It’s usually a small, colorful box or bag. Check each theatre game in advance to see if specific equipment is needed (e.g., noteboard, cards).

A play Director’s Magic Toolbox may be a sturdy physical box that can be opened and sat or stood on. However, other than the Toolbox, set pieces and props are still mimed and the players’ memory must maintain the size, shape, and place of each object. The audience has imagined the door, for example, and will remember and notice if it moved.

Tool #1: Open Space

A space where a loud noise is possible. Physical activities and theatre games involve a wide range of movement. The only tool you must have is an open space large enough for all players to practice an activity at the same time.

It is possible to involve participants in creating that space each session as part of their Warmup

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Helpful but not necessary:

• A calm space helps players observe, listen, and keep focus.
• Having objects, posters, or windows around enriches the physical context.
• Perhaps involve participants in creating that space each session. This can be a ritualized improvisation to move tables, chairs, and other obstructions — similar to sweeping the floor of an exercise or performance area.

For online sessions, the open physical space needs to be created in each person’s own space.

Loud noises can occur in this space. Loud noises could include all players vocalizing an exercise at the same time (e.g., articulation).

It may be useful to have a source for music to be played (including charging equipment) and the music that accompanies any movement investigation.

Other than this open space — which can move even from room to room — a Magic Toolbox may exist only in player mime and memory.

Size of a Physical Magic Toolbox

The size depends on the choice of contents. If sturdy, it can be used for sitting or standing. Inside may be a few fabric pieces, different sizes and colors.

• Can be a basket or box with a lid and handles
• Is portable to different spaces
• Can be decorated or not

Magic Toolbox Possible Contents

Don’t Put In: costume items like hats, material pieces, or sharp objects.

Music Making:

• A source for recorded music (may be desired)
• A small drum
• A flute and/or a whistle
• Sticks:
  • Lummi sticks are all smooth, and at least 3/4″ thick
  • Claves: two wooden sticks that produce a sharp, ringing sound when struck together

Methods for Partner Choosing:

A deck of standard playing cards offers multiple opportunities for random selection of partners.

• Standard deck:
  • Each player drawing a single card from a shuffled deck divides a group immediately into four groups — hearts, spades, clubs, or diamonds.
  • For dividing into small groups, the Facilitator pre-selects the necessary number of cards and shuffles the deck thoroughly. Each player draws the top card, waits until all have a card, then each player finds a player or players with a matching number to partner.
    • Quartets are doubled pairs.
    • Trios need the facilitator to put in only three cards of the same choice (3 queens, 3 tens, for example) before shuffling.

Variation: Colors deck

• Prepare a stack of squares of colored thin cardboard of different colors — yellow, green, red, blue — to use for making groups, choosing responses, or any necessary division of the large group into smaller ones.

Follow-up Possibilities

1. Each Player may develop a private, mental or physical, Magic Toolbox whose contents are known only to them.
2. Facilitate a Theatre Game of being the objects inside the Magic Toolbox.