🤸Stunt Doubles

Setup and Launch

Two players start a scene. The remaining players wait offstage as potential stunt doubles. Whenever a character is about to do something dangerous, physically demanding, or just awkward, a double steps in to perform the action — then the original player resumes the role. The game builds coordination, bold-but-safe physicality, and partner awareness.

Before you begin, establish safety rules: all stunts are simulated — no hard contact, controlled speed, clear personal boundaries. Agree on a replacement signal. In a show setting, the host typically calls "Stunt doubles!" In a workshop, players can self-signal with the word "Double!" or a light touch-in. After each stunt, the scene freezes briefly so the original player can cleanly take back the role.

Flow

1. Scene foundation. The two lead players quickly establish a clear context, relationship, and stakes. The scene should feel grounded — mundane situations work great because they make the physical escalation funnier. A father and son making tea, coworkers at a copy machine, a couple assembling furniture — the more ordinary the setup, the more the stunts pop.

2. Double enters. When a physical action is building — it doesn't have to be big — the signal is given. The double steps in immediately, takes the character's exact position, and picks up the action without breaking the scene's logic or status dynamics. No talking from the doubles: their job is pure physicality.

3. Executing the stunt. The double performs the action expressively and safely. A classic approach is slow motion — exaggerated facial reactions, drawn-out sound effects, every micro-movement stretched for comedy. Use the illusion of contact rather than real force. Support your partner physically and with eye contact. Keep the stunt short and clear: get in, nail the moment, get out.

4. Handing the role back. When the stunt is done — instant freeze. The original player smoothly "inherits" the same posture and emotional state, then picks up the dialogue from whatever situation the doubles left them in. This is where half the comedy lives: the lead player must justify the aftermath ("Oh my gosh, your eye is bleeding!") without having seen what happened. The coach watches to ensure the handoff is clean and free of attention-grabbing.

5. Pace and rotation. Keep momentum: avoid over-using the swap so the story stays intact. Remind players of their character goals when needed — the scene should escalate naturally, not become a stunt showcase. In subsequent rounds, rotate leads and doubles so everyone practices both roles.