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Actors play a tarot reading with made-up cards: an audience member states a problem, the medium interprets the drawn card, and three 'ghosts' deliver hints visible only to the medium. Good for training support, quick storytelling, and clear game rules when working with an audience.

Players

4–8

Difficulty

Beginner

Audience on stage

Yes

Full description

Setup and Launch

Ask audience members to write names of non-existent tarot cards on slips of paper in advance and collect them into a 'deck' (a hat, a bowl). Explain the roles: one medium and three ghosts, visible and audible only to the medium. A volunteer from the audience is invited on stage with an everyday or neutral problem.

Set the tone: a warm 'playful reading', with the goal of supporting the audience member with a fun and inspiring interpretation. Clarify safety: avoid personal topics, diagnoses, or anything that could cause offense.

Play

The host watches the pace and clarity: ghosts give clear, readable signals but do not seize initiative; only the medium 'translates' them for the audience.

  1. The audience member states their question in 1–2 sentences; the medium briefly paraphrases it as confirmation so everyone understands the problem the same way.
  2. The medium draws one slip from the 'deck' and reads the card name aloud. If needed, adds a brief image based on the name.
  3. Beginning of the reading: the ghosts give hints through gestures, spatial positioning, sounds, or 'frozen pictures'. They do not address the audience member or other actors directly — their signals exist only for the medium.
  4. Development: the medium weaves the ghosts' offers into a coherent narrative, periodically 'translating' what they see into words and connecting it to the audience member's question. From the images, an idea for a solution or advice gradually takes shape.
  5. Closing: the medium summarizes the reading with one or two clear recommendations and thanks the audience member. The host calls a stop/blackout and, if desired, swaps the roles for the next round.

One 'reading' typically takes 3–5 minutes. Maintain lightness and clarity of images: one vivid signal is better than several vague ones.

Key rules

  • Clearly state the visibility rule: only the medium sees the ghosts; all other actors and the audience member do not react to them — this preserves the format's magic.

  • Ask the ghosts to give specific, concise signals one at a time, so as not to overwhelm the medium and not turn the scene into chaos.

  • Remind the medium to 'translate' each received signal aloud into meaning for the audience and a connection to the audience member's question — this keeps the story clear.

  • Filter topics: if the question is too personal or unsafe, rephrase it or take a new one — take care of the volunteer.

  • Keep the timing short and warm: better to end on a clear, kind piece of advice than to drag on and lose focus.

Context

🧺 Cart