RUEN

Broken phone

A stage chain game: a Russian text is passed through three speakers of different languages using speech and gestures, and the final actor says in Russian what they understood. Suitable for training listening, memory, and expressiveness in multilingual ensembles and as a comedic number in a show.

Players

4–8

Difficulty

Beginner

Props

Yes

Full description

Setup and Launch

Gather a quartet of actors with different native languages. Three of them put on headphones with music; one remains without headphones. A participant from another team reads a short story aloud in Russian to the first actor (without headphones); the others listen to music and must not overhear.

Explain the order: actor 1 retells what they heard to actor 2 in their native language, actor 2 retells to actor 3 in their native language, actor 3 retells to actor 4 in their native language. At the end actor 4 tells in Russian what they understood. Gestures and facial expressions are allowed and encouraged.

Play

  1. Original story. Another participant clearly reads the Russian text to the first actor. The other three are in headphones with music, so they cannot hear the original.

  2. First transfer. The second actor removes their headphones. The first retells the story to them in their native language, using gestures and facial expressions.

  3. Second transfer. The third actor removes their headphones. The second retells what they heard in their native language, maintaining the general meaning and physical expressiveness.

  4. Third transfer. The fourth (Russian-speaking) actor removes their headphones. The third retells the story in their native language, using gestures.

  5. Finale. The fourth actor tells in Russian what they understood from the chain. Bow, and if desired, a short comparison with the original text for the audience.

Key rules

  • Headphones: three actors have music playing at all times; remove them only for the current speaker and listener to prevent eavesdropping.

  • Language: each person speaks strictly in their own native language; no Russian hints, proper nouns, or "translations" during the process.

  • Pace: limit each retelling by time (20-40 seconds) so the story doesn't sprawl and dynamics are maintained.

  • Gestures: large and clear gestures, facial expressions, and pantomime are welcome, but not drawing letters or mouthing Russian words.

  • Text: the reader chooses a short and vivid Russian story and reads it clearly; avoid narrow technical terms to avoid breaking the chain.

Context

🧺 Cart