Short-form games

Questions Only

A scene in which every single line must be a question. Anything else eliminates the player.

Short-form games · 2 at a time, 4 or more in rotation players · 4–6 minutes

Also known as: Questions

How to run it

1. Take a location suggestion from the audience.
2. Two players begin a scene in which every line is a question.
3. A statement, a hesitation, a rhetorical dodge or a non sequitur eliminates that player.
4. The eliminated player is replaced immediately by the next in line, who continues the same scene.
5. Run for a few minutes and end on a strong elimination.

What it teaches

That a question can carry information if it is specific enough — the difference between "what?" and "why did you bring your mother's ashes to my wedding?"

Coaching notes

Judge harshly on rhetorical questions used as statements, but reward questions that establish relationship and stakes. Played well it is a scene; played badly it is a quiz.

Related reading: listening and the second line, short form.

See it played

We do not link individual videos we have not watched end to end, so this is a search rather than a recommendation: Questions Only on YouTube. Quality varies enormously — prefer recordings from working theatres over tutorial channels.