The ability to improvise lines and actions without a script is key to helping an actor learn to think on her feet and respond believably to unexpected situations. Spy dramas provide unpredictable situations and challenge children to respond as the character would, in tone, words, actions and body language. Divide the class into two teams and send one team out of the room. The other team selects a basic storyline in a spy drama such as, "Jackie Chan scales a wall and breaks into the German embassy and steals top secret documents from the ambassador's desk." They should not plan too many details but just rough in a starting place. Bring the second team back to watch the silent drama unfold. The first team must act out the situation they decided on and each member adds to the story with their own improvised actions. For instance, maybe one child decides to be the security guard or ambassador who discovers the spy rifling through his desk. Others could be the thugs who chase him and another the getaway assistant. It is important that each person participate and add her own improvised facial expressions and actions to further the suspense and the plot. Depending on the age and skill of your group, you may choose to let them speak.
Another version of spy drama improv is to send one team out and give the remaining team a scenario, such as, "The hero barely escapes the exploding building but is still being chased by his enemies' thugs on motorcycles." They must position themselves in a freeze frame that depicts the situation. Invite the other team back in to inspect the scene and try to guess what is going on.
A twist on the classic campfire story can loosen up children's imaginations and ability to think quickly, as is necessary on the stage when things don't go as planned. Tell the children they are each a character in this mystery. You can start the story or select a child to create a beginning scenario such as, "Mark was nearly sound asleep and did not notice a shadow pass over his window. But suddenly he was wide wake because...." "Mark" starts the story and brings at least one other person into the story who responds as her character and continues the story. Each new character must bring at least one other person into the story until everyone has a part and the story is complete with mystery and solution.
Actors need to be observant of others' dress, speech style and mannerisms in order to credibly recreate them on stage. A spy is often the master of many disguises. Choose one person as the "quick change artist" to go backstage and change shoes, put on a hat, a different shirt, pants or jacket or some other small change. Invite her to come back into the circle and let everyone inspect her appearance and decide what has changed. The person who guesses correctly gets to be the next quick changer.
Just as a spy must be always on her guard and watching out for the villains to save the world, the child who plays the spy in this game must stop the murders before the murderer wipes out the whole group. Secretly designate one person as the murderer. The murderer winks at people at random intervals. Anyone who receives a wink must lie down on her back as if dead. The spy tries to catch the murderer in the act and call out, "I arrest (name) in the name of the law!" If he is correct, the killing spree is over and the group is saved. If not, play continues until the murderer is caught or runs out of victims.
Being able to tell when someone is telling the truth and when she is lying is an important skill for every spy. Each person in the group takes turns telling two true things and one lie about himself. Watch the speaker's face carefully for clues as to whether she is telling the truth or lying about each statement. Look for clues such as looking away when she lies. Guess which two things are true and which is false.