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Two suitcases full of bibles

A role play evening for seminars and camps

The following role play was sent in by Günter Lücking from the YMCA/YWCA Westbund (Germany). We have used this playful evening several times as a finishing party or a half-time party on camps with 40 – 100 participants.

You describe a fictive situation to the participants which is quite funny and is not meant to be taken seriously. (Example: We find ourselves in the year 1965 – at the time of the cold war- on a ferry between two enemy lands of which one has banned the import of bibles.)

At the beginning of the game each participant a role and some also receive a task. With a good imagination and the freedom for creative expression, all of the participants can fulfil their role, look for allies (whether allocated or chosen) and act together with others or alone. Everything which is fun is allowed. The evening meal or a disco can of course be integrated into the evening as well.

Aim of the game:

Putting yourself in the role of others, dressing up, playing, developing your imagination and fantasy, interaction, deciding the course of events and having fun!!!

At the end of the game (ship landing) you should have the most bibles possible. „Bibles“ can be attained by buying, as a gift, through theft, by threatening people or as a win in the casino etc. Some of the players have bibles from the start; each player receives vouchers / paper coins for bibles and other requirements (let yourself be surprised what they do with them).

The workers walk around the “ship” as “messengers of joy”, mix with the people and offer the chance of receiving secret information, gift cards, paper coins or tips on hiding places (also from others).

The joker guests bring a swing into the game and make the atmosphere. Further trading squares are dice games, quiz questions and other exercises in „going the whole hog“ style.

Course of events:

After the evening meal, the participants receive their roles (18.30) and then have time until 20.00 to prepare their location (room etc). It is important to motivate them and encourage them to use their imagination and of course, provide them with the relevant decorations. Think about a suitable location or inform the players of the location where their tasks will take place.

If there are not enough players for all of the roles, try to fill the key roles and make sure that any reductions in numbers/roles take place in all teams equally. The official opening happens at 20.00 when the captain welcomes the guests on board his ship, informs everyone of the rules for life on board and wishes everyone a comfortable and relaxing trip.

End of the game:

• The ship’s bell rings and all of the players meet up on the bridge.
• To ring in the end of the game, you can imitate the docking of the ship or danger due to fog. At this point, all of the members of staff pull on a life vest and jump overboard. The music (fog horn) sounds and all of the participants are sprayed with water from a spray bottle.
• Judging & awarding the winners

Decorations:

Sheets, clothes, jewellery and two suitcases full of bibles etc.

Currency:

We actually intended this game to be played without money but the players were so fixated on the trading aspect that we gave each player 50 paper coins to spend in any way they choose.

Roles:

At the beginning of the preparation phase all of the participants receive their roles personally handed over in confidence. It is also explained that the general tasks relating to their roles should be performed as often as possible (e.g. teacher must look after the children or a masseuse must massage people) and that they should be aware of these roles at all times. Other additional tasks can also be agreed, e.g. -> all female guests must go to the hairdressers at least once during the game.

Each participant tries to keep his role as secret as possible while trying to find out as much as possible about the others and the game.

Locations:

It is helpful to think of a location for each “legal” group of participants where they can practice their jobs or tasks.

Ship locations in the club house (example)

• Bridge (Lower foyer)
• Hall with shops and info desk (Lower foyer)
• Galley (Downstairs tea kitchen)
• Ballroom with bar and casino (Club room)
• Karaoke bar (Club room)
• Bar (Club room)
• Casino (Club room)
• Library (Living room)
• Hairdressers/ladies toilet (Front room or corridor)
• Cosmetic and nail studio (Large meeting room)
• Massage studio (Large meeting room)
• Children’s play group (Large meeting room)
• Jewellery boutique (In front of the meeting room)
• Chapel (Corner over the meeting room)
• Cinema (Small meeting room)
• Internet cafe (Computer room)
• Engine room (Skittles room/play room )
• G-room (Boys toilets)
• Pool (Grounds)
• Deck (Grounds)

Descriptions of the roles:

0. Joyful messengers (see above)

1. Ships personnel / Crew

• 1.1. Captain Black:

  You are the manager of the ship. You are clued up about the smugglers on board. You hunt out and penalise the villains and hide “nice” guests and those who can be convinced.

• 1.2. Communications officer Schulze:

  You are like a messenger/postman between the bridge and information desk etc.

• 1.3. Betillino:

  You are the first officer and you will receive a bible from an attractive lady. You must hide this away from the bridge.

• 1.4. Leonardo:

  You are the second officer and belong (secretly) to the smugglers. You smuggle bibles onto the bridge.

  Smugglers Secret signal: a “B” formed with both hands.

• 1.5. Ole the machinist I

  You are Ole the machinist I and one of the smugglers. You can help lead the captain away from the bridge. You keep an eye on the bibles.

  Smugglers Secret signal: a “B” formed with both hands.

2. Service personnel

• 2.1. Info desk staff member, Toni
• 2.2. Maid / Info desk staff member, Hanna
• 2.3. Kindergarden teacher, Schaga
• 2.4. Kindergarden teacher, Silke
• 2.5. Jewellery shop owner, Hanni
• 2.6. Beautician, Sieglinde
• 2.7. Beautician, Freddy
• 2.8. Masseuse Salome : You run the massage salon and you are a hidden member » of the band of smugglers“. You hand over the bibles one at a time to Waldi – the chief smuggler“.
  Smugglers Secret signal: a “B” formed with both hands.
• 2.9. Masseur Leo
• 2.10. Hairdresser, Karl
• 2.11. Hairdresser, Britta
• 2.12. Cook, Kolli
• 2.13. Cook & waitress, Sandra, Lalle
• 2.14. Library staff (members of staff): You are a library worker and you guard the box of bibles. You are prepared to sell things for cash e.g. bibles, special jobs, weapons ....

3. Artists

• 3.1. Simbalda the magician

  You present fantastic magic tricks.

• 3.2. Simbaldina the female magician

  You present fantastic magic tricks.

• 3.3. Methusalem the croupier

  You are a croupier and a « hidden » member of the Sandez family. You hide the bibles which you get at the roulette table.

  Sandez family Secret signal: a large „F“ on the left hand

• 3.4. Lucky the croupier

  You are a croupier and play “Black Jack“, Roulette or dice games with the guests in the casino.

• 3.5. Karl the barkeeper

  You are Karl the barkeeper, serve drinks and pay the performing musicians in bible vouchers,
  You are secretive and know where drugs are to be found.

• 3.6. Barkeeper’s assistant

  You are Charlotte, the barkeeper’s assistant. You serve drinks and keep the bar tidy.

• 3.7. Cinema owner Sebastian

  You are Sebastian, a cinema owner & host.

• 3.8. Usher Erwin

  You are Erwin; you collect the tickets in the cinema.

• 3.9. Bonifazius the priest

  You are Bonifazius the priest and sit in the chapel; you present everyone who marries with a bible; Apart from that, you earn money for weddings / engagements / forgiving sins...

4. Orchestra / Musicians / DJ

• 4.1. Franz, Orchestra

  You are a member of the orchestra. You must get hold of musical instruments, practice a piece of music with the others and play it several times in the ballroom. In the breaks, you invite people to the disco / karaoke.

• 4.2. Susanne, orchestra

  You are a member of the orchestra. You must get hold of musical instruments, practice a piece of music with the others and play it several times in the ballroom. In the breaks, you invite people to the disco / karaoke.

• 4.3. Ferdinand, orchestra

  You are a member of the orchestra. You must get hold of musical instruments, practice a piece of music with the others and play it several times in the ballroom. In the breaks, you invite people to the disco / karaoke.

• 4.4. Sabine, orchestra

  You are a member of the orchestra. You must get hold of musical instruments, practice a piece of music with the others and play it several times in the ballroom. In the breaks, you invite people to the disco / karaoke.

5. Red light district

• 5.1. Karambo - Boss of the dealers & pimps

  You are Karambo, the boss of the dealers and pimps. You will be provoked into fights in the bar and you must make sure that your girls can work undisturbed. You have two prostitutes under your command.

  The sign of a prostitute is a red heart on the left cheek. At the beginning you invite to drink a coffee with you and get to know them. They can hide your stuff.

  You will find your deals with the secret sign: inconspicuous rubbing of the nose.

• 5.2. Tusnelda the prostitute

  You are a prostitute and work for Karambo. Your sign is a red heart on the left cheek. You will be invited to coffee with Karambo at the beginning and then get to know him. After every job you must go to the masseur and to the priest.

  Secret sign: inconspicuous rubbing of the nose + a red heart on the left cheek.

• 5.3. Prostitute Lola

  You are a prostitute and work for Karambo. Your sign is a red heart on the left cheek. You will be invited to coffee with Karambo at the beginning and then get to know him. After every job you must go to the masseur and to the priest. You ask him for bibles which you distribute inconspicuously and disinterestedly. Secret sign: inconspicuous rubbing of the nose + a red heart on the left cheek.

• 5.4. Drug dealer 1 : Bolli

  You are Bolli the drug dealer and you must sell your stuff. You will take anything to get rid of your stuff.

  Secret sign: inconspicuous rubbing of the nose.

• 5.5. Drug dealer 2 : Ztenka,

  You are a dealer & prostitute You are a drug dealer and will take any payment to get rid of your stuff.

  Secret sign: inconspicuous rubbing of the nose + a red heart on the left cheek.

  You receive 1 kilo of stuff which you guard and only tell your boss about. Make sure that you work inconspicuously so that no one notices your tricks – find your allies by using the secret signal.

  Ztenka, you are a prostitute as well as a dealer and work for Karambo.

  Your secret signal is a red heart on the left cheek. You will be invited to coffee with Karambo at the beginning and then get to know him. After every job you must go to the masseur and to the priest. You ask him for bibles which you distribute inconspicuously and disinterestedly.

6. The Sandez family (private smugglers)

• 6.1. Family boss "Berti Sandez".

  You must find the members of your large family and motivate them to smuggle bibles, which your mother hands out one at a time upon your command. You take every precaution possible to keep your smuggling a secret. You bring every smuggled bible to the croupier in the casino one at a time and he hides them for you.

  Secret signal: A large „F“ on the left hand

• 6.2. "Sandra" – Sandez family“

  You are Sandra, Berti’s wife and you always have problems with you mother-in-law.

  Secret signal: A large „F“ on the left hand.

• 6.3. "Mama Sandez "

  Your son means everything to you and you want him to come home for his evening meal and tell him constantly that his father and grandfather were much better than him. His wife Sandra is a thorn in your side. You receive 1 box of bibles which you hide and guard and only hand out one at a time when Berti says so. More bibles are available from the library.

  Secret signal: A large „F“ on the left hand.

• 6.4. „Georg“ Sandez

  You want give the bibles away which your father gives you but you must make sure that you work inconspicuously so that no one notices your tricks.

  Secret signal: A large „F“ on the left hand.

• 6.5. Bolli Sandez

  You must smuggle bibles for your family which you receive from the boss. Make sure that you work inconspicuously. Once you have flirted with 10 women you have enough “points” to receive the Casanova bible.

  Secret signal: A large „F“ on the left hand.

• 6.7. Mother of the twins – Klara Sandez-Müller

  Play with your children in the kindergarten

  Secret signal: pigtails

  Secret signal: A large „F“ on the left hand.

• 6.8. Father of the twins – Leo Sandez-Müller

  Play with your children in the kindergarten

  Secret signal: pigtails

  Secret signal: A large „F“ on the left hand.

• 6.9. Twin Finja Sandez-Müller

  You are one of the little twin girls. Once you have found each other the game leader will explain the secrets of the game to you; you will get a few clues as to where the bonus envelopes are. You will do anything for sweets. You love the „karaoke“ and sing with your sister the whole time.

  Secret signal: pigtails

  Secret signal: A large „F“ on the left hand.

• 6.10. Twin Fonja Sandez-Müller

  You are one of the little twin girls. Once you have found each other the game leader will explain the secrets of the game to you; you will get a few clues as to where the bonus envelopes are. You will do anything for sweets. You love the „karaoke“ and sing with your sister the whole time.

  Secret signal: pigtails

  Secret signal: A large „F“ on the left hand.

7. Business people (professional smugglers)

• 7.1. Waldi, a professional bible smuggler

  You, boss of the smugglers, are a member of a royal family; you want to change the ship’s course; the second officer will do this for you alongside a few smugglers which you have infiltrated into the ship’s crew. You must find your smuggler crew, stick together and let the bibles, which you get from the massage salon, be smuggled. Take care to work inconspicuously. You bring the bibles one at a time to the second officer, he hides them for you. More bibles are available in the library.

  Secret signal: making a „B“ with the fingers on both hands.

• 7.2. Moni, a beggar & professional bible smuggler

  Scrounge from people and smuggle the bibles which you get from the boss. Make sure that you work inconspicuously

  Secret signal: making a „B“ with the fingers on both hands.

• 7.3. Luh, a professional bible smuggler

  You must smuggle the bibles which you get from the boss. Make sure that you work inconspicuously.

  Secret signal: making a „B“ with the fingers on both hands.

• 7.4. Leo, a professional bible smuggler Nr. 1

  You must smuggle the bibles which you get from the boss. Make sure that you work inconspicuously.

  Secret signal: making a „B“ with the fingers on both hands.

• 7.5. = 1.4. Leonardo, professional bible smuggler

  You work as the second officer on the bridge; you must try to manoeuvre the other members of the crew away from the bridge so that you can secretly change the ship’s course. The other smugglers will help you. You must hide the bibles, which you receive one at a time from the other smugglers, somewhere on the bridge. Once this has been achieved you must find the leader of the smugglers and call the „execution“. The bridge is then closed.

  Secret signal: making a „B“ with the fingers on both hands.

• 7.6. Holzmann, businessman and assistant smuggler

  You assist the smugglers and must try to get the captain to leave the bridge; you might want to start a fight or start a fire in the engine room for example.

  Secret signal: making a „B“ with the fingers on both hands.

• 7.7. Möhlmann, businessman and assistant smuggler

  You assist the smugglers and must try to get the captain to leave the bridge; you might want to start a fight or start a fire in the engine room for example.

  Secret signal: making a „B“ with the fingers on both hands.

• 7.8. Katharina, smuggler Nr. 1

  You must smuggle the bibles which you get from the boss. Make sure that you work inconspicuously. You also fancy the first officer and you must try to seduce him to make him leave the bridge. You give him a valuable artistic bible as a reward.

  Secret signal: making a „B“ with the fingers on both hands.

• 7.9. Smeralda, a smuggler

  You must smuggle the bibles which you get from the boss. Make sure that you work inconspicuously.

  Secret signal: making a „B“ with the fingers on both hands.

8. Investigators

Secret signal: inconspicuous scratching of the sock

Secret words: cheeky – stupid & incompetent

• 8.1. Investigation boss: "Francesco Meier“

  You are the boss of the investigators and wear a pair of sunglasses. You must find your crew (-Secret signal: inconspicuous scratching of the sock) and encourage them with all of your might to work with you. You try to prevent the bible trade, theft, prostitution, extortion and drugs. Bonus points are awarded for each criminal you successfully lock away. Any bibles you obtain are brought to your secret room „men’s toilets“ and guarded.

  Secret signal: inconspicuous scratching of the sock

  Secret words: cheeky – stupid & incompetent

• 8.2. Investigator 1: Britta

  You are Britta, Francesco’s girlfriend. You like spending money and are jealous as soon as another woman comes near Francesco. You are an investigator. You must find your crew

  (-Secret signal: inconspicuous scratching of the sock) and encourage them with all of your might to work with you. You try to prevent the bible trade, theft, prostitution, extortion and drugs. Bonus points are awarded for each criminal you successfully lock away. You hand over any bibles you obtain to Francesco the boss.

  Secret signal: inconspicuous scratching of the sock

  Secret words: cheeky – stupid & incompetent

• 8.3. Investigator 2: Angie the rose seller

  You are Angie and you are a stowaway on the ship but work as a rose seller. You are Francesco’s lover. You try to win your lover over so that he leaves his girlfriend and you like to perform a few tasks for the investigators. You must find Francesco (someone with the Secret signal: inconspicuous scratching of the sock).

  Secret signal: inconspicuous scratching of the sock

  Secret words: cheeky – stupid & incompetent. You are a rose seller and are very penetrating in getting the passengers to buy a rose.

• 8.4. Investigator 3 : Bernd

  You are an investigator. You must find your crew (-Secret signal: inconspicuous scratching of the sock) and encourage them with all of your might to work with you. You try to prevent the bible trade, theft, prostitution, extortion and drugs. Bonus points are awarded for each criminal you successfully lock away. You hand over any bibles you obtain to Francesco the boss.

  Secret signal: inconspicuous scratching of the sock

  Secret words: cheeky – stupid & incompetent

• 8.5. Investigator 4 : Waldesso

  You are an investigator. You must find your crew (-Secret signal: inconspicuous scratching of the sock) and encourage them with all of your might to work with you. You try to prevent the bible trade, theft, prostitution, extortion and drugs. Bonus points are awarded for each criminal you successfully lock away. You hand over any bibles you obtain to Francesco the boss.

  Secret signal: inconspicuous scratching of the sock

  Secret words: cheeky – stupid & incompetent

• 8.6. Newlyweds on honeymoon – Husband : Bolli

  You are newly married, happy and an investigator. You must find your wife and the investigation crew. You try to prevent the bible trade, theft, prostitution, extortion and drugs.

  Secret signal: inconspicuous scratching of the sock

  Secret words: cheeky – stupid & incompetent As an undercover pair, you try prevent smuggling together with the captain.

• 8.7. Newlyweds on honeymoon – wife: Mandy

  You are newly married, happy and an investigator. You must find your husband and the investigation crew. You try to prevent the bible trade, theft, prostitution, extortion and drugs.

  Secret signal: inconspicuous scratching of the sock

  Secret words: cheeky – stupid & incompetent As an undercover pair, you try prevent smuggling together with the captain.

9. Self help group – the notorious readers

• 9.1. Notorious reader - Georg

  You are a member of the self help group “the notorious readers“. Find your fellow readers. You make a group meeting room in the ballroom. You must collect up 10 banned books without your therapist noticing. You must find each other first of all then collect the special books from the beauty salon, hairdressing salon, the casino, the engine room and the bar.

  Secret signal: A book under the left arm.

• 9.2. Notorious reader - Angie

  You are a member of the self help group “the notorious readers“. Find your fellow readers. You make a group meeting room in the ballroom. You must collect up 10 banned books without your therapist noticing. You must find each other first of all then collect the special books from the beauty salon, hairdressing salon, the casino, the engine room and the bar.

  Secret signal: A book under the left arm.

• 9.3. Notorious reader - Silke

  You are a member of the self help group “the notorious readers“. Find your fellow readers. You make a group meeting room in the ballroom. You must collect up 10 banned books without your therapist noticing. You must find each other first of all then collect the special books from the beauty salon, hairdressing salon, the casino, the engine room and the bar.

  Secret signal: A book under the left arm.

• 9.4. Notorious reader, Luh

  You are a member of the self help group “the notorious readers“. Find your fellow readers. You make a group meeting room in the ballroom. You must collect up 10 banned books without your therapist noticing. You must find each other first of all then collect the special books from the beauty salon, hairdressing salon, the casino, the engine room and the bar.

  Secret signal: A book under the left arm.

• 9.5. Therapist to the notorious readers - Schaga

  You are the therapist helping the “notorious readers“. Find your patients. You make a group meeting room in the ball room for the “therapy circle“. You must try to get your patients to burn their books (hand them over in the engine room for burning).

  Secret signal: A book under the left arm.

Author and developer: Günter Lücking

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