Portkey Storytelling Game
- Apr 1
- 2 min read
What This Game Teaches
This exercise trains participants to use objects, prompts, or moments as “portals” into meaningful stories, building flexibility and creativity in storytelling.
Group Size
Individuals, pairs, or small groups
Time
10–20 minutes
Energy Level
Medium
How to Play
Introduce a random object, word, or prompt (this is the “portkey”).
Participants say “that object takes me to...” and must use that prompt as the entry point into a story.
The story should be true, and it must connect clearly back to the prompt.
When the story is complete, the teller “finds” another object from the mental image they have of the last memory they shared. So they select something else that was there (another object) and give it to the next person.
Variations
Use physical objects in the room
Assign different prompts to each participant
Have participants swap prompts midway through storytelling
Why It Works
Great storytellers can find meaning anywhere.
This exercise builds the ability to take an ordinary object or idea and connect it to a larger narrative. It strengthens creativity while reinforcing structure and relevance.
In real-world storytelling, this is critical. Whether it’s a slide in a presentation or a question in an interview, you need to turn prompts into stories quickly and effectively.
Pro Tips
Encourage participants to commit fully to their connection, even if it feels unexpected
Remind them to make the link clear to the audience
Push for specificity in how the prompt appears in the story
Avoid organic objects (mother, dog, etc) and concepts (justice, philosophy). Use common, tangible objects.
This is storytelling, not therapy. If you are given an object with a troubling memory associated, simply ask for another object.
Origins / References
-Inspired by the Portkey concept from the Harry Potter series and adapted for improv storytelling.
-The Portkey improv game came to me from Rebecca Stockley. She got it from Matt Smith (Seattle) who used to call it “Takes me to”. Before that it was called Talisman.
Try This In Real Life
Practice turning everyday objects or prompts into stories—you’ll be more prepared for interviews, presentations, and spontaneous speaking moments.
If you want to become more confident thinking on your feet, learn more about storytelling workshops at Your Story, Well Told.
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