Tension of Anticipation

This is the fourth and final bite in the Raising Tension in the Drama series.  It deals with the tension that we can create by building anticipation.  I’m writing this on the way back from a training day at a school in Middlesbrough.  One of the ideas we looked at during the day is how to bring students into the room for a drama session and enhance the experience for them. 

By keeping students waiting outside the room while you explain what you want them to do when they go in, you build anticipation by the delay.  This is especially effective if they can hear something such as a drum beat or sound effects from within.

If you also say things like: “Now in a few minutes you are going to be able to go into the room ….” and then you go on to explain what you need them to do when they get in – you can delay the point of entry still further.

By adding a conspiratorial tone of voice and by whispering you increase the anticipation still further.

Great fun …