THE ELEMENTS OF DRAMA
TENSION
“The force that engages the performers and audience in the dramatic action”.
Every performance contains the element of tension. It is the job of the performer, designer and director to manipulate this dramatic tension to enhance the work. According to the VCAA, dramatic tension is defined as " the suspense that holds an audience’s attention as a performance unfolds. The release of tension can have a comic or dramatic effect." As often described, dramatic tension for the audience is "a reason to want to see the next scene...to know what happens next". If dramatic tension has not been manipulated effectively, typically the audience disengage with the piece. Activity: (a) String tension Two people play a scene. A string is stretched across the front of the space. When it is tight they play the scene with high tension; when it is loose they play with low tension. e.g. a doctor presents results of test student in principal’s office opening a birthday present grocery shopping with kids. (b) Jewel thief and security guard (introduces concept of dramatic tension) Group form protective circle around two blindfolded performers. One is a thief searching for jewels; the other is the security guard attempting to capture him. Techniques to build tensionThere are many techniques to enhance dramatic tension in a piece. Some of
them are: - Structure of the piece. (See diagram to the right) - Content of the piece, particularly the use of conflict. - Staging of the piece - Delivery and timing of dialogue and action - Use of expressive skills by the actor. - Use of stagecraft, particularly sound and lighting. Activity a) Using the above prompts, brainstorm specific techniques to enhance the manipulation of dramatic tension. For example, using the third prompt, how could the director stage a piece to enhance dramatic tension? b) Using a piece that you are currently working on, verbally brainstorm two techniques you will experiment with to build tension in your piece. c) Using the rehearsal process Test - Assess - Adjust improvise ways to incorporate tension into your piece. |
CONTRAST
“The use of difference to create dramatic meaning.”
Contrast is an effective means to emphasise, heighten or intensify a piece of Drama. According to the VCAA, 'contrast presents the dissimilar or opposite in order to highlight or emphasise difference. Contrast can be explored in many ways and can include contrasting characters, settings, times, themes, elements, stagecraft and performance styles'. For example, by incorporating two contrasting or different characters into a scene, conflict and tension is enhanced. In stage design, by incorporating two contrasting colours, certain objects or symbols may stand out on the stage. By placing a comedic scene straight after a dramatic scene, audience engagement is retained. Activity 1 (a) Select two pieces of music which you feel create two different moods. If you are currently devising a piece of drama, you may wish to choose music that you could incorporate into your performance. (b) Incorporate some mimed actions to further heighten the mood of each song. Your actions may be creating a storyline, emphasising character or exploring a theme. (c) Perform these scenes back to back. What is the effect of performing these two scenes back to back? What effect do these contrasting scenes have on the audience? What dramatic meaning is created? 2(a) Explore the effect of improvising with characters who have contrasting characteristics. e.g. loud/ soft, rough/gentle, fat/thin, tall/short, fast/slow, wise/silly. If you are currently devising a piece of drama, you may wish to improvise a scene which could be incorporated into your performance. Experiment with how these contrasting features could be emphasised. Remember to consider your expressive skills. Need more information on contrast? Click here. |
CLIMAX
The use of climax and anti-climax (the building and releasing of tension) in a drama is crucial, as it creates a sense of expectation in the audience. We can become incredibly tense as we wait to see what's going to happen in a play, and then we're relieved when things turn out well. It all adds to an interesting experience. For example, imagine you are watching a play and at a particularly dramatic moment towards the end of the play, a character who has been angry and depressed picks up a knife and looks at it intensely. This is the climax of the scene because the audience automatically thinks something terrible is going to happen. Then the character walks over to the table, places the knife carefully on the table, takes out his phone, rings a number and says these words: ”I've made a decision.....” The tension releases and we sigh with relief - this is the anti-climax because we understand that somehow the character is going to try and sort his life and situation out. It's up to the director of a drama to create the climax and anti-climax to make sure this happens.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/drama/drama_wjec/devisedperformance/taskone4.shtml |