BUILDING SUSPENSE and TENSION in Drama

In this lesson, students will explore the techniques Shakespeare uses to build tension in Romeo and Juliet.

Through focused exercises on staring matches, sharp dialogue, and dynamic physical expression, they will discover how small actions and words can escalate conflict and create suspense. By analysing key scenes and experimenting with performance, students will gain a deeper understanding of how tension is crafted in drama and how to apply these skills to their own acting.

A modern setting helps students build tension by making the conflicts and emotions more relatable. Familiar scenarios—like rivalries in school or social media—allow them to connect personally with the stakes. Using modern dialogue and body language, they can explore how small actions like eye contact or pauses create tension naturally. This contemporary context brings Shakespeare’s techniques to life, showing how subtle dynamics can escalate conflict both on stage and in real life.

Lesson Delivery for Specialists and Non-Specialists:
This lesson is designed for easy delivery by both drama specialists and non-specialists, with all resources provided, including scene scripts, instructions for activities, and music to set the mood.

Specialists can deepen the experience by guiding students through advanced techniques in dialogue delivery and physical expression, while non-specialists can follow the clear, step-by-step plan to facilitate engaging activities like staring matches and tension-building exercises.

Music is integrated to set the tone, helping all students immerse themselves in key scenes. Both specialists and non-specialists can effectively teach the core skills of creating dramatic tension through these accessible, pre-prepared materials.