MOODand

ATMOSPHERECreated by L McCarry

Mood and atmosphere help

create the feelings and emotions for the

audience. Created by L McCarry

It also creates tension.

The audience wants to know what will happen

next.Created by L McCarry

TensionTension is the driving force of drama.

It causes others to want to know what happens next and sustains interest and

momentum.

It creates challenges and prevents the

drama from becoming boring.

Created by L McCarry

Tension can be created through:

• movement • shock or surprise • silence • action • conflict and confrontation • mystery • relationships and status • threat or pressure • dramatic irony

Created by L McCarry

Acting techniques can be used to heighten tension and create mood and

atmosphere, through:

• movement • pace • pause • silence • voice • eye contact • moves • physical contact • contrast • positioning • timing

Created by L McCarry

Theatre arts can be used to heighten tension and create mood and atmosphere,

through:

• costume • lighting (LFX) • music • make-up (including masks) • props • sound effects (SFX) • set • special effects • staging

Created by L McCarry

Here are some examples of Theatre Arts adding mood and atmosphere:

Costume:

Created by L McCarry

LightingThe colours of the gel used in the lights can be really effective in creating mood and atmosphere such as:

RED – ANGER, TENSION, FEAR AND ENVYGREEN –JELOUSYBLUE – SADNESSPINK – ROMANCEYELLOW – WARMTH AND CALM

Created by L McCarry

Music and SFXClick on the sounds below for examples of Music and SFX which create particular moods such as romance, tension and comedy:

Music

Sound effects

Or visit Free Sound effects

Created by L McCarry

Make-up

Make- up can help to show a characters health, age, situation and can generally create the appearance of a character.

In terms of helping to create mood and atmosphere and tension, you could use it to show a character has been injured, is upset or ill or for any other purpose relevant to your drama.

Click HERE for some great examples of stage make-up

Created by L McCarry

PropsThe use of a prop knife, gun or violent weapon will always heighten tension due to the dangerous suggestion of this.

A personal prop could also heighten tension such as a pack of cigarettes, broken glasses or empty wallet.

Set props can also heighten tension such as a broken glass, torn letter or broken lamp or picture.

Created by L McCarry

SetSet is used to show where a drama takes place and it also helps to place a drama in a certain time.

It can create mood and atmosphere and tension through the place that it is set e.g. a derelict building, bank vault, abandoned car or police cell, to name a few.

The set and furniture used can reflect the time period, the standard of living and character situation, all helping to add to the mood and interest of your work.Click on this site for some great examples of set in creating mood and atmosphere Set Design

Created by L McCarry

Special EffectsMirror ball, Strobe light and Smoke machine are your main special effects. These can obviously be very useful for creating mood and atmosphere.

The Mirror ball is perfect for creating a Nightclub or party atmosphere.

The Strobe light gives the effect of slow motion which can be useful in choreographed fight scenes and slowly building the tension from these.

The Smoke machine or fog machine as it is also known, can help to create and eerie and spooky atmosphere.

Created by L McCarry

StagingHow you choose to stage your performance can help you to create mood and atmosphere. Such as by using Theatre in the round your audience are very close to the performance, enabling the actors to move through the space closing the actor/audience gap.

If you use Promenade Theatre the audience can choose to follow a particular moment of action or interest.

Similarly if you choose a Proscenium Arch you can freely use your set and scenery to help you to create the desired mood.

Consider the other types of staging. How would you use these to help you to create a particular mood or atmosphere?

Created by L McCarry

Revision Mood and atmosphere questions can be found in both sections of the paper.

Look at the past paper questions on mood and atmosphere below and use your understanding gained from reading this presentation to help you to answer these.

Complete these on paper or in WORD and email to your teacher. These are suitable for all levels.

Created by L McCarry

Section 1 Questions

1. Choose one piece of drama that you have either performed in or have watched during your course. Identify a moment of Tension and describe what happened.

2. Describe how the acting techniques and theatre arts were used to enhance the tension?

3. Choose a drama that you have recently performed. Describe the mood and atmosphere at the start of the drama.

4. How did you create this mood and atmosphere? Refer to Theatre Arts, acting techniques, or anything else you may have used from slide five.

5. Did the mood and atmosphere change during the drama? Identify this moment. How did you enhance the change in mood and atmosphere? Make reference again to Theatre Arts, acting techniques or information from slide five.

Created by L McCarry

Section 2 Questions Look at this stimulus, then answer the following questions:

A derelict buildingThunder and lightning

Night timeEnter two characters

1. Describe the mood and atmosphere you would wish to create at the start of the drama.2. How could this mood and atmosphere be created through what the audience sees before the characters enter?3. How could this mood and atmosphere be created through what the audience hears before the characters enter?4. How could this mood and atmosphere be created through the ways in which the two characters make their entrance?5. Describe how the two characters might look. Your answer must refer to physical description, make-up and costume. You may also include other visual information.

Created by L McCarry

Well DoneYou have now completed revision on mood and atmosphere. NOW evaluate your understanding:

If you require more help inform your teacher and refer to your Revision Booklet.

Red- still struggling

Amber -understand some of this revision

Green- fully understand

Created by L McCarry