7.5: Lesson 4- Dynamics of Space and Building Tension

Human beings process information in incredible ways and because storytelling is such a strong component in how we interpret and digest information, your audience will project story onto visual images even if no additional information is given. Human beings will also associate space with story. If two actors are on opposite sides of the stage, the audience will either interpret that they are strangers or have a relationship but are a great distance apart.

The proximity of actors tells the audience a lot about the current relationship between the characters. Most (over 70%) of human communication is non verbal. We as human beings subconsciously understand spatial dynamics in very sophisticated ways, but we do not ever think about it. As a director who stages stories, you do have to think about spatial relationships so that you can use them in order to tell your story.

Have actors move throughout the space then have them stop at varying distances from each other and ask yourself what relationships does this spatial proximity infer.

Characters 10+ feet away from each other

Characters who are on stage and are over 10 feet apart from each other will almost always be interpreted as strangers. If however, you have established in previous scenes that the characters do have a relationship, this distance represents the obstacle keeping them apart. This distance can be used if the characters had a fight and now feel as though they are strangers. This distance can also be used if the characters are in different locations. This distance can also be used to heighten tension and the space can be a visual or metaphorical representation of the obstacle between the two characters.

Characters 7-9 feet away from each other

Characters 7-9 feet apart will tell the audience that neither character feels comfortable with the other. This distance is close enough for the audience to infer that the characters are familiar with each other, but awkward and ambiguous enough for the relationship to be weak or mistrustful.

Characters 5-7 feet away from each other

Characters who are on stage and 5-7 feet apart from each other will appear as though they are about to engage in a fight. 5-7 feet is optimal striking distance, yet leaves space for evasion and your audience has seen enough physical altercations in their lives that they recognize this are as the danger zone of true physical conflict.

Characters 3-4 feet away from each other

Characters 3-4 feet apart will be the most common spacing for conversations. This distance provides enough room for each person to occupy most of each others person’s vision, while offering the other person their persal space and allowing for privacy from the public. This space can be dangerous verbally, but the physical danger has been reduced greatly.

Characters 1-2 feet away from each other

This distance is reserved for intimacy. Each character is invading the others personal space and is usually only reserved for lovers or enemies delivering intimate threats.

Staging Exercise 1

• Create a silent scene with a beginning, middle, and end where characters start off as strangers and become more intimate.
• Rehearse for 1 hour and then present
• Discuss and critique each scene
• Remember to always focus on successful elements first. People need to know what they are doing well more than they need to know what to improve. Encourage progress and try to give 5 positive comments to each suggestion for improvement.
• Rehearse for an additional 15 minutes in order to incorporate notes.
• Present scenes a final time without notes or critique.

Staging Exercise 2

• Create a scene with a beginning, middle, and end, in which the tension between the characters is so great that neither speaks. This relationship is either repaired or damaged further.
• Rehearse for 1 hour and then present
• Discuss and critique each scene
• Remember to always focus on successful elements first. People need to know what they are doing well more than they need to know what to improve. Encourage progress and try to give 5 positive comments to each suggestion for improvement.
• Rehearse for an additional 15 minutes in order to incorporate notes.
• Present scenes a final time without notes or critique.

Staging Exercise 3

• Create a scene with a beginning, middle, and end in which an event occurs that causes conflict between the characters on stage.
• Rehearse for 1 hour and then present
• Discuss and critique each scene
• Remember to always focus on successful elements first. People need to know what they are doing well more than they need to know what to improve. Encourage progress and try to give 5 positive comments to each suggestion for improvement.
• Rehearse for an additional 15 minutes in order to incorporate notes.
• Present scenes a final time without notes or critique.