What are Freeze Frames?

Participants freeze their bodies to create a scene. It’s just like pressing pause on a video.

Freeze frames (also known as still images and tableaux) can be created quickly with any age-group. Participants create an image using their bodies – with no movement. Freeze frames can be made by individuals or groups of any size.

A good way to explain a freeze frame is that it’s like pressing “pause” on a remote control, taking a photo or making a statue. Images can be made quickly without discussion – or they can be planned and rehearsed. They are fantastic for communicating any ideas or telling a story. Participants can represent people, objects or even abstract concepts like emotions. As there are no lines to learn, freeze frames often help shyer performers to gain confidence.

When viewing a series of freeze frames, try using Open and Close. Bring the images to life through improvisation using Action Clip. Freeze-frames can be usefully combined with Thought Tracking, Forum Theatre or Flashbacks and Flash Forwards.
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Developing Freeze Frames

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NEW: Guide to Freeze-Frames and Still Images

Practical information and ideas about using freeze-frames and still images in drama and other lessons, including Benefits, When and How to use them, combining with Drama Strategies, 50+ ways to use them across the curriculum and a handy photocopiable evaluation checklist!

Click the button to download the full 7-page Freeze-Frames and Still Images Drama Unit (PDF) for just £4.99 with PayPal.

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3D Living Pictures

Bring pictures to life through freeze frames, thought tracking and improvisation.

Action Clip

Action Clip is a quick way to bring a freeze frame to life – with no preparation!

Conscience Alley

One person walks down an alleyway made by the group and listens to thoughts or advice.

Cross-Cutting

What is Cross Cutting? The dramatic action switches quickly between two scenes in the same space. Cross-cutting (also called split-screen)

Developing Freeze Frames

Exciting ways to use freeze frames across the curriculum and in performance.

Flashbacks and Flash Forwards

What are Flashbacks and Flash Forwards? Expand on a freeze-frame to create the before and after. Performers in a scene

Forum Theatre

Why use it? The strategy breaks through the barrier between performers and audience, putting them on an equal footing. It

Freeze Frames

Freeze frames (also known as still images and tableaux) are a fast and effective method to use with any age.

Hot Seating

A character is questioned by the group about his or her background, behaviour and motivation.

Hot Spotting

An amazingly fun and easy way to mix up hot-seating and freeze frames to develop characters

Image Theatre

Image Theatre is the use of still images (freeze-frames) to explore abstract concepts such as relationships and emotions, as well

Mantle of the Expert

Mantle of the Expert involves the creation of a fictional world where students assume the roles of experts in a

Marking the Moment

Marking the Moment is a dramatic technique used to highlight a key moment in a scene or improvisation. This can

Narration

Narration is a technique whereby one or more performers speak directly to the audience to tell a story, give information

Role on the Wall

Role on the wall is a collaborative activity for developing thoughts and ideas about a character.

Role Play

Role play is the ability to suspend disbelief by stepping into another character’s shoes.

Soundscapes

The group is conducted to create a sound picture or “soundscape” using their voices and bodies.

Spotlight

Spotlighting is a useful teaching technique for sharing improvised drama when you have divided the class into smaller groups. When

Storytelling

Storytelling is one of the simplest and perhaps most compelling forms of dramatic and imaginative activity. A good place to

Teacher in Role

Teacher in role (TiR) is an invaluable technique for shaping the dramatic process and developing students’ learning. Simply put, the

Thought Tracking

Characters in a freeze-frame speak their thoughts and feelings aloud.

Whoosh activity: Teaching Shakespeare | Royal Shakespeare Company

Whoosh! Bringing Stories Alive through Drama

An interactive technique in which participants become characters and objects in a story as it is told.