Courses .
Suspense on Stage: Dramatic Narratives to Captivate Audiences
About the Course:
Suspense on Stage is an innovative online course that blends the world of suspense with artistic and academic practice. Created by Ricardo Napoleão, a compelling thriller writer and performing arts researcher, the course offers practical tools for anyone who wants to create, perform, and narrate stories that truly captivate.
Through an interdisciplinary approach, students will learn how to craft gripping plots, develop rich characters, and apply performance and dramaturgical techniques to audiovisual storytelling—with a strong focus on the thriller genre.
Theoretical and practical lessons are integrated with Ricardo’s YouTube channel, where interactive stories are developed based on student participation. It’s a creative, collaborative experience—ideal for those looking to tell stories filled with tension, mystery, and dramatic impact.
What You’ll Learn:
• The psychological and structural foundations of suspense
• How theatrical dramaturgy enhances written and audiovisual narratives
• Acting techniques and how to create dramatic tension
• How to build characters with secrets and layered motivations
• Interactive storytelling with branching plots
• Collaborative story development and premieres on YouTube
About the Instructor:
Ricardo Napoleão is a PhD candidate in Performing Arts with international training from the prestigious École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq in Paris, renowned for its physical and creative approach to theater. He is also a collaborating researcher at Universidade Nova de Lisboa and completed a research residency at L’IRCAV – Sorbonne Nouvelle in Paris.
As a psychological thriller author and scholar of interactive storytelling, Ricardo explores innovative ways to engage, provoke, and surprise audiences. This course offers a deep dive into the craft of contemporary suspense.