Acting techniques Books

Book SynopsisA vital companion for actors in rehearsal - a thesaurus of action-words to revitalise performance, with a foreword by Terry Johnson. Finding the right action is an essential part of the process of preparation for the actor. Using this thesaurus of active verbs, the actor can refine the action-word until s/he hits exactly the right one to help make the action come alive. The method of 'actioning' is widely used in rehearsal rooms, but has never before been set down in a systematic and comprehensive way. 'If you want to act, or act better, Actions will take you a long way on the journey to excellence' Terry Johnson

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Book SynopsisKeith Johnstone (1933-2023) was an internationally recognized authority in the field of improvisation. His books Impro, and Impro For Storytellers, have been translated into many languages. He led master classes in improvisation around the world.Trade ReviewA hundred practical techniques for encouraging spontaneity and originality by catching the subconscious unawares... here is an inexhaustible supply of zany suggestions for unfreezing the petrified imagination. * Daily Telegraph *If you don't have this book - get it quick... Johnstone's insights are as powerfully clear as ever... It's a treasure trove of ideas and methods; it will ease and enrich work and studies... An invigorating read. * Reviews Gate (August 2007) *For insight into a truly creative mind, read Impro. * Psychologies (February 2010) *Table of ContentsPreface by Irving Wardle Introduction Status Spontaneity Narrative Skills Masks and Trance

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Book SynopsisThe classic voice-training book for actors, teachers of voice and speech and anyone interested in vocal expression – by a pre-eminent voice teacher, actor and director. Fully revised and expanded edition. Linklater's approach is to liberate the voice you have rather than apply vocal techniques from the outside. Her basic assumption is that everyone possesses a voice capable of expressing whatever emotion, mood or thought he/she experiences. This edition incorporates vocal exercises developed over three decades to help the voice connect viscerally with language – a key element in the actors' craft. 'a radical breakaway from the old formal methods... an invaluable new resource... essential' Educational Theatre Journal 'the best and only work of its kind for vocal training' Educational Theatre News

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Book SynopsisAn impassioned and invaluable guide for actors and students of musical theatre. In Acting Through Song,​ Paul Harvard takes the techniques of modern actor training – including the theories of Stanislavsky, Brecht, Meisner and Laban, amongst others – and applies them to the fundamental component of musical theatre: singing. With dozens of exercises to put these theories into practice, and numerous examples from a broad range of musicals, the result is a comprehensive and rigorous acting course for those training in musical theatre or already performing, whether amateur or professional, to realise their potential – and act better. 'The most methodical, thorough and practical book on the subject that I've ever read.' Daniel Evans, from his Foreword 'If you want to maximise your potential in this tough profession, this is not just a must-read - it's your bible.' Stuart BarrTrade Review'There is good advice in this useful and practical book about how to integrate acting and singing - all supported with suggestions for ways of practising and developing skills' * The Stage *'Revelatory... an important addition to the actors' library... full of good, practical advice' * ReviewsGate.com *'For anyone wishing to do justice to a musical theatre role, and definitely for those wishing to work in this genre, this guide is a must' * Teaching Drama Magazine *

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Book SynopsisActioning – and How to Do It is the indispensable companion to a vital component in every actor’s toolkit. Actioning is one of the most widely used rehearsal techniques for actors. It helps bring clarity to every moment or thought in the text, energising rehearsals and bringing performances to life. Actioning will enable you to discover and unlock newfound energy, range, variety and clarity of body and voice, by: Interrogating the text and making initial action verb choices Playing your chosen actions, both verbally and physically Maintaining an imaginative and emotional connection with each moment Signposting each thought to your scene partner From the publishers of the internationally successful Actions: The Actors' Thesaurus, this is the first in-depth exploration of Actioning for student actors, those who train them, and professionals working in the industry, whether they're brand new to the technique or have been practising it for years. This step-by-step guide draws on concepts from Stanislavsky, using sample scenes from classic plays such as The Seagull and The Importance of Being Earnest, as well as contemporary pieces, and is filled with exercises to demonstrate the technique at work.Trade Review'Clear, logical and explained well throughout' * Drama Magazine *'An indispensible toolkit for anyone interested in developing as a performer… a fascinating exploration of Actioning' * Word Matters (Journal of the Society of Teachers of Speech & Drama) *'A most welcome addition to the training armoury... invaluable in explaining [the] principles... practical, easy to approach, it is a must for all acting students' * ReviewsGate *'Impressively practical... Moseley convincingly demonstrates the ways in which actioning enhances performance' * Teaching Drama *

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Book SynopsisIn The Viewpoints Book, first published in the United States, acclaimed theatre directors Anne Bogart and Tina Landau introduce the history, terminology and philosophy of Viewpoints, and offer a step-by-step recipe for using it as both a training tool and a rehearsal technique. Viewpoints is a technique of improvisation that grew out of the post-modern dance world, allowing actors to learn to function spontaneously and intuitively. It was first articulated by choreographer Mary Overlie, whose ideas have been expanded and developed by Anne Bogart and Tina Landau, adapting them for the use of actors. Over the last twenty years, Viewpoints has ignited the imaginations of actors, directors, designers, choreographers, dramaturgs and writers. It is taught all over the world and used by countless theatre-makers in the rehearsal process to develop flexibility, articulation and strength in movement, and to enrich ensemble playing. An invaluable resource for theatre-makers, as well as for anyone with an interest in collaboration and the creative process, whether in art, business or daily life. 'Viewpoints is timeless – a system belonging to the natural principles of movement, time and space. It is a philosophy translated into a technique for training performers, building ensemble, and creating movement for the stage' Anne Bogart and Tina LandauTrade Review'An extremely good book that offers a lot to anyone seeking to create an exciting new unit for their drama curriculum or add more focus to rehearsals' * Drama Research *'The first comprehensive manual for training actors in the Viewpoints system... this isn't just a book of exercises; there is a clearly defined, suggested pattern of training to introduce the principles of Viewpoints and gradually build up the knowledge and skills of the methods it uses... very thorough and clear' * British Theatre Guide *Table of ContentsPREFACE by the authors CHAPTER 1: A History of Viewpoints and Composition CHAPTER 2: Viewpoints and Composition: What Are They? CHAPTER 3: Viewpoints and Composition in Contemporary Theater CHAPTER 4: How to Begin? CHAPTER 5: Introducing the Individual Viewpoints CHAPTER 6: Putting the Individual Viewpoints Together CHAPTER 7: Group Improvisations CHAPTER 8: Working with Music CHAPTER 9: Starting to Speak CHAPTER 10: Viewpoints in Rehearsal CHAPTER 11: Introducing Composition CHAPTER 12: Composition Toward Making Original Work CHAPTER 13: Composition Toward Rehearsing a Play CHAPTER 14: Composition as Practice and Additional Recipes CHAPTER 15: How to Discuss Composition Work in a Group CHAPTER 16: Composition and Related Arts CHAPTER 17: Viewpoints in Unexpected Places AFTERWORD Working with SITI Company By Anne Bogart Working with the Steppenwolf Ensemble, or An Old Dog Learning New Tricks By Tina Landau BIBLIOGRAPHY

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Book SynopsisA revised and updated edition of Bella Merlin's essential guide to Stanislavsky. The Complete Stanislavsky Toolkit collects together for the first time the terms and ideas developed by Stanislavsky throughout his career. It is organised into three sections: Actor-Training, Rehearsal Processes and Performance Practices. Key terms are explained and defined as they naturally occur in this process. They are illustrated with examples from both his own work and that of other practitioners. Each stage of the process is explored with sequences of practical exercises designed to help today's actors and students become thoroughly familiar with the tools in Stanislavsky's toolkit. 'Bella Merlin magically converts her extensive knowledge into real-world practice and on-the-floor technique. This new edition is a necessary and lively resource for any theatre practitioner' David Chambers, Professor of Directing, Yale School of Drama 'One of the essential books about acting for both professionals and students… brings new clarity to unlocking what Stanislavsky means for actors today' Michael Earley, Principal, Rose Bruford College of Theatre and PerformanceTrade Review'The ultimate 'all in one' panacea for drama teachers struggling to make Stanislavsky's teachings understandable for students' * Teaching Drama *'Erudite but very accessible... a brilliantly researched study' * Amateur Stage *'A great achievement... a serious, no-nonsense interpretation of Stanislavsky's thinking written by an actor-teacher with considerable experience... I shall be going back to this Toolkit again and again' * ReviewsGate.com *

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Book SynopsisA revised and updated edition of Declan Donnellan's bestselling book, a fresh and radical approach to acting by a world-famous director. 'Cuts open every generalisation about acting and draws out gleamingly fresh specifics' Peter Brook 'Explains Donnellan's highly practical system and sheds unique light on one of the greatest directors of acting in our time' Le Monde 'Hugely practical and never gets lost in theory' El Pais 'A gripping read, as acute about the psychology of lying as it is about the art of acting' Guardian 'Rooted in modern theatre, modern psychology and, above all, modern reality' Izvestia 'Unpretentious, straightforward, and pierced with acute insight' KommersantTrade Review"'Cuts open every generalisation about acting and draws out gleamingly fresh specifics' Peter Brook 'Explains Donnellan's highly practical system and sheds unique light on one of the greatest directors of acting in our time.' Le Monde 'Hugely practical and never gets lost in theory' El Pais 'A gripping read, as acute about the psychology of lying as it is about the art of acting.' Guardian 'Comes from the heart of his own experience: actors' blocks are dismembered lethally and with infectious relish' Alan Rickman 'Brilliantly direct: exhilarating to read and - more importantly - to put into practice' Joseph Fiennes"

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Book Synopsis101 great drama games for use in any classroom or workshop setting. Part of the Nick Hern Books Drama Games series. A dip-in, flick-through, quick-fire resource book, packed with 101 lively drama games suitable for players of all ages, with many appropriate for children from age 6 upwards. Whilst aimed primarily at school, youth theatre and community groups, they are equally fun - and instructional - for adults to play in workshop or rehearsal settings. 'An extraordinarily helpful compendium... a valuable help to directors, teachers and workshop leaders' Max Stafford-Clark, from his ForewordTrade Review'Small but perfectly formed, this is an essential purchase for classroom teachers and workshop leaders alike' * Total Theatre Magazine *'A truly amazing little book. Don't let its size fool you; it's packed full of good things. Whether you work with adults, tinies or those in between, buy this book and banish those awful moments when you know you know a game to use but just can't think of it. It'll be in here, or one very like it' * ReviewsGate.com *

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Book SynopsisAn exciting and invaluable collection of audition speeches, all chosen from plays produced by the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain, spanning more than sixty years as one of the world's leading companies for young performers. Featuring seventy-five monologues by acclaimed writers such as Zawe Ashton, Moira Buffini, Carol Ann Duffy, Brian Friel, James Fritz, James Graham, Dennis Kelly, Rebecca Lenkiewicz, Gbolahan Obisesan, Evan Placey, Sarah Solemani and Jack Thorne, the book offers rich and diverse roles ranging from teens to adults. Each audition speech also comes with invaluable supporting material – compiled by NYT Associate Artist Michael Bryher – to help you perform the piece to its maximum effect, including: A detailed description of the play that the speech is originally from Contextual information such as what's just happened in the play, where the monologue takes place, to whom the character is talking, and what their motivations are Things to think about when rehearsing and performing the speech The book also provides extensive advice on choosing a speech, working on it and preparing for auditions, plus tips and first-hand insights into the monologues from current NYT members and alumni who've performed them. An ideal resource for actors auditioning for drama school, the NYT or elsewhere, as well as those preparing for showcases or competitions, National Youth Theatre Monologues offers a wide and diverse range of roles, themes and styles – meaning you’ll be able to find the speech that's just right for you.Trade Review'Offers the broadest range of monologues in one place that I have ever seen… the advice on choosing suitable monologues, preparing them and how to approach the audition day itself is invaluable and presented in a positive and clearly supporting manner… I am not letting this collection out of my sight' * Drama Magazine *'Packed with a plethora of useful information, insightful snippets from interviews with NYT alumnni and endlessly detailed guidance on bringing each text to life... A must-have for any department and an essential purchase for students undertaking any audition' * Teaching Drama *'Accessible, inspiring and entertaining... I would defy any actor to not come away with a strong handful of speeches to investigate and learn' * BritishTheatre.com *'This must-have guide is sure to bolster the confidence of those lining up to take part in auditions… stand outs as a carefully compiled, insightful and considered selection that offers a unique and often refreshing perspective on the broad selection of texts' * Broadway World *'A useful book for anyone at the start of his or her journey towards an acting career' * Ink Pellet *

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Book Synopsis ''Wise, funny'' Daily Mail ''Chatty and engaging . . . he often comes across as endearingly humble'' Sunday Times''Thoroughly engaging'' Sunday Express magazine''Fabulous storytelling'' PrimaOne of ''the top 25 most compelling Hollywood autobiographies'' -GuardianHollywood legend and British national treasure Sir Michael Caine shares the wisdom, stories, insight and skills that life has taught him in his remarkable career - and now his 85th year.One of our best-loved actors Michael Caine has starred in a huge range of films - including all-time favourites - from the classic British movies Alfie, Zulu and The Italian Job to the Hollywood blockbusting Dark Knight trilogy, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Hannah and Her Sisters and Cider House Rules. Caine has excelled in every kind of role - with a skill that''s made it look easy. He knows what su

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Book SynopsisAn inspiring, hands-on guide to narrative improvisation, by the co-creator and director of the Olivier Award-winning improv show Showstopper! The Improvised Musical. Improvisation is a craft that anyone can learn. When freed from endless rules and rigid approaches and allowed to relax, react instinctively and work seamlessly as a group, improvisers can spontaneously create performances that thrill audiences with their liveness. Drawing on the author's extensive experience teaching and performing around the world, Improv Beyond Rules is a fresh and exciting re-examination of the whole field of improvisation. Starting with the fundamental principles that work for all forms of improvised performance – and the common traps improvisers fall into – it goes on to explore the elements of narrative improvisation, where performers create a story without any predetermined structure: The Moment: How to be authentically 'in the moment' by listening and responding to your fellow performers, accepting their suggestions (not necessarily by always saying 'yes') and committing to whatever happens next. The Scene: How to connect moments together to build a compelling scene and keep it moving forward; why there's no such thing as a mistake; understanding and working with audiences. The Story: How to link scenes to build story and plot; what kids can teach us about storytelling; utilising dramatic structure; developing and playing different types of characters; key principles of staging. Packed with dozens of games and exercises, Improv Beyond Rules will give you the tools to build your confidence, empower your performance, and unlock your creativity. Written for improvisers with any level of experience, this book is also the perfect starting point for directors, teachers, actors or anyone eager to learn how improvisation can benefit both rehearsal and performance. 'Adam transforms the seemingly impossible into something exceptionally practical with his trademark patience, charm and clarity' Mischief Theatre, from their Foreword

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Book SynopsisA practical investigation of how comedy works, by a well-respected practitioner and teacher. With a Foreword by Toby Jones. Comedy is recognised as one of the most problematic areas of performances. For that reason, it is rarely written about in any systematic way. John Wright, founder of Trestle Theatre and Told by an Idiot, brings a wide range of experience of physical comedy to this unique exploration of comedy and comedic techniques. The book opens with an analysis of the different kinds of laughter that can be provoked by performance. This is followed by the main part of the book: games and exercises devised to demonstrate and investigate the whole range of comic possibilities open to a performer. Why Is That So Funny? is an invaluable book for teachers and performers, and a fascinating read for anyone interested in how comedy works.Trade Review'A welcome relief from the flood of performance studies theory, being firmly based in a lifetime of practice ... a must for any budding physical comedy performers - and an inspiration for everyone who treads the boards, whether they think of themselves as 'comedic' or not' * Total Theatre Magazine *'John Wright's magnum opus... a real labour of love and it is hard to believe that there is any aspect of the subject that he does not explore and explain... essential' * British Theatre Guide *Table of ContentsAbout Laughter The Gentle Art of Playfulness (Play; Complicity; Theatre as Game) Messing About with Meaning (States of Tension; Rhythm; Timing; Making Choices and Shaping Action) The Gentle Art of Idiocy (Simple Clown; Pathetic Clown; Tragic Clown) The Gentle Art of Ridicule (Parody; Pastiche; Caricature; Burlesque; Buffoon)

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Book Synopsis'The book all actors need – a vital manual to help you stay balanced in an increasingly demanding industry' Miranda Hart The Jobbing Actor is an innovative six-week coaching programme designed by accredited coaches to help you achieve your acting ambitions. It's not just another 'how to' guide telling you what you already know; it's a professional self-development programme that's high on impact and low on bullshit. Week by week, it will guide you through a structured series of industry-focused and holistic exercises and challenges. Full of uplifting advice and practical hints and tips, it covers every aspect of building and sustaining a career – from auditions and self-taping, through dealing with rejection and other trip-ups, to networking, branding and diversifying. Also included are daily journal pages in which you'll set your targets and goals, and track your progress. Inspiring, empowering – and fun! – The Jobbing Actor is your own personal coach in handy paperback form. It'll empower you to take stock of where you are personally and professionally, instigate long-term, positive change, and reclaim ownership of your career. Anita Gilbert and Letty Butler (aka Bert & Butler) have between them over forty years' experience in the business. Anita has worked as a professional actor, as well as a theatrical agent, and is now a full-time voice and accent coach. Letty is a jobbing actor and comedienne, with extensive credits for stage and screen. She's also an award-winning writer and professional life coach. 'Brilliant. A godsend to actors!' Eleanor Tomlinson 'No-nonsense, practical advice delivered with humour, warmth and a real desire to help actors succeed' Peter Hunt (Head of Casting, Lime Pictures)Trade Review'Energising and empowering coaching for future actors... comforting and full of positivity' * Drama & Theatre Magazine *'Full of practical, sensible advice in so many different areas... This is an immensely accessible and empowering book that would inspire and help not only actors but anyone seeking to improve their prospects in so many areas. It is direct, honest, stimulating, well informed, practically useful and often entertaining' * Word Matters (Journal of the Society of Teachers of Speech and Drama) *

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Book SynopsisA comprehensive 'how to' book on the Laban system of movement - from the author of Laban for Actors and Dancers. Laban for All offers a simplified version of Rudolf Laban's system for analysing - and annotating - the way the human being moves. It can be used by relative beginners upwards. The reader is introduced to the language and terms of Laban, with each new concept accompanied by very specific, clearly illustrated exercises - each designed to strengthen and deepen our understanding. When the basic vocabulary has been explained and demonstrated, its expressive possibilities in drama and dance are further explored. The result is a thorough - and thoroughly practical - grounding in the most significant movement system of modern times.

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisAn inspirational book on acting, tackling the fundamental questions that face any actor. By a world-leading theatre director, the founder of Cheek by Jowl.

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Book SynopsisSpolin's improvisational techniques have changed the very nature and practice of modern theatre. This third edition updates the more than 200 now-classic exercises and adds 30 new ones. It adds 30 traditional theatre games that are frequently used as warm-ups.Trade ReviewHer book is the bible." —Rob Reiner"It's like basic research ... she [has] changed the theater for generations." —Alan Alda"She has genius and shares it." —Valerie Harper

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Book SynopsisIn this follow-up to his highly regarded book "Improvise: Scene from the Inside Out", globally acclaimed improviser, director, and instructor Mick Napier focuses on the complexities and theories of long form improvisation. This extended form of improvisation invites performers to be inspired for at least thirty minutes by a single suggestion as they push their creativity to the limit. Napier taps into over 30 years of experience and distils his tools for success into practical, engaging lessons: The art of introductions and edits; Different approaches to openers; Pros and cons of the back line; Why it''s okay to be funny; Finding the dominant energy; Sustaining a strong character.

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Book SynopsisThis dip-in, flick-through, quick-fire resource book, part of the bestselling Drama Games series, offers dozens of games to help bring Shakespeare's plays to life in the classroom or rehearsal room – making them fun and accessible to actors, students, directors and teachers. Inspired by the work of leading cultural education charity Coram Shakespeare Schools Foundation, this book offers a wide range of activities to tackle every aspect of the plays, including: Warm-ups and General Games to establish an atmosphere of focus, connection, support and fun – all the conditions you need for a successful session Story and World-building to explore the events, environments and societies of Shakespeare's plays Introducing Shakespeare's Language to break down the text and allow participants to uncover the meaning through play and creative discovery Activating Shakespeare's Language to liberate actors from the script through movement and voice-work Character to help develop compelling, believable performances by investigating motivations and relationships, circumstances and emotions Staging to help empower every member of the ensemble in moments that might be challenging to stage – such as big movement sequences, fights and battles and intimate love scenes Whatever your reason for exploring Shakespeare – whether you're directing a production, teaching a set text, or introducing his work to young people for the first time – this essential resource will give you the tools you need to demystify the language, take ownership of the plays, and find a connection to the words that resonates in our own time. 'This wonderful book will be an invaluable resource for anyone approaching the teaching or directing of Shakespeare, whether novice or veteran' Paterson Joseph, from his ForewordTrade Review'A welcome tool to bring the Bard alive for students... sets things out in a logical fashion, without losing any of the creativity or impact of the activities... I can only wish my English teacher had a copy of this sparky little volume when I was first struggling with Shakespeare... many young lives will be transformed when they connect with Shakespeare's world and all it can offer' * Broadway World *'An incredibly effective way of accessing Shakespeare... I've been a practitioner for over 10 years, and I found plenty of new material here, plus the fact that the exercises are phrased so clearly that they immediately usurped my own notes... [this book is] a useful companion to anyone working with young people and Shakespeare. Get one now and start passing it round the office' * Drama & Theatre Magazine *'An accessible new addition to Nick Hern Books's Drama Games series... Each of the 66 games is carefully but simply explained and could be used by anyone mounting an inclusive Shakespeare production with young people' * Ink Pellet Magazine *

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Book Synopsis160 all-new games and exercises from the author of the bestselling companion for drama teachers and workshop leaders, offering more than one million unique and tasty combinations, ready to be put into action! Simply make a selection from each of the four complementary courses, and your whole drama session will come to life with clarity, intensity and focus: Appetisers are fast-paced warm-up exercises to energise and enthuse; Starters are the intermediary course to challenge and kickstart creativity; Main Courses provide the central part of the session, culminating in a final performance piece; Desserts are there for when you have space at the end of your session for something sweet. Every exercise has been devised, tested and selected for its ability to ignite creativity and develop the performing potential of each player. There's also a downloadable Resource Pack stuffed with a huge range of new stimuli to engage your students and encourage deeper participation. Drama Menu: Second Helpings has everything you need to spice up your sessions with a variety of new challenges that will invigorate and inspire your students, and ensure that every session is fresh, dynamic and relevant. Bon appétit! Praise for Drama Menu: 'An easily accessible, flexible and creative resource useful for any dramatic platform. A must-have for all teachers wanting to give their students the very best!' Word Matters 'Easy to navigate... definitely something for everyone... a really useful collection' Teaching Drama 'Ideal... will provide a great deal of varied and inspiring material for drama sessions' Drama Resource 'Unbelievably useful... every reader will find something new and of absolute hands-on usefulness... Drama Menu will become your companion' ReviewsGate.comTrade Review'An excellent way to have a ready-made session to pull off the shelf... This book is well worth adding to your exercises and activities collection, helpful to those new to teaching drama, as well as those more experienced practitioners' * Drama & Theatre Magazine *

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Book SynopsisAn inspiring and interactive workbook to help you develop skills for longform improvisation, by one of the UK’s top improv performers and teachers. Structured as a twelve-week course, this book provides techniques, advice and exercises that can be done on your own or in groups – with activities to complete as you go – for learning faster and becoming (more) amazing at improvisation. It draws on the author’s own experience of performing and teaching improv around the world, with added gems of wisdom from key experts. Starting with the basics of improvisation, it moves on to explore areas of the craft such as rehearsals, character, editing, form and style; plus career advice including how to cope with bad gigs, jealousy, fear of missing out and your Inner Critic. The Improviser’s Way is ideal for improvisers at any level – from those new to improv entirely, through those familiar with shortform who are looking to extend their reach, to experienced longform performers and teachers looking to refresh their approach and embrace new ideas. It is also invaluable to anyone looking to discover more about this popular, thrillingly creative and empowering form of performance. By the end, you won’t just be a better improviser – you’ll be a better person!Trade Review'Concise and easy to follow… highly recommended for both budding artists and old-hats alike, as it really does have something for everyone' * Drama Magazine *'An interactive tool that will challenge the reader's perceptions... witty and concise' * Drama & Theatre magazine *

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Book SynopsisACTING AND SINGING WITH ARCHETYPES

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Book SynopsisAs part of the ever-growing, increasingly popular Drama Games series, Jessica Swale returns with another dip-in, flick-through, quick-fire resource book, packed with dozens of drama games that can be used in the process of devising theatre. The games will be invaluable to directors and theatre companies at all levels who are creating new pieces of theatre from scratch and need lively, dynamic games to fire the imagination. They will particularly appeal to school, youth theatre and community groups where devising is a growing trend – and a core element of the drama curriculum. Written with clear instructions on How to Play, notes on the Aim of the Game, and illuminating examples from professional productions, the games cover every aspect of the devising process and develop all the skills required: generating ideas, creating characters and scenarios, using stimuli, structuring the piece, and creating an ensemble. Mike Leigh, the most dedicated and celebrated creator of devised work, hails the book in his foreword as 'highly original and massively useful'. 'A remarkable compendium of games and exercises… a lively starting point for rich invention' Mike Leigh, from his ForewordTrade Review'Very useful' * British Theatre Guide *'This new volume is packed full of activities to help the work of teachers, as well as directors.. Any drama teacher, youth leader or play director seeking to develop skills in text-free environments is likely to find practical inspiration here' * Teaching Drama *'A brilliant collection of starting points and structures that can be used again and again' * DramaResource.com *'A book which fairly fizzes with ideas' * The Stage *

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Book SynopsisIf you want to build a stand-up comedy career, this book is a must read. If you want to write comedy, this book is a must-read. If you simply enjoy comedy ... this book is a must read. Part One offers essential advice about understanding the fundamentals of stand-up, studying other comedians, finding your own style, writing your material, working the live performance, and appearing on television. Fascinating, candid, insightful interviews with today''s top comedians, who discuss at length why and how they do what they do, comprise Part Two, the bulk of the book. The third and last part of the book addresses your stand-up career through interviews with noted comedy club owners, an agent, a personal manager, and a television talent co-ordinator. Literally crammed with the wisdom of today''s finest stand-up comics, in terms of quality, quantity, and timeliness information, this book is without peer.

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Book SynopsisThis original and unique new book takes an integrated approach to interrogating the experience and location of the self/s within the context of performance art practice. In its framing and execution of practical exercises and focused snapshots of internationally recognized performance practice, Bacon situates their argument within the boundaries of specialism in the critical curation of performance art praxis as well as contemporary phenomenological scholarship. Introducing the study and application of performance art through phenomenology for radical artists, educators and practitioner-researchers; this exciting new book invites readers to take part, explore contemporary performance art and activate their own practices. Applying a queer phenomenology to unpack the importance of a multiplicity of Self/s, the book guides readers to be academically rigorous when capturing embodied experiences, featuring exercises to activate their practices and clear introductory definitions to key phenomenological terms. Includes interviews and insights from some of the best examples of transgressive performance art practice of this century help to help unpack the application of phenomenology as Bacon calls for a queer reimagining of Heidegger’s ‘The Origin of the Work of Art.’ This is an important contribution to the field, and will be welcomed by performance artists and academics interested in performance. It may also appeal to those teaching concepts of phenomenology. It will be relevant to students of performance as well as to artists, audiences and museum goers. The approachable layout and clear authorial voice will add to the appeal for students, early career researchers and mean that it has strong potential for inclusion in undergraduate and postgraduate syllabi within the field. Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Foreword: Enduring Reorientations: Self, Time, and Space in Performance Author’s Note Introduction - Phenomenology - Eidetic Reduction - Self - Dasein Section One: Embodied Experience - Exercise 1 - Flesh - Gestalt - Exercise 2 Identity, Sexuality, and Gender - Exercise 3 Lori Baldwin Anne Bean - Intersubjectivity - Intercorporeality Rosana Cade and Will Dickie - Korper and Leib - World and Being Esther Marveta Neff - Reciprocity Niko Wearden - Mineness - Exercise 4 Cultural Contexts - Fundierung - Exercise 5 Jamal Harewood - Exercise 6 Regina José Galindo Health and Dis/Ability - Exercise 7 Katherine Araniello Kamil Guenatri - Givenness Section Two: The Rapture and Rupture of the Lived Body - Cartesianism - Exercise 8 Rapture - Exercise 9 Rocio Boliver Louis Fleischauer Weeks and Whitford - Befindlichkeit Rupture - Alētheia Hellen Burrough Arianna Ferrari - Exercise 10 Ernst Fischer - Exercise 11 Section Three: The Intersubjectivity and Intercorporeality of Noise and Sonic Arts - Exercise 12 Sound through the Body Sarah Glass Joke Lanz - Punctum - Mother Disorder Sound through Collaboration FK Alexander Clive Henry and Yol - Exercise 13 Section Four: The Perception of Self/s - Exercise 14 Vulnerability - Exercise 15 Helena Goldwater Natalie Ramus Helen Spackman Failure - Exercise 16 Chelsea Coon Selina Bonelli Heather Sincavage - Augenblick - Exercise 17 (Part 1 of 2) - Exercise 17 (Part 2 of 2) Extremis - Exercise 18 tjb Hancock and Kelly Niko Raes - Exercise 19 Postface: The Argument for Queering ‘The Origin of the Work of Art’ - Manifesto for Performance Artist as Artwork Notes Bibliography

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Book SynopsisTHE GOOD AUDITION GUIDES: Helping you select and perform the audition piece that is best suited to your performing skills In this volume of the Good Audition Guides, you'll find fifty fantastic speeches for women, all written since the year 2000, by some of our most exciting dramatic voices. Playwrights featured in Contemporary Monologues for Women include Mike Bartlett, Alexi Kaye Campbell, Caryl Churchill, Helen Edmundson, debbie tucker green, Ella Hickson, Lucy Kirkwood, Rona Munro, Joanna Murray-Smith and Enda Walsh, and the plays themselves were premiered at the very best theatres across the UK including the National Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Bush, Soho and Hampstead Theatres, Manchester Royal Exchange, the Traverse in Edinburgh, the Abbey in Dublin, and many on the stages of the Royal Court. Drawing on her experience as an actor, director and teacher at several leading drama schools, Trilby James prefaces each speech with a thorough introduction including the vital information you need to place the piece in context (the who, what, when, where and why) and suggestions about how to perform the scene to its maximum effect (including the character’s objectives and keywords). Contemporary Monologues for Women also features an introduction on the whole process of selecting and preparing your speech, and approaching the audition itself. The result is the most comprehensive and useful contemporary monologue book now available. 'Sound practical advice for anyone attending an audition… a source of inspiration for teachers and students alike' Teaching Drama Magazine on The Good Audition GuidesTrade Review'Thorough and easy-to-use... The guidance is perhaps the most thorough I have seen in a monologue book' * Teaching Drama magazine *'A good addition to any student's/teacher's bookshelf' * Drama Magazine (published by National Drama) *'Trilby James rides to the rescue... a very useful something for everyone' * ReviewsGate.com *

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Book Synopsis'Only what is open and searching is active and alive. You, the actor, must learn to find security in insecurity, certainty in uncertainty, to trust that this will lead to discovery and growth.' In What Actors Do, revered theatre director Mike Alfreds explores the wellspring of the actor's craft, tracing a pathway to creative freedom through the thickets of competing methodologies and confusing paradoxes that you will face throughout your training and career. How do you give life to a character that both is and isn't yourself? How can you be childlike and open in your work without becoming childish? How, when you know what's coming next, can you still be spontaneous? Frank, uncompromising and full of sharply focused insights, this book will help you strip away the inhibitions and habitual thinking that can shackle our imaginations. It will show you how to generate truthful performances by trusting your inner creativity and remaining radically open, responsive and present in every moment. Mike Alfreds has been directing plays for more than seventy years. In the 1970s he founded Shared Experience, and has since worked for the National Theatre, Shakespeare's Globe, the Royal Shakespeare Company and also extensively abroad. He is hugely respected within the profession, and is the author of two previous books, Different Every Night and Then What Happens? 'If I was allowed to train again to be an actor, but I was only allowed one teacher, it would have to be Mike Alfreds. To me he is a genius when it comes to acting and storytelling' Mark Rylance

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Book SynopsisA practical approach to breaking through the barriers of restraint and incomprehension when faced with Shakespeare. Taking many of the techniques explored in her international bestseller Freeing The Natural Voice, in this companion volume Kristin Linklater shows how to apply them to the exploration and speaking of Shakespeare’s language. Beginning with exercises designed to break long-held habits and allow an emotional rather than intellectual relationship to Elizabethan language, she analyses Shakespeare's strategies for creating character, story and meaning through figures of speech, iambic pentameter, rhyme and the alternation of verse and prose. Using copious examples from the plays, Linklater offers her readers the tools to increase understanding and make Shakespeare's words their own.

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Book SynopsisA comprehensive training course in screen acting by an internationally renowned teacher and acting coach who has worked with actors of all backgrounds and experience – from drama school students at the start of their careers to Hollywood stars, including Daniel Craig, Angelina Jolie and Keira Knightley. Mel Churcher has developed a series of five workshops which take actors step by step through the process of creating, developing and delivering assured performances on screen. Accompanied by ninety minutes of online film clips, showing all of the work in action, this book builds on these workshops and lets you progress through them at your own pace: Workshop 1: Keeping the Life encourages you to find what is unique about yourself and how you can preserve this vitality when acting on screen Workshop 2: Inhabiting the Role focuses on the emotional and psychological steps required in preparing your performance Workshop 3: The Physical Life introduces a series of practical exercises to develop the physicality and imagination of the actor Workshop 4: Through the Eye of the Camera explains the technical skills you must master to act in front of a lens Workshop 5: Off to Work We Go covers how to prepare for auditions and then how to handle specific challenges when you get the job Each exercise, technique and tip is vividly illustrated in online film clips taken from the author's actual workshops. The result is a vital masterclass in every aspect of acting on screen. Foreword by Jeremy Irons. 'When the whole business seems to have gone loopy, dip into Mel Churcher's book; somehow she always makes sense' Bob HoskinsTrade Review'Mel Churcher's new book is one of those rare things... The whole package is eminently approachable, direct, entertaining and perceptive; the [film clips are] smoothly edited, explicit and professional. The written text is substantial, with lots of extra information and exercises plainly laid out and easy to find... a joy' * Communicating Voice, British Voice Association *'This book is not just exclusively for those who would be screen actors, but for all those, both teachers and actors, who wish to find 'truth' within the role they have been given. The plus is the [film clips], which are a joy to watch and a 'gift' for all those teachers of drama' * Word Matters, The Journal of The Society of Teachers of Speech and Drama *

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Book SynopsisThe ''Harold'', an innovative improvisational tool, helped many actors on the road to TV and film stardom, including George Wendt (Norm on Cheers). Now it is described fully in this new book for would-be actors and comics. The ''Harold'' is a form of competitive improv involving 6 or 7 players. They take a theme suggestion from the audience and ''free associate'' on the theme into a series of rapid-fire one-liners that build into totally unpredictable skits with hilarious results. The ''Harold'' is a fun way to ''loosen up'' and learn to think quickly, build continuity, develop characterisations and sharpen humour.

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Book SynopsisBEST CONTEMPORARY MONOLOGUES FOR KIDS AGES 7-15

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Book SynopsisDrawing on his lifetime career in front of the camera (and sometimes behind it), Denis Lawson offers a wonderfully accessible introduction to acting for film and TV. For the young actor hoping to break into the industry – whether in a drama series, soap or sitcom – this book is the ultimate insider’s guide. In The Actor and the Camera, Denis Lawson takes us on a guided tour of the film or TV set from day one. We meet the various members of the crew, from the director of photography to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd ADs, and learn what each of them does – and how to get the most from them in your work as an actor. Then comes the actual business of shooting the scenes, beginning with readthroughs and rehearsals (if there are any), on to hitting your mark and getting your eye-line right, finishing with the actor’s involvement in post-production. Throughout, Lawson takes the actor’s point of view, offering encouragement and enlightenment, as well as being refreshingly candid about some of the more inane procedures. Above all, he offers a magnificent array of tips and inside knowledge for coping with what can be a daunting experience for a hopeful young actor. ‘Denis is a great actor and he’s always been my inspiration, since I was a child… He’s the only person really in the world who I discuss acting with if I feel that I’m stuck. I love watching him still.’ Ewan McGregorTrade Review'Insightful, witty and valuable' * Drama Magazine *'A must have for any young actor entering the profession... just about everything you will ever need to know or come across in a screen acting career is here… you will learn a huge amount from this book' * Actor Hub *'I seriously love this book... It really is like a conversation, peppered with expletives, technical advice and anecdotes... I don’t think anyone, or anything, you will regularly come across in television or film production has been missed.' * Northern Editorial *'One of the most important 'camera acting' books on the market... incredibly useful' * ReviewsGate.com *

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Book SynopsisRobert Klenner has been an actor, director, producer, university lecturer, and directing consultant based in Australia. He was born and raised in Poland, where he studied film performance under Krzysztof Kieslowski. His career spans over two decades and three continents. He's directed over one hundred hours of screen drama and has taught directing in the United Kingdom, Australia, Russia, Poland, Bulgaria, Slovakia, and Ethiopia. Klenner is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a member of the Directors Guild of Australia.Trade ReviewRobert Klenner is an internationally celebrated screen director with a wonderful reputation as a teacher. This intelligent and inspiring book will help any director to overcome the fear of working with actors. Each chapter contains a list of practical strategies designed to help the director embrace and enjoy the collaborative process of creating great performances for the screen. * Paul Thompson, Head of Acting and Directing, Undergrad Film and Television, New York University, USA *Klenner’s book is a goldmine of savvy advice; for the actor it represents an opportunity to truly understand what the collaborative relationship with the director could be. It is full of great tips and exercises to help unlock the potential of any scene and thereby create richly detailed and nuanced performances. * John Bashford, Director Acting, National Institute of Dramatic Art, Australia *Table of Contents1. The Director The Concept of Genius Director as Storyteller Director as Facilitator & Collaborator Director as Communicator 2. The Actor Being in the Moment Acting Defined Acting for the Camera versus Acting on Stage Stanislavsky Eintopf 3. Pre-Production Script Analysis Pre-visualization Casting Rehearsal 4. Production Director’s Role Shooting Procedure Wild Lines Visual Style Working with Children and Non-Actors 5. Post-Production Shoot for the Edit Sculpting in Time Montage Character’s Journey in a Scene Emotional Engagement ADR Sound and Music Glossary Bibliography Index

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Book Synopsis‘Masks are empowering… They enable you to take risks. They provoke you into working with the reckless logic of a six-year-old or the enigmatic stillness of someone wiser than you’ll ever be. But above all, masks let you be you without your habitual limitations.’ In Playing the Mask, award-winning theatre-maker and teacher John Wright explores and demystifies mask-work: what masks do, how they do it, and, above all, what they can teach us about acting. This book is a wonderfully accessible introduction to a fresh and innovative acting technique for actors, theatre-makers and teachers to use in training and rehearsal. A mask releases the actor to be playful, and playfulness generates ideas, finds meaning, develops characterisation – and is infinitely more fun than traditional training. Rather than a dry guide to making masked theatre, it is about, for instance, playing Lady Macbeth in Red Nose, or Hamlet in the mask of The Victim, The Ogre or The Fool, or even Romeo and Juliet in grotesque half-masks… All in the name of liberating your creativity and, ultimately, improving your performance. Extensively illustrated with a rich variety of masks, this inventive and pragmatic book is full of invaluable games and exercises drawn from the author’s own workshops, his experience as co-founder of both Trestle and Told by an Idiot, and his pioneering mask and clown work in many professional productions. ‘Brilliant, entertaining and accessible’ Paul Hunter, from his ForewordTrade Review'Wright brings his teaching alive through an anarchic sense of humour and colourful storytelling, highlighting his wide experience and understanding of theatre… highly enjoyable as well as instructive' * Drama Resource *'Provocative and playful… the example exercises are invaluable references… [Wright's insights] feel fresh and welcome in both the rehearsal room and drama school training' * Drama Magazine *'For a teacher wishing to find inventive new levels for teaching the craft of acting, this could be the answer... offers an innovative set of techniques for rehearsal and generates many useful ideas' * Word Matters (Journal of the Society of Teachers of Speech and Drama) *

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Book SynopsisA practical, hands-on guide - for actors, directors, teachers and students - to Brecht's theory and practice of theatre, with a full set of exercises to help put theory into practice. The Complete Brecht Toolkit examines, one by one, Brecht's many, sometimes contradictory ideas about theatre - and how he put them into practice. Here are explanations of all the famous key terms, such as Alienation Effect, Epic Theatre and Gestus, as well as many others which go to make up what we think of as 'Brechtian theatre'. The book also explores the practical application of these theories in Acting, Language, Music, Design and Direction. Also included are fifty exercises contributed by Julian Jones, to help student actors investigate Brecht's ideas for themselves, becoming thoroughly familiar with the tools in the Brecht toolkit.Trade Review'a useful, refreshing, no-nonsense introduction to a practitioner who can be contradictory and is often misunderstood' * The Stage *'[a] major and brilliant achievement... exemplary clarity and concision... honour[s] the complexity of Brecht while providing a valuable addition to the literature aimed at exploring and explaining this key figure. I highly recommend this book to you' * Drama magazine *'a thorough yet crystal clear explanation of Brecht's more complicated techniques and ideas' * Teaching Drama Magazine *'one of the best introductory books on Brecht currently in circulation... Unwin [presents] the theoretical and practical ideas of Bertolt Brecht in a clear, concise and connected way so that students and practitioners may consider the importance of his work in the twenty-first century.' * A Younger Theatre *

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Book SynopsisSince the sixties, Keith Johnstone has led the work on improvisation in theatre, schools and universities. His unique ideas, set out in the classic text, Impro, have now been taken up by practitioners the world over. Impro for Storytellers builds on and extends the seminal earlier work.Keith''s techniques specialize in releasing an individual''s potential within the context of group work. He became notorious as the acting coach who would shout ''Be more boring!'' and ''Don''t concentrate!''.Keith Johnstone is an inspirational teacher and writer, and Impro for Storytellers will encourage a life-long study of human interaction.

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Book SynopsisBeginning with his early experiences and his discovery of the actor's central problem--achieving consistency, of inspiration--Strasbery analyzes the work of Constantin Stanislavsky, showing how he and others added to that work to develop the acting system known as the Method.Trade Review“The definitive source book on acting.”—Los Angeles Times “A must for young actors—for old ones, too, for that matter.”—Paul Newman “An exploration of the creative process that will reward all who are interested in the nature of inspiration.”—Library Journal “An important cultural document.”—BooklistTable of ContentsPrefaceIntroductionThe Beginning of My Voyage: The Search and the DiscoveryStanislavsky and the Search for His SystemThe American Laboratory TheatreThe Voyage Continues: I. Discoveries at the Group TheatreThe Voyage Continues: II. The Actors Studio and My ClassesThe Fruits of the Voyage: Procedures for the Actor's TrainingThe Method and Nonrealistic Styles: Artaud, Grotowski, and BrechtIn Conclusion

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisThis book provides actors, directors, teachers and students with a clear, practical guide to applying the work of influential theatre practitioner Konstantin Stanislavsky to Shakespeare.Shakespeare and Stanislavsky provides a guide for actors, acting students, directors and teachers who want to apply the work of influential theatre practitioner, Stanislavsky, to the process of rehearsing and workshopping Shakespeare's play texts. Acting tutor and director, Annie Tyson, makes applying Stanislavsky's methods to Shakespeare simple and accessible. She rejects and dispels the myth held by some that Stanislavsky and Shakespeare are incompatible, showing instead how the Shakespearean text offers clues to specific acting choices that are intricately connected to action and character. Drawing on years of acting, directing and teaching experience at the Drama Centre London and RADA, Tyson's guide is full of practical tips and humour. This guide also includes a series of inte

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Book SynopsisThe Pulitzer Prize winning playwright, director and teacher has written a blunt, unsparingly honest guide to acting. In True and False David Mamet overturns conventional opinion and tells aspiring actors what they really need to know. He leaves no aspect of acting untouched: how to judge the role, approach the part, work with the playwright; the right way to undertake auditions and the proper approach to agents and the business in general. True and False slaughters a wide range of sacred cows and yet offers an invaluable guide to the acting profession.

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Book SynopsisA master actor who's appeared in an enormous number of films starring with everyone from Nicholson to Kermit the Frog Michael Caine is uniquely qualified to provide his view of making movies. This new revised and expanded edition features great photos throughout with chapters on: Preparation In Front of the Camera ä Before You Shoot The Take Characters Directors On Being a Star and much more.Þ Remarkable material ... A treasure ... I'm not going to be looking at performances quite the same way ... FASCINATING! Þä Gene Siskel

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