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Acting techniques and practitioners

Realistic, truthful acting: given circumstances, objectives and super-objective, the magic "if", emotion memory, units and objectives, subtext, circles of attention, and later the method of physical actions.

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Stanislavski (system)

Realistic, truthful acting: given circumstances, objectives and super-objective, the magic "if", emotion memory, units and objectives, subtext, circles of attention, and later the method of physical actions.

Brecht (epic theatre)

Aimed to make audiences think critically rather than identify emotionally: Verfremdungseffekt (alienation/distancing effect) through direct address, narration, placards and projections, songs, visible stage machinery, gestus, episodic structure and actors stepping out of role.

Grotowski (poor theatre)

Strips away costume, set and lighting to focus on the actor's body and the actor–audience relationship.

Physical theatre and other approaches

Movement-based storytelling, mime, ensemble work (e.g. Frantic Assembly methods), improvisation, Boal's Theatre of the Oppressed (forum theatre, where spectators become "spect-actors").

Voice and movement

Breath control, projection, articulation, pace, pitch, pause; posture, gesture, facial expression, levels, proxemics (use of space between characters).

Rehearsal techniques

Hot-seating, role on the wall, thought-tracking, still images (tableaux), improvisation and character biographies.

Exam tip: Contrast Stanislavski and Brecht – one seeks emotional truth and identification; the other seeks critical distance.

Check yourself

  1. What is Stanislavski's "magic if"?
  2. What is the purpose of Brecht's alienation effect?
  3. What is forum theatre?
Show answers
  1. Asking "What would I do if I were in this character's situation?" to create truthful behaviour.
  2. To distance the audience emotionally so they think critically about social and political issues.
  3. Boal's form in which audience members stop the action and step in to try different solutions to a problem.
Next topicDirecting, staging and design

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