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This book offers a comprehensive guide to teaching acting exercises that will unleash the inner creativity of students aged 8-18.
Theories and techniques of some of the greatest theatre practitioners including Sanford Meisner, Constantin Stanislavski, Lee Strasberg and Uta Hagen provide a basis for Samantha Marsden's original exercises for students between these ages. You won't find Duck, Duck, Goose, Zap, Zap, Boing - or any other traditional drama games in this book: instead, the craft of acting technique takes the limelight.
These exercises have been tried and tested in the author's own classroom, and are guaranteed to inspire, ignite imagination and encourage heartfelt performances. Focus points used in leading drama schools such as voice, movement, relaxation, character development and understanding text are recreated for a younger student. They are easy to follow and will be fun, challenging and immensely rewarding for teachers and students alike.
The book features a foreword by Paul Roseby, CEO and Artistic Director of the National Youth Theatre.
List of contents
Introduction
Chapter One: Relaxation and Focus
Chapter Two: Voice
Chapter Three: Movement
Chapter Four: Unblocking Performers
Chapter Five: Given Circumstances
Chapter Six: Objectives
Chapter Seven: Actions
Chapter Eight: Imagination
Chapter Nine: Physicalising Characters
Chapter Ten: Creating a Natural Performance
Chapter Eleven: Bringing the Text to Life
Skills Index
About the author
Samantha Marsden studied method acting at The Method Studio in London. She went on to study Drama, Applied Theatre and Education at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. She worked as a freelance drama teacher for eleven years at theatre companies, youth theatres, private schools, state schools, special schools and weekend theatre schools. In 2012 she set up her own youth theatre, which quickly grew into one of the largest regional youth theatres in the country. She also writes for The Stage and is the author of Teach Drama: How to Make a Living as a Freelance Drama Teacher.
Summary
This book offers a comprehensive guide to teaching acting exercises that will unleash the inner creativity of students aged 8-18.
Theories and techniques of some of the greatest theatre practitioners including Sanford Meisner, Constantin Stanislavski, Lee Strasberg and Uta Hagen provide a basis for Samantha Marsden’s original exercises for students between these ages. You won’t find Duck, Duck, Goose, Zap, Zap, Boing – or any other traditional drama games in this book: instead, the craft of acting technique takes the limelight.
These exercises have been tried and tested in the author’s own classroom, and are guaranteed to inspire, ignite imagination and encourage heartfelt performances. Focus points used in leading drama schools such as voice, movement, relaxation, character development and understanding text are recreated for a younger student. They are easy to follow and will be fun, challenging and immensely rewarding for teachers and students alike.
The book features a foreword by Paul Roseby, CEO and Artistic Director of the National Youth Theatre.
Foreword
Offers acting exercises to be used with young people in the classroom or by individuals, many based on the teachings of Meisner, Stanislavski and Brecht.
Additional text
Comprehensive, clearly categorized, and entirely essential on the bookshelf of any self-respecting drama teacher … an easy-to-use, matter of fact, compendium of one hundred carefully curated, succinctly explained acting exercises.
Report
An ambitious book which will surely become a classroom staple . Its breadth and the detail [is] invaluable. Teaching Drama
