Acting

On borrowed maps, bastardised methods, and the work itself.

For years I've said it as self deprecating a joke — I have enormous passion for the work, I have no ambition — and people laughed, and I laughed with them. I then recently I heard a colleague who I respect very much say something similar - so I decided to find out if it was actually true in myself. What follows is my answer.

The question of whether to train formally or to develop independently has followed the acting profession for as long as there have been drama schools to attend or avoid. Both paths have produced remarkable artists. Both have produced mediocre ones. The honest answer is that neither is inherently superior — and anyone who tells you otherwise is probably trying to sell you something.

30 Minute Warm-Up “We do not rise to the level of our expectations; we fall to the level of our training.” Anon Opening Reflection I always loved warm-ups as an actor, and now as a director, I love even more watching actors get ready for their day’s work or a performance. There’s something about that quiet, focused time before rehearsal begins—the way bodies wake up, voices open, and minds settle into the work. The actor ‘arrives into the working space’. It is a wonderful rit

"Discipline builds the playpen. Freedom happens inside it.”When I train actors, I ask them to liken the studio — and, more importantly, the discipline of our work — to a toddler’s playpen. The walls protect the child from immediate danger, but inside that contained space, the child is completely free.

Most actors know that to be curious makes them better at their craft but many do not practice it in their every day lives, and indeed many do not practice it as one of the fundamental elements of their journey into character and the play.

The Importance of Shakespeare for Actors

Your headshot is one of the most important tools you have to market yourself.

Sam Shepard's "True West" - 1984 (John Malkovich and Gary Sinise). Great Theatre! Originally aired on PBS January 1984. Starring John Malkovich, Gary Sinise, Sam Schact, and Margaret Thomson. Directed by Allan Goldstein. Produced by Howard K. Grossman and John H. Williams. Copyright © 1983 True West Video Productions. Awesome Theatre!

Arguably, your main instrument as an actor is your voice. Having command over your voice WILL take your acting to the next level both on stage and on screen, and having a strong, flexible and open voice that you have control over will lead you to more roles and, better still, a wider range of rolls. To begin with, it's imperative that you understand that your voice, movement and your acting are not three separate fields. They make up an intertwined and complex organism that w

How important is an actor bio? What’s its purpose? What is the best format? These are valid questions and the answers justify the time you need to put into creating a GREAT Bio. Spring Awakening What is a Bio for an Actor? Your bio (biography) summarises the best of your career—your training, theatre and screen work, and something about you! It concisely tells the industry what roles you can play and how to cast you and tells your new fans the history of who they are followi

Understanding Stanislavski's principles, regardless if you consider yourself a method actor or not, is crucial for actors.

(There is a PDF of the Tongue Twisters at the end of this article) The Tongue Twister Vocal warm-ups are imperative for an actor, and...

Actors have the best intentions when they say 'Let's get together and rehearse a scene!'. Often-times though, the motivation is quickly...

This is just the beginning of your adventure with Shakespeare. Google the bard and there are literally thousands of portals to...

A collection of Monologues I put together to save you some time.