Beyond Stanislavsky A Psycho-Physical Approach to Actor Training

Chapter 1 Putting You in the Picture. A resume of Stanislavsky's variou work methods, with glances at Michael Chekhov and Grotowski. Chapter 2 Working on Your Self. Fine-tuning both body and psychology to yield vitality and spontanaeity on stage. Chapter 3 Working in the Ensemble. Building a powerful and trusting environment within an ensemble. Chapter 4 Working on Your Role. The Method of Physical Actions and Active Analysis in the rehearsal room-with application to texts from Shakespeare, CS Lewis, Pinter and Dostoyevsky. Chapter 5 Putting it into Practice. Implementing the new techniques as (a) a professional actor; (b) a workshop leader; and (c) a director.

Biography

Bella Merlin is a professional actor and a teacher of actor-training, principally at the University of Birmingham. She promotes regular Summer Schools in psycho-physical acting featuring Russian practitioners.

"Her book is a lucid and detailed account...(that) offers a clearly written practical guide to its subject. Both teachers and students will benefit because Merlin's appoach is neither prescriptive nor dogmatic...a sharing of experience and crucial insights into what can be gained from undertaking a rigourous programme of well-focused exercises. This is a provocative, inspirig and engrossing account of one actor's geographical, psychological and professional voyage of discovery. Aleks Sierz, New Theatre Quarterly, Spring 2002."
"Her book is a lucid and etailed account...(that) offers a clearly written practical guide to its subject. Both teachers and students will benefit because Merlin's appoach is neither prescriptive nor dogmatic...a sharing of experience and crucial insights into what can be gained from undertaking a rigourous programme of well-focused exercises. This is a provocative, inspirig and engrossing account of one actor's geographical, psychological and professional voyage of discovery. Aleks Sierz, New Theatre Quarterly, Spring 2002."
"Her book is a lucid and detailed account...(that) offers a clearly written practical guide to its subject. Both teachers and students will benefit because Merlin's appoach is neither prescriptive nor dogmatic...a sharing of experience and crucial insights into what can be gained from undertaking a rigourous programme of well-focused exercises. This is a provocative, inspirig and engrossing account of one actor's geographical, psychological and professional voyage of discovery. Aleks Sierz, New Theatre Quarterly, Spring 2002."