The Aim of this Course is to:
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Introduce the student to Meisner and other Method Techniques.
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To show how they work together and influence each other.
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to explore the roots and purpose of these techniques.
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To teach the student a process by which they can be fully open, present and instinctive with Text.
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Inspire the student to take their study in these techniques further.
What you will cover:
Method Techniques
Exercises from Adler, Strasberg and Hagen covering:
Relaxation
Inner imagery
Sensory exercises
Personalisation
Objectives
The 'Big Idea'
Meisner Technique
Instinct development
Repetition exercise
Concept of 'Activity and Door' and how they apply to scene structure and objectives.
Emotional Preperation.
Course Details
Enrolling now. Limited Spaces.
2 Classes Per Week.
Choice between One each of Method and Meisner OR 2 Meisner classes.
You will be joining established classes where you will follow your own path for 5 weeks. You will be among more advanced students whose work will provide a helpful guide to your own journey.
You will cover the aforementioned elements of the techniques.
Times:
Monday 4.30-7.30pm OR Thursday 6.30-9.30pm(Meisner Technique)
Saturday 10-2 (Method Techniques)
£300
on Zoom
If accepted onto the course, the student will be expected to behave in a professional and responsible manner. This includes:
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logging in at least 5 mins before class begins.
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coming prepared and rehearsed (when required).
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to practice the required exercises outside of class.
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to meet (on zoom if preferred) and rehearse with script partners.
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to ensure you are fully off book for scenes if given.
Any queries please contact us via our contact page.
We believe that proper training takes time, dedication and a singular focus. Whether studying Full or Part Time, These techniques cannot be taught in a few months - they require dedication and time.
However, many do not have the option to spend 5 days a week in full time study.
Our Aim with the Part-Time Courses is to ensure that you still walk away at the end of your time with us with a full technique - a confident, unique Actor.
We want whatever course you choose to be an incredible journey for you - so you can truly find your confidence, your voice and uniqueness as you learn your craft and develop your technique.
This 5 week course is designed to introduce the actor to these techniques and how they will work together. After completing this course, we hope you will want to continue the journey.
They are all born of a desire to bring truth to the Actor’s performance; they just approach it from slightly different angles and focus on certain elements. All of which are essential.
It is axiomatic to understand the history; upon whose shoulders we stand and why the Techniques were developed in their own unique way. Please follow this LINK for more information.
It is important to remember that both Method and Meisner acting techniques have shared roots in the System developed by the great practitioner Konstantin Stanislavski
Much is given to the partisan nature of these techniques but the truth is they complement each other wonderfully. Below is a short introduction to the techniques.
The Meisner Technique was designed to bring the actor into the moment; to ensure that they are truthful, instinctive and free – to live truthfully under the given imaginary circumstances.
The Repetition Exercise encourages these qualities and more – empathy, a deeper understanding of yourself and human behaviour, courage, confidence, self-worth, point of view to name but a few. It’s a long list and when committed to properly, this exercise is of singular importance.
“Acting is not about being someone different. It’s finding the similarity in what is apparently different, then finding myself in there.”
Meryl Streep
Beyond this, what many people don’t realise is that the Meisner Technique also offers a finely detailed, fundamental approach to Scenes and Character.
Through a structured, layer by layer learning process, the student will develop a codified system – a genuine technique which will allow them to create detailed, nuanced, truthful performances under any given circumstances.
See below for course structure or use this LINK for more information on Meisner.
To be able to do these things we have to be open, we have to be honest; we have to know who we are and be comfortable using our own truth. We are our own instrument – mentally and physically we have to be trained.
This is where the Method exercises come in...
Method Acting
“Growth as an Actor and as a Human Being is synonymous”
Stella Adler
People struggle with how to define what is American Method Acting. It is a system; a method of working to create real, human characters. You work from the inside out to develop a full psychological understanding of the character.
Lee Strasberg, Stella Adler, Bobby Lewis, Uta Hagen, Susan Batson are all regarded as masters of modern Acting, Stella herself as the Mother, basing their work upon the Stanislavski System.
Each had a unique focus or belief which defined each teacher's approach, leading to the development of specific exercises for specific uses.
“It takes a chunk out of your soul. It should. I think if it’s not costing you anything you’re not doing it right. My job is to create a human being"
Viola Davis
For example, Stella Adler favoured a sociological approach, script analysis and the use of imagination to bring truth into acting. Her exercises enlarge the actor and their senses; challenges the individual to grow and lift yourself into the character’s life and out of your own; to grasp the ‘Big Idea’.
Whereas Lee Strasberg, whilst also believing imagination is the most important thing an actor can have, he believed in a more psychological approach – opening up the actor to free expression using Sense Memory. He insisted upon using specific exercises to use the Actors own truth to bring them into the Character.
Learning how to combine these techniques is at the core of what we do at the Actor's Craft. The 10 week course is an introduction to these techniques and this process.
if you are interested in taking your study further, please check out our part time courses,
