Shakespeare and Meisner: A Practical Guide for Actors, Directors, Students and Teachers

(Hardback)

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Description

This practical handbook is invaluable for anyone performing, teaching, studying or simply wanting a new way to enjoy Shakespeare. It provides an outline of Meisners work and legacy, a discussion of that legacy in the light of the enduring global popularity of Shakespeare, and a wealth of practical exercises drawn from Meisners techniques. Shakespeare writes about the truth in human relationships and human hearts. Sanford Meisner's work unlocks truthful acting. They would seem a perfect match. Yet, following Meisners note to his actors that 'text is your greatest enemy, Shakespeare and Meisner are often considered strange bedfellows. The rhetorical complexity of Shakespeares text can often be perceived as rules an actor must learn in order to perform Shakespeare properly. Meisners main rule is that 'you cant say ouch until youve been pinched: in other words, an actor must genuinely feel something in order to react in a performance which is alive to the moment. This book explores how actors can use Meisners tools of acting is reacting to discover the infinite freedom within the apparent constraints of Shakespeares text.

Reviews

Beautifully written and highly accessible, this book contains a treasure trove of ideas. It brilliantly illustrates how the techniques developed by Meisner can bring Shakespeare's language vividly to life. It made me immediately want to try out the techniques and start to play. * Jacqui OHanlon, Director of Education, Royal Shakespeare Company, UK *

Author Bio

Aileen Gonsalves is Artistic Director of Butterfly Theatre Company, which specializes in immersive theatre online and in extraordinary spaces. Her expertise is in authentic acting and directing, particularly with Shakespeare, and she teaches her Meisner rooted actor training approach, the Gonsalves Method, across the globe. She has worked extensively with the RSC and as an associate artist with Kali Theatre Company, and has been Head of the MA in Acting at Arts Ed and Head of BA Acting at Drama Studio London. Tracy Irish is an education practitioner, teacher and researcher with a specialism in Shakespeare. She has been a core member of the RSCs education team since 2008 and works regularly with the Universities of Birmingham and Warwick and with Butterfly Theatre Company. She completed an interdisciplinary PhD on the value of theatre-based practice for teaching Shakespeare and has authored a range of articles and resources on teaching Shakespeare and intercultural communication skills.