The Actors Ways And Means

First published in 1995. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Demonstrates what constitutes a good performance, what actors want from a director, what directors do wrong and more.

William Esper, one of the most celebrated acting teachers of our time, takes us through his step-by-step approach to the central challenge of advanced acting work: creating and playing a character. Esper’s first book, The Actor’s Art and Craft, earned praise for describing the basics taught in his famous first-year acting class. The Actor’s Guide to Creating a Character continues the journey. In these pages, co-author Damon DiMarco vividly re-creates Esper’s second-year course, again through the experiences of a fictional class. Esper’s training builds on Sanford Meisner’s legendary exercises, a world-renowned technique that Esper further developed through his long association with Meisner and the decades he has spent training a host of distinguished actors. His approach is flexible enough to apply to any role, helping actors to create characters with truthful and compelling inner lives.

Can 'stage presence' be acquired? Why do some actors appear more dynamic in performance than others? In The Actors Way four experienced actors talk about the secrets and the practical realities of over twenty-five years of theatre training with Odin Teatret. Under the unique direction of Eugenio Barba, director of Odin Teatret, they have explored issues such as the connections between physical and mental work on stage, how to gain and control the spectator's attention, and intercultural performance techniques. The Actor's Way is a fascinating account of personal and professional development in the theatre. It will be vital reading for drama students and actors, but enjoyable and illuminating for anyone interested in the craft of acting.