Table of Contents

Introduction Chapter One: Relaxation and Focus Chapter Two: Voice Chapter Three: Movement Chapter Four: Unblocking Performers Chapter Five: Given Circumstances Chapter Six: Objectives Chapter Seven: Actions Chapter Eight: Imagination Chapter Nine: Physicalising Characters Chapter Ten: Creating a Natural Performance Chapter Eleven: Bringing the Text to Life Skills Index

Promotional Information

Offers acting exercises to be used with young people in the classroom or by individuals, many based on the teachings of Meisner, Stanislavski and Brecht.

About the Author

Samantha Marsden studied method acting at The Method Studio in London. She went on to study Drama, Applied Theatre and Education at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. She worked as a freelance drama teacher for eleven years at theatre companies, youth theatres, private schools, state schools, special schools and weekend theatre schools. In 2014 she set up her own youth theatre, which quickly grew into one of the largest regional youth theatres in the country. She also writes for The Stage and is the author of Teach Drama: How to Make a Living as a Freelance Drama Teacher.

Reviews

An ambitious book which will surely become a classroom staple … Its breadth and the detail [is] invaluable.
*Teaching Drama*

Offers a comprehensive guide to teaching acting exercises that will unleash the inner creativity of students aged 8-18 ... [They] are guaranteed to inspire, ignite imagination and encourage heartfelt performances ... They are easy to follow and will be fun, challenging and immensely rewarding for teachers and students alike.
*Ink Pellet*

The way each activity is written states the skills, time, resources, direction and handy tips or variations for the activity. This is great for both detailed lesson planning or for a quick dip into to help students develop a much-needed skill ... A great book for all of us out there who need a little help with ways into lessons or on one of those days when we feel the creativity block, or drain on our motivation.
*Drama Magazine*

If you are a director or acting teacher this book will have a lot to offer ... If you are wondering how to deepen characters, explore objectives, motivation and sub-text, then this book will provide you with a highly practical approach by way of games, exercises, lists of actions and sample scenes.
*Drama Resource*

Here is the book that every drama teacher should have on their shelf
*Sylvia Young, OBE*

An excellent resource. In it, acting coaches and their young students will find daily inspiration.
*Robert McKee, author, lecturer and story consultant*

Every young actor that wants a working instrument should do these great, fun and practical exercises
*Michelle Danner, Artistic Director of the Michelle Danner Acting Studio*

Comprehensive, clearly categorized, and entirely essential on the bookshelf of any self-respecting drama teacher … an easy-to-use, matter of fact, compendium of one hundred carefully curated, succinctly explained acting exercises.
*Word Matters*