Trusting the Actor: New Techniques for Actor Training
£2.80
These teach how to be ‘in the moment’;
to gain access to the inexhaustible storehouse of the imagination;
to access, integrate and properly use the emotions of the character;
to overcome difficulties with learning lines;
to recreate performance without conscious thought.
“An idiosyncratic, challenging and practical guide to the craft of acting, crammed with anecdotes and humorous insights”
Richard E. Grant Actor/director/writer (Withnail and I, The Player, Wah-Wah and many others)
“A truly inspirational teacher”
Julie Hesmondhalgh Actor (Hayley, Coronation Street)
“A unique figure in British theatre. Provocative, controversial, doggedly inspiring. He has been the pivotal teacher, enabler and mentor for me and countless others.
Rufus Norris Director (Festen, Cabaret, Market Boy, Tintin, Vernon God Little, Blood Wedding)
“I cannot recommend it highly enough”
Stephen Moyer Actor (True Blood, NY-LON, Prince Valiant, the RSC)
“A conversational (almost chatty) love story, a tale of a theatre company’s struggle against Apartheid, an irreverent look at life”
Alexander Siddig Actor/director (Deep Space Nine, Syriana, Un Homme Perdu, 24, Primeval, Hannibal)
“Brian Astbury was, without a doubt, the biggest influence on me. His teachings are still what I go to in trouble”
Jason Flemyng Actor (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, The Quatermass Experiment, Drum, the RSC)
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Additional information
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| File size | 524 KB |
| Text-to-Speech | Enabled |
| Screen Reader | Supported |
| Enhanced typesetting | Enabled |
| X-Ray | Not Enabled |
| Word Wise | Enabled |
| Sticky notes | On Kindle Scribe |
| Print length | 215 pages |
by Jel
This book is a must read for any actor who believes in the power that theatre has to change lives. Written with immense integrity, Brian Astbury draws on his extensive experience, both in the theatre and in his own extraordinary life, to illustrate the actors process. The book outlines simple but powerful exercises that any actor can do to support their preparation, rehearsals and performance. Brian inspires the reader with anecdotes of his time working with some of the most courageous actors in the world, both in South Africa and in London. He clearly outlines the exercises and explains how each of them have developed over several years to the valuable tools they are today. This is work that you can put directly in to practice. The results are felt and experienced immediately.
If you are looking for a way to enrich your performance, to deepen your understanding of your character, to be completely in the moment and true to the nature of the part you are playing and the story you are telling, then this is the book for you.
I was very lucky to have worked with Brian as a student at LAMDA and then to be part of his developing methods at Arts Threshold Theatre. Most recently I have reconnected with him and read ‘Trusting the Actor’ whilst working on a show in the West End of London. Brian’s work, and the exercises in this book, has literally transformed my experience of acting and helped me fall back in love with my work.
by R
This is about a guy who taught acting but it goes into details about how he got there and the techniques he teaches which is covered in this book along with exercises that you the reader can do to help improve your acting skills. It’s a great book and was suggested by my acting teacher and I’m glad I got a copy on kindle
by chewinthefatfish
I’ve read dozens of ‘How To’ books as a trainee theatre director but I’ve never read anything like this one. What a brilliant book – and a brilliant read! What a find in the depths of Amazon’s cavernous library.
It’s full of personality. This is no a dry, theory book (thankfully!) – as lots of the reviews already say – this book is full of life and wit and honesty – and fantastic, different approaches to directing with anecdotes which explain how and why the author developed the exercises. I couldn’t stop reading once I’d started – it’s completely engrossing. I’ll have to go back through it now and work out how I’m going to incorporate all this knowledge into my own work. For the first time in a long time, I’m excited that I have some fresh ideas to try out.
Everything is clearly explained and the exercises are common-sense and all seem to have come organically from the writer’s own experiences. He seems really to understand the actors process – which, trust me – is rare. I can only hope, when I have some of his techniques under my belt – that I can help my actors become more free and to, indeed, trust my actors. They have it in them and this book will certainly support them on their journey.
Can’t recommend this lovely little find enough.
by Andrew Weale
I read this book when it was in its proof stage and was absolutely wowed by the stories and exercises. I must admit, however, to being a little bit biased. Brian taught me at drama school and we formed a company together after that. However, work took me away from London and the UK and we lost touch for several years. My, was Brian busy! He has developed some incredible techniques for unlocking the creativity of the actor and getting him/her to really act in the moment. He did that with me a long time ago. I was playing Uncle Vanya at LAMDA and he got me to laugh my way through Vanya’s breakdown. I couldn’t do it at first because I was too afraid, but then I just went for it and the whole scene came alive and I never looked back as an actor. So, I am eternally grateful to my great friend, Brian, for that. And I would recommend this book, with its passion and love for the theatre to any actor, young or old, and any director who truly wishes to explore the greatest resource that he/she has: the ACTOR!
by Mrs Hilary Jane Cohen
Read this book if you, or someone you care about, are thinking about a career in the performing arts. If you are interested in theatre, or just want to know about the acting process or more especially, if you think you know all about it already, read this book. The exercises are energising and the breakthrough process towards characterisation is radical and thought provoking. Brian Astbury shares a lifetime of experiences in directing, mentoring and teaching actors from all over the world and tells of his own trials and tribulations along the way with accuracy, generosity of spirit and wry humour. If you remember your own theatrical career with nostalgia, as so many who started out there but drifted away from it do, you will love this book.
by Miss C Skelly
I stumbled across this book whilst searching for something else. After reading this, I now know I don’t need that something else!!!
Brian Astbury with wit and self-deprecating humour writes from experience and does not profess to have all the answer but is purely speaking from the many years he has obviously spent experimenting on drama students.
He clearly has a mind full of information ready to pass on and the exercises and processes he uses clearly get results.
As someone wanting to get into the directing chair, I feel better placed to guide actors through the rehearsal process armed with Brian’s book and his exercises.
Even if you are not a director or an actor, this book is a beautiful insight into the world of acting and the journey they go on to produce stunning pieces of theatre.
Thank you Brian.