275 Acting Games – Connected: a comprehensive workbook of theatre games for developing acting skills Gavin Levy Meriwether, 2010 $40.00pb With almost three hundred performance-tested acting games this is the largest collection published to date. They were compiled from numerous workshops and study sessions. Includes a wide variety of proven activities for learning acting and theatre industry skills. The book is divided into thirty-three sections including: Audition, Concentration and Focus, Voice, Ensemble, Action and Reaction, Improvisation, Knowing Your Objective, Performance, Thinking outside the Box, Spatial Awareness, Nonverbal Communication, Making Choices, Releasing Inhibitions, The Physical Actor and many more. This is an adaptable workbook designed to connect the learning of acting skills with professional auditions and the theatre industry. 392 pages
		Acting Characters: 20 simple steps from rehearsal to performance Paul Elsam Methuen , 2006 $29.95pb Acting Characters is a simple, no-nonsense guide to researching, planning and performing more truthful and realistic characters. It describes 16 easily followed steps designed to simplify Stanislavski's teachings, with practical exercises to follow. 256 pages
		Acting in Musical Theatre: a comprehensive course Joe Deer & Rocco Dal Vera Routledge, 2008 $61.00pb This book contains fundamental skills for novice actors, practical insights for professionals, and even tips to help veteran musical performers refine their craft. Drawing on decades of experience in both acting and teaching, the authors provide crucial advice on all elements of the profession, including: · Fundamentals of Acting Applied to Musical Theatre · Script, Score and Character Analysis · Personalizing your Performance · Turning Rehearsal into Performance · Acting Styles in the Musical Theatre · Practical Steps to a Career Acting in Musical Theatre's chapters divide into easy-to-reference units, each containing related group and solo exercises, making it the definitive textbook for students and practitioners alike. 480 pages
		Acting on Impulse: Reclaiming the Stanislavski Approach John Gillett Methuen, 2008 $55.00pb An inspiring and technically thorough practical book for actors that sets down a systematic and coherent process for organic (from the 'inside-out'/experienced emotion) acting. The author offers a step-by-step, Stanislavski-based approach to text, role and performance to be used in everyday work and gathers together in one volume, the essential tools that serve to recreate human experience. A nuts-and-bolts practical guide with exercises for the actor to work through sequentially. 320 pages
		Acting: the Basics Bella Merlin Routledge, 2010 $29.95 pb This is a practical and theoretical guide to the world of the professional actor, skilfully combining ideas from a range of practitioners and linking the academy to the industry. It covers key areas such as: - The development of modern drama and acting processes over the years  - The approach and legacy of acting pioneers and practitioners from around the world  - Acting techniques and practicalities, including training, auditioning, rehearsing and performing, both for stage and camera  Complete with a glossary of terms and useful website suggestions, this is the ideal introduction for anyone wanting to learn more about the practice of acting and the people who have advanced its evolution. 256 pages
		An Actor Prepares Constantin Stanislavski Methuen, 2008 $22.95pb An Actor Prepares is the most famous acting training book ever to have been written and the work of Stanislavski has inspired generations of actors and trainers. This edition, now reprinted with a new cover and more accessible price has stood the test of time in acting classes all over the world and was the original English language translation. 320 pages
		Building a Character Constantin Stanislavski Methuen, 2008 $22.95pb In his most famous book, An Actor Prepares, Stanislavski dealt with the imaginative processes. In the second book, Building a Character, he deals with the physical realisation of character on the stage, expressions, movement and speech etc. It is a book in which every theory is inextricably bound up with practice - a perfect handbook to the physical art of acting. 304 pages
		Creating a Role Constantin Stanislavski Methuen, 2008 $22.95pb No-one has had greater influence on acting as we know it than Stanislavski. His 'system' or interpretations of it - has become the central force determining almost every performance we see on stage or screen. His teaching is principally set out in three famous books: An Actor Prepares, Building a Character and Creating a Role. It is still the only comprehensive theory of acting we possess. 288 pages
		An Actor’s Work Konstantin Stanislavski (trans. Jean Benedetti) Taylor & Francis, 2009 $49.95pb Stanislavski’s ‘system’ has dominated actor-training in the West since his writings were first translated into English in the 1920s and 30s. His systematic attempt to outline a psycho-physical technique for acting single-handedly revolutionized standards of acting in the theatre. Until now, readers and students have had to contend with inaccurate, misleading and difficult-to-read English-language versions. Some of the mistranslations have resulted in profound distortions in the way his system has been interpreted and taught. At last, Jean Benedetti has succeeded in translating Stanislavski’s huge manual into a lively, fascinating and accurate text in English. He has remained faithful to the author's original intentions, putting the two books previously known as An Actor Prepares and Building A Character back together into one volume, and in a colloquial and readable style for today's actors. 708 pages
		An Actor’s Work on a Role Konstantin Stanislavski (trans. Jean Benedetti) Taylor & Francis, 2009 $59.95hb An Actor’s Work on a Role is Stanislavsky’s classic exploration of the rehearsal process, applying the techniques of his seminal actor training system to the task of bringing life and truth to one’s role. Originally published over half a century ago as Creating a Role, this book became the third in a trilogy – after An Actor Prepares and Building a Character, which are now combined in a newly translated volume called An Actor’s Work. In these books, now foundational texts for actors, Stanislavsky sets out his psychological, physical and practical vision of actor training. This new translation from renowned writer and critic Jean Benedetti not only includes Stanislavski’s original teachings, but is also furnished with invaluable supplementary material in the shape of transcripts and notes from the rehearsals themselves, reconfirming The System as the cornerstone of actor training. 272 pages
		Actors Talk About Shakespeare Mary Z. Maher (ed) Hal Leonard, 2010 $37.95pb Even today, Shakespeare’s plays challenge celebrated actors to hone their skills and electrify audiences. Imagine the process actors undergo to recreate these spellbinding roles on stage. In an interview with the author, Kevin Kline declared that playing Shakespeare "uses a different muscle group in your head." Actors Talk About Shakespeare features personal interviews with a stellar collection of prominent American, Canadian, and British performers of Shakespeare onstage, including Kevin Kline, Kenneth Branagh, Derek Jacobi, Stacy Keach, Zoe Caldwell, Martha Henry, William Hutt, Tony Church, Nicholas Pennell, and Geoff Hutchings. In conversations equivalent to a magician telling his secrets, Mary Z. Maher uncovers the actors' process. The book speaks to theatre patrons, to actors both novice and experienced, and to educators who teach Shakespeare. Each chapter profiles a career in context, using the actor's words along with supporting research material. The result is a treasury of talents, tactics, and tales from veteran performers who return often to Shakespeare from careers in film and television. 256 pages
		An Actor’s Tricks Yoshi Oida & Lorna Marshall Methuen, 2007 $32.95pb Drawing on an unrivalled wealth and range of expertise in the fields of acting, directing and training, Yoshi Oida and Lorna Marshall provide an authoritative and fascinating study of the art of the actor. In scrutinising the process of performance from the twin perspectives of the actor and director, An Actor's Tricks is filled with hints, insights and stories from productions with Peter Brook and from around the world. Beginning with the daily preparation to train the body, it moves to the process of rehearsal for a performance right up to the moment when the actor steps onstage. Throughout practical exercises are included for the actor to follow. The book combines principles and techniques from both Western and Eastern disciplines of acting to provide a masterful study essential for every actor and director. 192 pages
		The Alexander Technique for Actors Kelly McEvenue Methuen, 2006 $35.00pb This practical book with illustrations links Alexander technique to acting, dancing and singing by the trainer of performers on The Lion King. The Alexander Technique is a method of physical relaxation that reduces tension and strain throughout the body. It promotes a beneficial use of movement that is stress-free by learning to free-up the body. It teaches an individual to use their body efficiently in order to avoid damage or loss of control. Kelly McEvenue has been teaching the Alexander Technique to performers for nearly twenty years and is a world expert on the system. In this book she draws on her considerable experience and sets up a series of set-by-step warm-ups and exercises that anybody can follow. The exercises are linked to accurate anatomical drawings, showing where stress is most pronounced in the body. 168 pages
		The Art of the Actor Jean Benedetti Methuen, 2008 $39.95pb A single-volume survey of the history of acting, The Art of the Actor is an essential and practical guide for all students of the theatre. Professor Jean Benedetti traces the evolution of the theories of the actor's craft drawing extensively on extracts from key texts, many of which are unavailable for the student today. Beginning with the classical conceptions of acting as rhetoric and oratory, as exemplified in the writing of Aristotle, Cicero and others, it progresses to examine the art of the actor in Shakespeare's time right through to the modern day. Along the way, Benedetti considers the contribution and theories of key figures such as Diderot, Stanislavski, Meyerhold, Brecht, Artaud and Grotowski, providing a clear and concise explanation of their work illustrated by accessible summaries of their writings. 352 pages
		Audition Speeches for 6 to 16 year olds Jean Marlow Methuen Drama, 2007 $29.95pb Intended for students and children taking part in speech and drama competitions and exams, this book contains a range of audition speeches. It includes female, male and unisex speeches selected from both plays and children's books. Where relevant the author has indicated how a speech could be shortened for younger children. There is also an introductory section with contributions from Alan Ayckbourn, Carol Schroder (teacher and examiner for the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art), Richard Carpenter (TV writer) and Margo Selby (actress in Grange Hill). This edition has been freshly revised to include 10 new speeches from well known recent productions as well as children's books including Harry Potter. 144 pages
		Commedia Oz: Playing Commedia in Contemporary Australia Steven Gration Currency Press, 2008 $32.95pb Designed to assist the interpretation and playing of Commedia in an Australian context Commedia Oz is a training manual for teachers, students, actors and directors. Chapters cover the history and influence of Commedia; suggestions for modern interpretations; activities and exercises; the role of the director and the actor’s journal; training actors; an interview with Jacques Lecoq (the French Commedia actor/trainer); a professional script; and ideas for units of work and assessment. There is also a glossary and a reference section for further reading.
		Essential Acting: a practical handbook for actors, teachers and directors Brigid Panet Routledge, 2009 $49.95pb How do actors fuse thought, emotion and action within their creative process? Essential Acting is an inspired and reliable toolbox for actors and teachers in the classroom, the rehearsal room and the workshop. RADA's Brigid Panet has distilled 50 years of acting, directing and actor training into a unique recipe which brilliantly combines the teachings of Stanislavski and Laban into an invaluable practical resource. These exercises are built around the need for simple, achievable techniques that can be applied by actors, teachers and directors to answer the myriad requirements of actor training. The goal is to produce a continuous level of achievement, addressing: How to rehearse How to work with a text How to audition for drama school How to access the truth of feelings and actions Essential Acting will be a must-have purchase for anyone looking for a comprehensive study guide to the necessary work of the actor. 296 pages
		How to Stop Acting Harold Guskin Methuen, 2006 $35.00pb Harold Guskin is an Acting Doctor whose clients include David Suchet, Glenn Close, James Gandolfini, Bridget Fonda and dozens more. In HOW TO STOP ACTING he reveals the insights and techniques that have worked wonders for beginners as well as stars. Instead of yet another ''method'', Guskin offers a strategy based on a radically simple and refreshing idea: that the actor's work is not to ''create a character'' but rather to be continually, personally responsive to the text, wherever his impulse takes him, from the first read-through to the final performance. From this credo derives an entirely new perspective on auditioning and the challenge of developing a role and keeping it fresh, even over hundreds of performances. 192 pages
		Impro: Improvisation and the Theatre Keith Johnstone Methuen, 2007 $29.95pb A leading figure in the theatre, Keith Johnstone lays bare his techniques and exercises to foster spontaneity and narrative skill for actors. These techniques and exercises were evolved in the actors' studio, when he was Associate Director of the Royal Court and then in demonstrations to schools and colleges and ultimately in the founding of a company of performers called The Theatre Machine. Divided into four sections, Status, Spontaneity, Narrative Skills and Masks and Trance, arranged more or less in the order a group might approach them, the book sets out the specific approaches which Johnstone has himself found most useful and most stimulating. The result is a fascinating exploration of the nature of spontaneous creativity. 208 pages
		Improvisation: the guide Lyn Pierse Improcorp, 2007 $75.00hb Improvisation: the guide is the bible for all teachers, actors and improvisers. It is a practical, hands-on feast of ideas, exercises and scene-work. Drama teachers at primary, secondary and university levels have found this book invaluable. The techniques have been used for corporate workshops, drama in education and professional actor training. Improvisation processes ignite spontaneity, develop lateral thinking, encourage team work and release the potential artist in us all. The results are tangible. This book is the long-awaited new version of the previously titled Theatresports Down Under. 463 pages
		Masterclass: the actor’s audition manual (men) Dean Carey Currency Press, 2007 $32.95pb Long regarded as the classic audition text for actors. Dean Carey is a world-renowned acting teacher and director. He was Head of Acting at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) from 1990–3, Associate Head of Acting at NIDA and a tutor there for eleven years. Carey has taught acting around Australia and internationally. He is the Director of the Actors Centre in Sydney. 246 pages
		Masterclass: the actor’s audition manual (women) Dean Carey Currency Press, 2003 $26.95pb The companion volume for women also contains over 100 monologues—from classics such as Chekhov to moderns including Berkoff and Williamson. Provides an arsenal of audition pieces for young actors. Outlines the essential acting components, illuminates the creative process and presents a stimulating array of rehearsal room exercises. 242 pages
		Playing for Real: Actors on Playing Real People Tom Cantrell & Mary Luckhurst (eds) Palgrave Macmillan, 2010 $25.00pb This is the first book to explore how actors play real people. How do you capture Hitler, Mugabe, or a serial killer? How do you portray living monarchs or political leaders? Is it possible to embody a genius like Mozart, Woolf or Darwin? What are the pressures of performing an icon like Marlene Dietrich? Bringing together original conversations with award-winning actors, the line-up includes Jeremy Irons, Dame Eileen Atkins, David Morrissey, Henry Goodman, and Sir Ian McKellen. 176 pages
		Playing Shakespeare (+DVD) John Barton Methuen, 2009 $55.00pb John Barton has been with the Royal Shakespeare Company since 1960 directing 26 of Shakespeare's plays for them. In the first half of the book, Barton attempts an objective analysis of how Shakespeare's text actually works, examining the use of verse and prose, set speeches and soliloquies, language and character. In the second half he concentrates on the more subjective areas such as irony and ambiguity, passion and coolness. The book springs from a nine-part London Weekend Television series, in which these various topics were investigated in front of the cameras by Barton and a group of well-known Shakespearean actors including Peggy Ashcroft, Tony Church, Sinead Cusack, Judi Dench, Susan Fleetwood, Mike Gwilym, Sheila Hancock, Lisa Harrow, Alan Howard, Ben Kingsley, Jane Lapotaire, Barbara Leigh-Hunt, Ian McKellen, Richard Pasco, Michael Pennington, Roger Rees, Norman Rodway, Donald Sinden, Patrick Stewart, David Suchet and Michael Williams. Useful for actors and scholars alike, this book will also aid teachers and students working on Shakespeare's plays in the classroom. This new edition contains a DVD with 80 minutes of footage featuring John Barton in conversation with Judi Dench, Ian McKellan, Patrick Stewart and Jane Lapotaire discussing changing approaches to Shakespeare's texts since the book was first published. 224 pages (plus DVD)
		The Moving Body (Le Corps Poetique): Teaching Creative Theatre Jacques Lecoq Methuen, 2009 $39.99pb 'In life I want students to be alive and on stage I want them to be artists.' Jacques Lecoq. Jacques Lecoq was one of the most inspirational theatre teachers of our age. The International Theatre School he founded in Paris remains an unrivalled centre for the art of physical theatre. In The Moving Body, Lecoq shares his unique insights into performance, improvisation, masks, movement and gesture which together form one of the greatest influences on contemporary theatre. Neutral mask, character mask, and counter masks, bouffons, acrobatics and commedia, clowns and complicity: all the famous Lecoq techniques are covered here - techniques that have made their way into the work of former collaborators and students inluding Dario Fo, Julie Taymor, Ariane Mnouchkine, Yasmina Reza and Theatre de Complicit. This paperback edition contains a Foreword by Simon McBurney, Artistic Director of Complicit and an Afterword by Fay Lecoq, Director of the International Theatre School in Paris. 208 pages
		So You Want to Go to Drama School? Helen Freeman Nick Hern Books, 2009 $29.95pb Packed with sound advice and essential information, this is a terrific guide that will help students prepare for and improve their chances of getting a place in a drama school. Written by a teacher and actress with a lifetime’s experience in the audition process. In a clear and concise manner Helen Freeman sets out the steps that can be taken to ensure that potential acting students present the best possible audition they can when applying to drama school. 256 pages
		The Theatre Practice of Tadashi Suzuki: a critical study Paul Allain Methuen, 2009 $65.00hb This book explores Suzuki's theatre practice and contains a DVD with practical Suzuki Method actor-training examples. For over forty years Tadashi Suzuki has been a unique and vital force in both Japanese and Western theatre, creating and directing many internationally acclaimed productions including his most famous production,The Trojan Women, which toured throughout the world. An integral part of his work has been the development and teaching of his rigorous training system, the Suzuki Method, whose principles have also been highly influential in modern theatre. Dr Paul Allain, an experienced practitioner of the Suzuki Method, re-evaluates Suzuki's work, his development towards an international theatre aesthetic and his impact on performance all over the world. The DVD covers an actor training session (featuring both novices and an experienced practitioner with over ten years of Suzuki training) showing the physical moves. 224 pages (plus DVD)