Play-Acting is an inspired book of theatrical beginnings-jumping-off points for actors, teachers, and directors. Drawing upon his thirty years of designing and leading theater workshops, Luke Dixon goes to the heart of contemporary theater practice. Whether drawing upon Japanese butoh, Shakespearean verse, or African rhythms, these thirty-two workshops cover a wide range of activities-voice warm-ups, body work, the exploration of theatrical space, life games, dreamtime, sense and chakras, working with the spine, and much, much more. More than a collection of exercises, Play-Acting is constructed to take the user on a journey from learning about the anatomy of the individual actor's body to the performance of narrative by a group of actors. With tips on what you might expect to experience as an actor, teacher, or director, along with ideas on how to exploit the unexpected in performance, Play-Acting is a book to be read again and again.
Biography
Luke Dixon is Artistic Director of the International Workshop Festival, London. He has directed internationally (including the Berliner Ensemble) and has been a contributing editor to Performance Magazine.
"This book is an effective introduction to theatre interaction in which technical accuracy promotes individual inventiveness."
." -- Eugenio Barba
"A great book for performing arts students or for teachers or fledgling directors new to devising . . . a very useful addition to performing arts libraries."
." -- Total Theatre Magazine
"I find this book packed with information and ideas, an enormous support in the classroom."
-- Clare Davidson, director and professor of acting, College of Santa Fe
