Meisner in Practice

A Guide for Actors, Directors and Teachers

Nick Moseley

• Publisher: Nick Hern Books
• Year: 2017
• ISBN:
  9781788500043
• Topic: Media & Performing Arts
• Subtopic: Acting & Auditioning

A step-by-step introduction to the key features of the Meisner Technique, including a full set of practical exercises.

The Meisner Technique is at the forefront of actor training today: with its radical simplicity it has the power to reconnect actors with their bodies and emotions.

Developed by the teacher and actor Sanford Meisner, the technique places emphasis on truthful interaction between actors. The aim is for the actor 'to live truthfully under imaginary circumstances' – to remain truly 'in the moment'.

In Meisner in Practice, Nick Moseley offers actors a step-by-step introduction to the salient features of the technique, and puts these to the test through a succession of increasingly challenging practical exercises. He also addresses certain pitfalls and problems that he has encountered over many years of teaching Meisner in drama schools.

This book will be of immense value to students, teachers and practitioners in exploring a technique that is becoming increasingly recognised as a core element of actor training.

'A fascinating and detailed breakdown of [the Meisner Technique], with excellent examples from the author's own experience of teaching and directing actors... a really excellent book' - Teaching Drama Magazine

'A very accessible introduction to Meisner's methodology... particularly enlightening.' - The Stage

'It is difficult to imagine a imagine a better, clearer and more practically-minded introduction in book form than Nick Moseley's to the disciplines and nuances of [Meisner's] very exciting work... Moseley delicately picks out the bones of Meisner's approach with a clear eye and with a utilitarian contemporary UK sensibility in view.' - Stanislavski Studies

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Contents
• Foreword
• 1 The Need for Meisner
• 2 The First Exercise
• 3 Simple Repetition
• 4 Standard Repetition
• 5 Psychological Repetition
• 6 Objectives and Activities
• 7 The Knock on the Door
• 8 Emotion
• 9 Playing with Text
• 10 Exploring Character
• 11 Meisner and Shakespeare
• 12 Meisner Ongoing
• About the Author
• Copyright Information