{"id":4422,"date":"2024-03-18T10:02:25","date_gmt":"2024-03-18T10:02:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/?p=4422"},"modified":"2024-03-12T11:05:02","modified_gmt":"2024-03-12T11:05:02","slug":"what-actors-in-training-should-read","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/news-and-advice\/training\/what-actors-in-training-should-read\/","title":{"rendered":"Book Recommendations for Actors in Training"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b<\/span>14 books for actors to read during drama school training to help inspire and improve their acting skills\u200b\u200b.<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u200b\u200b<\/span>The most imperative time in a working actor\u2019s career is arguably the years spent at drama school. Within the safe perimeters of training<\/span>\u200b<\/span> and studying<\/span>\u200b<\/span> the craft of acting, <\/span>\u200b<\/span>drama students<\/span>\u200b\u200b\u200b<\/span> will learn to use tools and techniques that will serve them for many years. A considerable portion of the time spent at drama school is focused on reading<\/span>\u200b<\/span>,<\/span>\u200b<\/span> including\u200b\u200b\u200b plays, books on the history of<\/span>\u200b\u200b<\/span> theatre, research articles<\/span>\u200b\u200b<\/span> and materials on acting styles and techniques.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u200b\u200b\u200b<\/span>It<\/span>\u2019s<\/span> important to use books practically to improve your skills. <\/span>\u200b<\/span>Working actors will spend <\/span>\u200b<\/span>a lot of time<\/span>\u200b\u200b\u200b<\/span> reading scripts or plays and <\/span>\u200b<\/span>additional books for character research. However, exploring outside these materials\u200b is important to expand your knowledge of the craft. Reading is an incredible tool for an actor<\/span>\u200b<\/span> and harnessing it in a way that allows you to utilise the <\/span>\u200b<\/span>content<\/span>\u200b<\/span> is an essential part of pursuing acting as a profession.<\/span>\u200b<\/span> \u200b<\/span><\/p>\n

\u200b\u200b<\/span>Below are <\/span>\u200b\u200b<\/span>a variety of books, divided into <\/span>\u200b\u200b<\/span>three sections<\/span>\u200b\u200b<\/span>, that we recommend you read while studying at drama school<\/span>\u200b\u200b<\/span> \u200b\u200b<\/span>to help <\/span>\u200b\u200b<\/span>evolve yourself and your career:<\/span>\u200b<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u200b\u200b\u200bThe Classics and How to Keep Them Fresh\u200b\u200b\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

\u200bThe standard drama school reading lists \u200bwill\u200b \u200bhave books by famous acting teachers like Uta Hagen, Sanford Meisner and Konstantin Stanislavski. \u200b\u200bDepending on your school’s method of teaching acting, \u200byou’ll likely begin to \u200bdelve into\u200b\u200b these acting styles during your training.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u200bSome methods may not be useful to everyone\u200b\u200b and actors may have preferences as they train, but it’s important to explore these styles \u200b to figure out what works best for you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u200b\u200b\u200bFor example, Stella Adler believed in using an actor’s imagination to form the character’s world. During my training in New York, one of the main methods used was the Meisner technique, which focuses on repetition, emotional preparation and improvisation. These methods may help you with your work but might not be fully covered during your training.\u200b\u200b\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u200bReading about the styles and techniques used worldwide \u200band\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b having these classical methods to refer to\u200b is like having an anchor to ground you. I\u200bf you\u200b\u2019\u200b\u200b\u200bre struggling with the methods being taught during your training, research some styles that are new to you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There are styles and techniques outside of what\u200b\u2019\u200b’s being taught in the classroom\u200b\u200b, and acting is all about \u2018doing\u2019. By exploring a variety of styles and methods, you can discover an abundance of techniques \u200bto\u200b\u200b reach your creative potential.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n