some extracts from my personal course notes...

"This page contains my simple notes and points that I considered important at that point in time."

"Studying at the Questors has the added advantage of being actively involved in a working theatre throughout the course. I have tried to summarise as much as possible and aim to select the most relevant and interesting points. I hope these notes are of some interest to others."

Acting Class 25th September 1999

After the first improvisation it is very clear that acting is VERY DIFFICULT!

Movement Thursday 30 September 1999

Practical exercises focussing on the importance of creating a believable world around you in which you can move. Identification of personal 'tics', habits and tendencies eg standing slightly to one side even when the actor may think he is bolt upright.

Movement Thursday 7th October

A VERY important point is that body movement is critical to an actor if he is to portray a character effectively. An actor cannot just use his face, the rest of the body must also play the character.

Energy must come from the belly. THIS IS KEY.

Speech Tuesday 12th October

Yawning is good as it stretches the internal muscles that are otherwise hard to loosen up. Breathing should be done by the stomach moving in and out and NOT the shoulders rising and falling.

Different sounds i.e. resonance can be achieved by placing the sound either in the nose for a very nasal sound or in the mouth hitting the back of the teeth or down towards the chest. These different areas give a sound a different resonance DO NOT mistake this for a change of pitch, it is a change of resonance.

It is recommended for good oral health that the following is avoided:

  • Smoking - Toxins and hot smoke kill off the hairs that help to clear bad stuff from the gullet. Cancer and poor circulation are also factors.
  • Alcohol
  • Dairy Products - Produces thick mucus

Recommended for good oral health:

  • Fruit juice, particularly Pineapple juice - produces nice thin saliva which helps lubricate the gullet
  • Loads of water
  • Loads of refreshing sleep

Acting Saturday 16th October

Acting on camera produces a completely different effect than in a theatre. You never look how you think you're going to look.

Sat 8th Jan 2000

Internally visualised images can be very useful when employed properly. Time should be spent getting exactly the right image for the desired effect.

More to come...

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