Analysis through Action for Actors and Directors From Stanislavsky to Contemporary Performance

Analysis through Action for Actors and Directors is a comprehensive view of an innovative and exciting process for making new theatre.

As well as an understanding of how Analysis through Action has developed over time, this book also demonstrates how it can be put into practice in today?s theatre. The first part of this book traces the exciting genealogy from Stanislavsky?s unfinished experiments, through the insights of geniuses Maria Knebel and Georgii Tovstonogov, down to today?s avant-garde auteurs. The second part is a practical manual based on extensive field testing by the author and colleagues. Here, two key components of the process are elucidated: Text Actions ? ten interwoven text analysis steps ? to be twinned with the thrilling rehearsal process using focused and joyful improvisations called Études.

Written for new or experienced theatre students and practitioners, this book will enrich the technique of any theatre artist and anyone else interested in the theatre and its future.

Part 1: A Genealogy of Analysis through Action 1. An Anatomy of Stanislavsky’s System 2. The Opera-Dramatic Studio 3. Maria Knebel: Toward Analysis Through Action 4. Georgii Tovstonogov: A Voluntary Dictatorship 5. The Legacy Of Analysis Through Action: Part I 6. Anatoly Efros: No Better Man 7. The Glasnost Generation 8. Lev Dodin: The Rabbinical Lion 9. The 2000’s: A Torrent Of New Wealth 10. Yuri Butusov: Hooligan On The Playground 11. Dmitry Krymov: The Accidental AuteurPart 2: The Practice Of Analysis Through Action; Section A: Text Actions 12. Text Action 1: The First Reading 13. Text Action 2: Novel Of Life I 14. Text Action 3: Three Rings of Given Circumstances 15. Text Action 4: Character Given Circumstances 16. Text Action 5: Novel Of Life II 17. Text Action 6: The Initial Given Circumstance 18. Text Action 7: The Five Event Structure 19. Text Action 8: The Sequence Of Events 20. Text Action Nine: The Supertask and the Scream 21. Text Action 10: Novel Of Life III Section B: Études 22. Études - An Overview 23. Études - Implementation

David Chambers is a director, writer, and producer of theatre and opera. His work has been seen in New York from basements to Broadway, in theatres throughout the US, as well as Europe, Russia, and Asia. He taught acting and directing at the Yale School of Drama for three decades. Since then he has been on the faculties of The New School for Drama, The Stella Adler Studio, and Harvard University. He currently teaches in the department of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies at Yale University, USA.