Overview
'Robert Cohen's book, Acting Power, follows the tradition of his other
book, Acting One, and has been the veritable bible for acting teachers
for the last quarter century.' - David Krasner, Emerson College 'This
book, above all else, is an attempt to explore the qualities of acting
power...to suggest to you, the actor, an approach toward not merely good
acting but powerful acting. Great actors display the power to frighten -
and the power to seduce - and can shift between the one and the other
like a violinist can her notes.' - From the Preface The first edition of
Acting Power was a groundbreaking work of acting theory which applied
sociological and psychological principles to actor training. The book
went on to influence a generation of theatre and performance studies
students and academics, and was translated into five languages. This
carefully revised 21st Century Edition (re)considers, in the context of
today's field: * questions such as 'should actors act from the inside or
the outside?' and 'should the actor live the role or present the role?'
; * contemporary research into communication theory, cybernetics, and
cognitive science; * brilliantly illuminating and witty exercises for
solo study and classroom use, and a through-line of useful references to
classic plays; * penetrating observations about the actor's art by more
than 75 distinguished professional actors and directors. Cohen's
elegant and rigorous updates emphasise the continuing relevance of his
uniquely integrated and life-affirming approach to this field. The new
edition draws on his extraordinarily rich career as teacher, scholar,
director, translator and dramaturg. It is a recipe for thrilling theatre
in any genre.