100 Acting Exercises for 8 - 18 Year Olds

by Samantha Marsden

Overview

This book offers a comprehensive guide to teaching acting exercises that will unleash the inner creativity of students aged 8-18.

Theories and techniques of some of the greatest theatre practitioners including Sanford Meisner, Constantin Stanislavski, Lee Strasberg and Uta Hagen provide a basis for Samantha Marsden's original exercises for students between these ages. You won't find Duck, Duck, Goose, Zap, Zap, Boing – or any other traditional drama games in this book: instead, the craft of acting technique takes the limelight.

These exercises have been tried and tested in the author's own classroom, and are guaranteed to inspire, ignite imagination and encourage heartfelt performances. Focus points used in leading drama schools such as voice, movement, relaxation, character development and understanding text are recreated for a younger student. They are easy to follow and will be fun, challenging and immensely rewarding for teachers and students alike.

The book features a foreword by Paul Roseby, CEO and Artistic Director of the National Youth Theatre.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781350049949
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	02/21/2019
Pages:	184
Product dimensions:	6.04(w) x 9.27(h) x 0.38(d)

About the Author

Samantha Marsden studied method acting at The Method Studio in London. She went on to study Drama, Applied Theatre and Education at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. She worked as a freelance drama teacher for eleven years at theatre companies, youth theatres, private schools, state schools, special schools and weekend theatre schools. In 2014 she set up her own youth theatre, which quickly grew into one of the largest regional youth theatres in the country. She also writes for The Stage and is the author of Teach Drama: How to Make a Living as a Freelance Drama Teacher.

Table of Contents

Foreword Paul Roseby xi

Introduction 1

Method acting and safety 2

Creating a safe space 2

How to use this book 3

1 Relaxation and Focus 5

Introduction 5

Releasing tension while lying down 6

A seated relaxation exercise 7

Awareness of energy 8

Counting to twenty 10

Meditation 11

Circles of attention 12

2 Voice 17

Introduction 17

Relaxation and breathing exercise 17

Diction and tongue-twisters 19

Pass the vowel 21

Pass the chewing gum 22

Soundscape 23

Name game 24

Vocal forest 25

Hello, my name is … 25

Good evening, Your Majesty 26

Projection 26

The song exercise 28

3 Movement 31

Introduction 31

Lead with your… 31

Elbow to elbow 33

Pass the shake 33

Animal movement 34

Tableaux 35

Guess the leader 35

Exploring the centre of energy 36

Animal dinner party 37

Favourite feature 38

Entering an audition 39

4 Unblocking Performers 41

Introduction 41

Pass the face 41

Honey, I love you 42

Sausages 43

Yes, let's! 43

Acting to music 44

I'm sorry I … 45

I got you this present! 46

Freeze! 47

Lie about how you got here 48

Status 49

Meisner acting technique - the repetition exercise 50

5 Given Circumstances 53

Introduction 53

Hot-seating with given circumstances 55

Creating given circumstances for fairy-tale characters 56

Taxi driver with given circumstances 57

Packing a bag with given circumstances 58

Entering the stage 59

Improvising scenes from a character's past 60

Conditioning forces 61

6 Objectives 65

Introduction 65

Why are you doing that? 66

Broken-down lift 66

The telephone call 67

Group improvisation with objectives 68

Objectives with props 69

The objective/obstacle exercise 70

Adding a need 72

Adding objectives to a scene 74

7 Actions 77

Introduction 77

Shaking hands with actions 78

Hospital queue with actions 79

Improvising an advert with actions 80

A job interview with actions 81

Changing the action 82

Improvising with an action 82

Adding actions to a script 84

8 Imagination 89

Introduction 89

The letter 90

Imagine you are … 90

What are you doing? 91

Let me tell you a story about… 92

Park bench 93

If I were a … 94

Story circle 95

The magic box 96

Pass the object 97

The five senses 97

The 'magic if' 99

The smell exercise 100

Imaginary objects 102

9 Physicalizing Characters 105

Introduction 105

Pairs 105

Changing the tempo 106

Physical habits 107

Fairy-tale mime 110

Exploring how props and costume affect movement 111

Playing with eye contact 112

Adding tension to create character 114

Body language for an interview 117

Takeaway words 119

10 Creating a Believable Performance 121

Introduction 121

Sitting on a chair with purpose 121

Yes, let's, with inner motives 123

Bringing attention to props and imagined surroundings 124

Know the condition and setting 126

Mood board and journals 127

Actions with purpose 127

Adding history to a relationship 128

Character versus characterization 129

Adding a contradiction 131

Hiding a problem 133

11 Brining the Text to Life 135

Introduction 135

Shaking up an over-rehearsed piece 135

Adding an internalized secret 136

Getting to know the text 137

Adding pauses 138

Letting the subconscious take over 140

Adding beats 141

Immediacy 143

Connecting to the emotion of a piece 144

Skills Index 147

Glossary 162

Bibliography 164

Index 165

Editorial Reviews

"An ambitious book which will surely become a classroom staple … Its breadth and the detail [is] invaluable." - Teaching Drama

"Offers a comprehensive guide to teaching acting exercises that will unleash the inner creativity of students aged 8-18 ... [They] are guaranteed to inspire, ignite imagination and encourage heartfelt performances ... They are easy to follow and will be fun, challenging and immensely rewarding for teachers and students alike." - Ink Pellet

"If you are a director or acting teacher this book will have a lot to offer ... If you are wondering how to deepen characters, explore objectives, motivation and sub-text, then this book will provide you with a highly practical approach by way of games, exercises, lists of actions and sample scenes." - Drama Resource

“Here is the book that every drama teacher should have on their shelf” —Sylvia Young, OBE

“An excellent resource. In it, acting coaches and their young students will find daily inspiration.” —Robert McKee, author, lecturer and story consultant

“Every young actor that wants a working instrument should do these great, fun and practical exercises” —Michelle Danner, Artistic Director of the Michelle Danner Acting Studio

From the Publisher