Trusting the Actor

This revolutionary book is more than just a dry theoretical study of acting techniques. Against a background of Apartheid South Africa it tells the story - both humorous and moving - of how teacher/director Brian Astbury - founder of South Africa's legendary Space Theatre - and hundreds of actors and acting students both in production and at Britain's top drama schools developed a set of exercises over two decades to help actors overcome problems not addressed in other methods. These teach how to be 'in the moment'; to gain access to the inexhaustible storehouse of the imagination; to access, integrate and properly use the emotions of the character; to overcome difficulties with learning lines; to recreate performance without conscious thought. "A unique figure in British theatre. Provocative, controversial, doggedly inspiring. He has been the pivotal teacher, enabler and mentor for me and countless others.Rufus Norris, Director of the National Theatre; "An idiosyncratic, challenging and practical guide to the craft of acting, crammed with anecdotes and humorous insights" Richard E. Grant, Actor/director/writer (Withnail and I, The Player, Wah-Wah and many others) "A truly inspirational teacher" Julie Hesmondhalgh, Actor (Hayley, Coronation Street); "I cannot recommend it highly enough" Stephen Moyer, Actor (True Blood, NY-LON, Prince Valiant, the RSC) "A conversational (almost chatty) love story, a tale of a theatre company's struggle against Apartheid, an irreverent look at life" Alexander Siddig, Actor/director (Deep Space Nine, Syriana, Un Perdu, 24, Primeval, Hannibal) "Brian Astbury was, without a doubt, the biggest influence on me. His teachings are still what I go to in trouble" Jason Flemyng, Actor (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, The Quatermass Experiment, Drum, the RSC)