The Young Actor's Studio

We started with a warm up that helps actors to break patterns of controlling your acting work. I had students who were woking on a monologue to do the monologue relaxed and with whatever is going on with them literally. Then, I had them do the monologue like a child throwing a tantrum, like a priest, like a cowboy, a mouse looking for cheese, a vampire, a senior using a walker and so on. It was great fun and many of the students broke barriors and the monologues actually got much better. In doing this you are not controlling how you think it has to be done and because of this you are able to be more free and the allow the words to form their own meanings. Next we introduced the students to place work. They were asked to work on a time of emotional significance and create the place on stage in a group. They were asked to re-create the place through sensory work. We did one hour of relaxation, place work and monologue.