The Art of the Actor

A single-volume survey of the history of acting, The Art of the Actor is an essential and practical guide for all students of the theatre. Professor Jean Benedetti traces the evolution of the theories of the actor's craft drawing extensively on extracts from key texts, many of which are unavailable for the student today. Beginning with the classical conceptions of acting as rhetoric and oratory, as exemplified in the writing of Aristotle, Cicero and others, it progresses to examine the art of the actor in Shakespeare's time right through to the modern day. Along the way, Benedetti considers the contribution and theories of key figures such as Diderot, Stanislavski, Meyerhold, Brecht, Artaud and Grotowski, providing a clear and concise explanation of their work illustrated by accesible summaries of their writings. "An invaluable manual for students starting out on the road to becoming actors or directors." British Theatre Guide "Required reading for any aspiring actor or drama student" Actor, Chris Larkin