
Greek Tragedy and the Contemporary Actor
Palgrave Macmillan (Publisher)
Published on 20. November 2018
Book
Hardback
IX, 237 pages
978-3-319-95470-7 (ISBN)
Description
This book offers a provocative and groundbreaking re-appraisal of the demands of acting ancient tragedy, informed by cutting-edge scholarship in the fields of actor training, theatre history, and classical reception. Its interdisciplinary reach means that it is uniquely positioned to identify, interrogate, and de-mystify the clichés which cluster around Greek tragedy, giving acting students, teachers, and theatre-makers the chance to access a vital range of current debates, and modelling ways in which an enhanced understanding of this material can serve as the stimulus for new experiments in the studio or rehearsal room. Two theoretical chapters contend that Aristotelian readings of tragedy, especially when combined with elements of Stanislavski's (early) actor-training practice, can actually prevent actors from interacting productively with ancient plays and practices. The four chapters which follow (Acting Sound, Acting Myth, Acting Space, and Acting Chorus) examine specific challenges in detail, combining historical summaries with a survey of key modern practitioners, and a sequence of practical exercises.
Reviews / Votes
"Thought-provoking and comprehensive, the book draws on a staggering array of source material, distilling and weaving the knowledge together in a way that is both logical and approachable. ... This volume would be useful for teachers who want their students to forge more intuitive, body-centered relationships with Greek tragedy, directors and vocal coaches interested in sparking their own ingenuity as they stage these plays, and resourceful actors who want to incorporate somatic techniques into character development." (Karen Kopryanski, Voice and Speech Review, September 10, 2020)
More details
Edition
2018 ed.
Language
English
Place of publication
Cham
Switzerland
Publishing group
Springer International Publishing
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
1 s/w Abbildung
IX, 237 p. 1 illus.
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 153 mm
Thickness: 19 mm
Weight
438 gr
ISBN-13
978-3-319-95470-7 (9783319954707)
DOI
10.1007/978-3-319-95471-4
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Zachary Dunbar | Stephe Harrop
Greek Tragedy and the Contemporary Actor
Book
12/2019
Palgrave Macmillan
€53.49
Shipment within 5-7 days

Zachary Dunbar | Stephe Harrop
Greek Tragedy and the Contemporary Actor
E-Book
11/2018
1st Edition
Palgrave Macmillan
€80.24
Available for download
Persons
Zachary Dunbar
is Senior Lecturer in Theatre and Performing Arts Graduate Research Convenor at Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne, Australia. He is a concert pianist, freelance director, writer, and composer with several UK and Australian productions. He publishes on music theatre, theatre history, and Stanislavski studies.
Stephe Harrop is Senior Lecturer in Drama (Shakespeare and the Classics) at Liverpool Hope University, UK. Her research focuses on responses to ancient Greek tragedy and epic, the traditional arts in modern theatre-making, and contemporary storytelling practices. She is an associate of the APGRD (University of Oxford), and also works as a performance storyteller.
Stephe Harrop is Senior Lecturer in Drama (Shakespeare and the Classics) at Liverpool Hope University, UK. Her research focuses on responses to ancient Greek tragedy and epic, the traditional arts in modern theatre-making, and contemporary storytelling practices. She is an associate of the APGRD (University of Oxford), and also works as a performance storyteller.
Content
1. Introduction.- 2. The Aristotelian Legacy.- 3. The Stanislavski Legacy.- 4. Acting Sound.- 5. Acting Myth.- 6. Acting Space.- 7. Acting Chorus.- 8. Conclusions.