A Stanislavski Starter

A good starting point when looking at Stanislavski techniques to develop students belief in their characters is the following exercise:-

−         Individual exercise - students sit in a space and close their eyes. The W/Shop Leader takes them through the following questions which the students respond to in their head initially as their character from the text/ fairy tale, using their imagination:-

−         Who are you?

−         What is your name?

−         How old are you?

−         Where do you come from?

−         What do you want?

−         Why do you want this?

−         Where are you going?

−         What will you do when you get there?

§         Teacher - countdown from 10 to 1.

§         Students mime being in a place that is appropriate for their character to be in. Ask the students to consider – 'if I were there, what would I be thinking?' and 'if I were my character, what would I be thinking?' This is the 'Magic If' theory.

§         Teacher says 'freeze'.

§         Teacher thought taps several students.