DISCOVER
Please read on for all the information
Meisner & Method
Combined Course
A Course dedicated to combining the powerful personal and transformational sensoric work of the great Method Teachers - Stella Adler, Lee Strasberg and Uta Hagen with the imaginative, instinctive, moment to moment existence of the Meisner Technique to develop the most truthful, human actor.
We believe that proper training takes time, dedication and a singular focus. Whether studying Full or Part Time, These techniques cannot be taught in a few months - they require dedication and time.
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However, many do not have the option to spend 5 days a week in full time study.
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Our Aim with the Part-Time Courses is to ensure that you still walk away at the end of your time with us with a full technique - a confident, unique Actor.
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We want whatever course you choose to be an incredible journey for you - so you can truly find your confidence, your voice and uniqueness as you learn your craft and develop your technique.
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Full Time (ENQUIRE FOR DETAILS)
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a Two Year Combined Technique Course in Meisner and Method (8 - 10 classes per week) with support classes in Film, Voice, Movement and Culture Studies.
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A One Year Advanced Technique Course (For graduates of 2 year course or by invitation only)
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Part Time:
Divided into 3 Levels - The more time and focus the student can bring to the course - the faster the progression through these levels and the completion of the course.
However, student growth in the Part Time format is not a uniform event- students grow at different rates depending on how many classes they attend and how hard they work.
​We treat the student as an individual, your progression within the part time courses is defined by your genuine advancement and mastery of the exercises.
Although part time, Technique is still something to be Earned.
​By learning in this fashion, the student develops the most thorough techniques and hones their craft to the level needed to succeed in a time frame which suits the Student.
What the course aims to achieve for the student:
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A robust, multifaceted technique which will develop the student as an instinctive, free, empathetic and detailed actor able to master any scene or character
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To help you become an independent and unique artist
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To develop a Powerful imagination
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To learn the importance of action, not feeling
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Script Analysis and interpretation
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The development of the self and one’s humanity
They are all born of a desire to bring truth to the Actor’s performance; they just approach it from slightly different angles and focus on certain elements. All of which are essential.
It is axiomatic to understand the history; upon whose shoulders we stand and why the Techniques were developed in their own unique way. Please follow this LINK for more information.
It is important to remember that both Method and Meisner acting techniques have shared roots in the System developed by the great practitioner Konstantin Stanislavski
Much is given to the partisan nature of these techniques but the truth is they complement each other wonderfully.
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The Meisner Technique was designed to bring the actor into the moment; to ensure that they are truthful, instinctive and free – to live truthfully under the given imaginary circumstances.
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The Repetition Exercise encourages these qualities and more – empathy, a deeper understanding of yourself and human behaviour, courage, confidence, self-worth, point of view to name but a few. It’s a long list and when committed to properly, this exercise is of singular importance.
“Acting is not about being someone different. It’s finding the similarity in what is apparently different, then finding myself in there.”
Meryl Streep
Beyond this, what many people don’t realise is that the Meisner Technique also offers a finely detailed, fundamental approach to Scenes and Character.
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Through a structured, layer by layer learning process, the student will develop a codified system – a genuine technique which will allow them to create detailed, nuanced, truthful performances under any given circumstances.
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See below for course structure or use this LINK for more information on Meisner.
To be able to do these things we have to be open, we have to be honest; we have to know who we are and be comfortable using our own truth. We are our own instrument – mentally and physically we have to be trained.
This is where the Method exercises come in...
Method Acting
“Growth as an Actor and as a Human Being is synonymous”
Stella Adler
People struggle with how to define what is American Method Acting. It is a system...a method of working to create real, human characters. You work from the inside out to develop a full psychological understanding of the character.
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Lee Strasberg, Stella Adler, Bobby Lewis, Uta Hagen, Susan Batson are all regarded as masters of modern Acting, Stella herself as the Mother, basing their work upon the Stanislavski System.
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Each had a unique focus or belief which defined each teacher's approach, leading to the development of specific exercises for specific uses.
“It takes a chunk out of your soul. It should. I think if it’s not costing you anything you’re not doing it right. My job is to create a human being"
Viola Davis
For example, Stella Adler favoured a sociological approach, script analysis and the use of imagination to bring truth into acting. Her exercises enlarge the actor and their senses; challenges the individual to grow and lift yourself into the character’s life and out of your own; to grasp the ‘Big Idea’.
Whereas Lee Strasberg, whilst also believing imagination is the most important thing an actor can have, he believed in a more psychological approach – opening up the actor to free expression using Sense Memory. He insisted upon using specific exercises to use the Actors own truth to bring them into the Character.
The Course is transformational - the key is to use the Truth of Yourself to be able to transform totally into another human being:
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Charlize Theron - Monster
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Michael Clarke Duncan - Green Mile
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Heath Ledger – The Joker / Broke Back.
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De Niro – Raging Bull
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Sean Penn – I Am Sam
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Nicole Kidman – The Hours.
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Whoopi Goldberg - The Color Purple
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Forrest Whittaker - Last King Of Scotland / The Butler
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Meryl Streep - Everything
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Daniel Day Lewis - Everything
What the course aims to achieve for the student:
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A robust, multifaceted technique which will develop the student as an instinctive, free, empathetic and detailed actor able to master any scene or character
-
To help you become an independent and unique artist
-
To develop a Powerful imagination
-
To learn the importance of action, not feeling
-
Script Analysis and interpretation
-
The development of the self and one’s humanity
