British Universities Film & Video Council

moving image and sound, knowledge and access

Elements of Acting

Synopsis
Edward Petherbridge links masterclass presentations with live excerpts from his one-man stage show. Each of the seven videos shows him in discussions and rehearsal work with students in a practical enquiry into elements of acting and the nature of theatre itself. The titles are: Part 1- MASK. Part 2: PUPPETRY AND UNDULATIONS. Part 3 - TIMING. Part 4 - STYLE Part 5 - TOTAL THEATRE. Part 6 - Edward Gordon Craig. Part 6 - SERIES REVIEW.
Language
English
Country
Great Britain
Medium
Video
Technical information
Colour / Sound
Year of release
1992
Availability
Out of Distribution

Credits

Director
Terence Gross
Cast
Edward Petherbridge 

Additional Details

Production type
Documentary/Educational/News
Subjects
Drama
Keywords
acting techniques; drama teaching; Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); Rehearsals; Masterclasses; One-Person shows

Notes

Notes
The three individual tapes which discuss Shakespeare (TOTAL THEATRE, EDWARD GORDON CRAIG and STYLE) have been catalogued separately.

Sections

Title
Mask
Synopsis
Part 1: Rehearsal work exploring the imaginative use of simple comic and neutral masks and their function in character portrayal and epic storytelling. Two performed sequences suggest how mask work can be enhanced with the use of music, light and scenic effects.

Title
Puppetry and undulations
Synopsis
Part 2: How our bodies divulge the secrets of our moods and character both in the context of acting and relating to body language and communication in general.

Title
Timing
Synopsis
Part 3: The tempos and rhythms governing the simplest stage action and which lie beneath all drama. Includes a comic performance based on timing exercises of the French mime ‘Le Coq’, and a soliloquy from Sheridan’s ‘The Rivals’.

Title
Style
Synopsis
Part 4: The meaning of ‘style’, stimulated by satire on various styles of acting and teaching. The rehearsal work shows approaches to ‘Hamlet’ and ‘Genesis’.

Title
Total theatre
Synopsis
Part 5: The use and nature of theatre language. Students struggle to come to grips with clowning, improvisation and varied forms of dramatic storytelling.

Title
Edward Gordon Craig
Synopsis
Part 6: The work of Edward Gordon Craig, showing the elaborate Victorian theatre in which he acted as a boy, and reacted against. Shows a range of his theatre designs, including his work on ‘Hamlet’ at the Moscow Arts Theatre and on the controversial ‘Ube

Title
Series review
Synopsis
Part 7: A question-and-answer session dealing with students’ problems. Further exploration of the key elements of body language, the spoken word, timing and rhythm, style and realisation, and touches on the actor’s exploration of the dramatist’s text, and

Production Company

Name

Britannia Entertainment Ltd

Notes
see under David Wilkinson
Name

Yod Video

Distributor (Sale)

Name

Resources in Training & Education Ltd

Contact
Donald Hill, Mark Brady
Email
admin@riteltd.net
Web
http://www.riteltd.net External site opens in new window
Phone
01749 689027
Fax
01749 689027
Address
26 Lower Chapel Court
South Horrington
Wells
Somerset
BA5 3DF
Notes
Probably no longer in business (2009)

Record Stats

This record has been viewed 602 times.