The actor speaks: Voice and the performer

by Patsy Rodenburg

Beginning with what every first-year acting student faces in class and ending with what leading professional actors must achieve every night on the three stages of the Royal National Theatre, Patsy Rodenburg's celebrated work as one of the world's foremost voice and acting coaches is fully revealed in this thoughtful and inspirational book about the process of acting Through a seven-step process, she takes the actor through an intensive voice and speech workshop tackling the vexing problems faced in rehearsal and on breathing and relaxation; vocal range and power; communication with other actors and the audience; integrating movement, singing and speaking; deciphering and animating a text; adjusting voice to different size stages and auditoria; working in mediums beyond the stage; sustaining a performance through an entire evening and a long run; and identifying and overcoming the countless potential problems that face every performer who works in front of an audience.

Genres: Theatre, Nonfiction, Art, Self Help, Reference

400 pages, Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this book was like brushing my teeth --- necessary, helpful, and it made me feel better afterwards, but pretty tedious in the interim.

You have to take this one with a grain of salt not just because Ms. Rodenburg still thinks it's okay to use the word "Oriental" when referring to a person's ethnicity, but because following the workouts and discipline outlined in the book would require a monk's free time and dedication.

[judy-b. judy-b. · Rating 5 out of 5]

That I may find the courage and discipline to put these practices to use! Amazing how much goes into simply speaking. Speaking (physically) correctly, that is.

It's june 29, 2009 and I am re-reading this book and still intending to practice the exercises, as I prepare to record my book. It is a lot of work... but the art is worth it.

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

The actor's voice bible. This one that I need to purchase and constantly re-read.

"[in terms of physical work] the actor aims to acquire status or ownership of the body and the space. We know long before someone speaks whether we will listen to him or her. We know as soon as an actor walks onto the stage whether he will engage us."

[Catriona Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many years ago I worked in the theatre as a director and I also taught voice classes. This was like a bible to me. Patsy knows exactly what she is talking about and is one of the best in the business.

[A]

This is a great book so far...the material is a bit dense, but that is to be expected. This is sortof a textbook, a compedium of the author's teachings.

[Andres "Ande" Jakovlev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raamat, mille ikka aeg-ajalt kätte võtan ja milles olevaid harjutusi meelde tuletan.

Kuigi see on suunatud eelkõige professionaalsele (teatri)näitlejale, on raamatus esitatavad harjutused, tõekspidamised ja näpunäited piisavalt universaalsed. Kohati kaldub küll liialt "suure" teatri poole, millega mul otseselt kokkupuudet ei ole, aga see tegelikult ei häiri.

Vajab muidugi mõttega lugemist ja järele proovimist, niisama öökapiraamatuks see ei sobi.

[Benni Zev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Patsy Rodenburg's depth of knowledge and understanding makes this book (especially once we get past the slightly laborious though extremely necessary exercises) an insightful and exciting book to read. An authenticity pervades her writing which makes the book accessible and not overwhelming, it encourages a change and makes a compassionate case as to its own necessity.

[Kristin Koski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Valuable warmups and techniques for improving the actor's instrument