The Actor Speaks: Voice and the Performer

by Patsy Rodenburg, Judi Dench (Foreword)

In The Actor Speaks, Patsy Rodenburg takes actors and actresses, both professional and beginners, through a complete voice workshop. She touches on every aspect of performance work that involves the voice and sorts through the kinds of vexing problems every performer faces breath and relaxation; vocal range and power; communication with other actors; singing and acting simultaneously; working on different sized stages and in both large and small auditoriums; approaching the vocal demands of different kinds of scripts. This is the final word on the actor's voice and it's destined to become the classic work on the subject for some time to come.

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

416 pages, Paperback

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