The Invisible Actor

by Yoshi Oida, Lorna Marshall

Yoshi Oida is completely unique. A Japanese actor and director who has worked mainly in the West as a member of Peter Brook's theatre company in Paris, he blends the Oriental tradition of supreme and studied control with the Western performer's need to characterize and expose depths of emotion. In this practical and captivating study of the actor's art, Yoshi Oida provides performers with all the simple tools which help place the technique of acting behind a cloak of invisibility. Throughout, Lorna Marshall provides a running commentary on Oida's work and methods which helps the reader understand the achievement of this singular artist. A brilliant book, The Invisible Actor is filled with abundant insights to help actors perfect their craft.

Genres: Theatre, Nonfiction, Art, Japanese Literature, Japan

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1953

About the author

The Japanese actor, director and teacher, Yoshi Oida, has created his own acting style, after years of performance with the theatre icon Peter Brook. As part of Brook`s International Theatre Group, Yoshi Oida performed on various stages all over the world. Several years ago he began directing plays himself using a unique combination of Eastern and Western approaches to theatre.

Reviews

[raShit · Rating 4 out of 5]

A versatile book. It contains methods about theatre acting but also adaptable to cinema acting. The book is written for actors. However, it is also useful for directors. Every actor isn't the same. You should use different methods for them. On the other hand, Oida is so attached to Noh (a kind of traditional Japanese theatre). Strictly adhering to a tradition can bring contradictions. In the middle of the book, "You have to do exactly what your master shows you." he says. At the end of the book, he says the opposite. Nevertheless, the book is quite useful and worth reading. I finish my words with Oida's sentences: “You shouldn't accept anything written in this book without unquestioningly. Moreover, if you believe everything in this book, it's better not to read it at all.”

[Jess Esa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful blend of Eastern philosophy and insightful acting advice. It's also genuinely compelling to read, I couldn't put it down.

[Fernanda Degolin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Um livro que fala sobre quem somos e os caminhos que devemos percorrer para sermos melhores como pessoas e naturalmente isso nos torna melhores como atores.

Amo a sensibilidade de Yoshi Oida, vontade de abraçar ele por uns 10 minutos.

[Camille Lecointre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yoshi Oida combines in this book the best of Oriental and Western teachings of theatre. He breaches the subject from technical and spiritual points of view and leads the reader to some profound questioning and reflection.

Anyone who calls themselves an actor should give this book a read, for its thinking, its writing, its exercises and its philosophy.

Anyone who calls themselves anything should give this book a read, for its profound honesty, its philosophy and its questionings.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this one again on the bus - it's been about 10 years. A brilliant book that maybe explains why I, on the Introvert/Extrovert borderline on the ol' personality tests, even have an interest in doing this for a living.

[Zach · Rating 5 out of 5]

125 pgs, 4 hrs and 15 min

Yoshi Oida, a master of his craft and an expert in explaining his own creative process. So much can be taken from The Invisible Actor, but even in Yoshi’s own words; if you take all of his text word for word in your own exercises and practice, then you might as well have not read the book at all. I’d recommend this book to any actor looking to enrich their understanding of approaching the art of acting, and finding that flower in your craft.

[Tuba Kılıç · Rating 5 out of 5]

“ Üstadınız önünüzdeki yolu sizden önce yürümüştür, şimdi siz de onun arkasından toz duman içerisinde izini sürmeye çalışıyorsunuz. Size sonraki adımlarının ne olacağı konusunda ipuçları verebilir. AMA BU YOL BİR BAŞKASININ GEÇMİŞİ, SİZİN GELECEĞİNİZ DEĞİL. Bütün kitaplar ve dersler aslında başkasının geçmişinin haritasıdır. Bunları özümseyin ve kullanın ama hiçbir zaman kendi yolunuzun farklı olacağını ve bunun sizin kişisel yolculuğunuz olduğunu unutmayın.”

Tiyatroyla ilgilenen herkesin başucu kitabı olabilecek değerde bir kitap... Hayatınızı her alanında kullanabileceğiniz yollar da sunuyor.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent little book filled with wonderful stories, illustrations, and exercises. Simple to read, almost seeming like a book without substance, careful attention reveals a deeply felt and well thought out philosophy of performance. Worthwhile for anyone in the creative or performative arts, and definitely something to return to again and again.

[Hilâl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bu kitabı okuyalı 4 ayı geçti sanıyorum. Gönül isterdi ki daha ayrıntılı bir yorum yapayım ama şu anki durumumda mümkün değil. :D Çünkü hatırlamıyor.

Kitabı esasen Japon yazar okuma kafasında listeye almıştım ama oyunculukla alakalı bir kitapmış. Ortaokul ve lisede de biraz tiyatro ile ilgilendiğimden yine de okumaya karar verdim.

Peter Brook’un ön sözüyle başlıyor, ardından 5 ana başlık altında ilerliyor kitabımız. Her bölüm belli bir konuya odaklanıyor (hareket, konuşma, öğrenme gibi). Oida bahsettiği şeyleri doğallıkla aktarmış; arada egzersizler öneriyor, arada hikâyeler anlatıyor vs. Lorna Marshall’ın açıklamaları ilgili kısımlara hemen eklenmiş. Oida bize oyunculuğun teknikten ibaret olmadığını; oyuncunun “parlama” durumunu merkeze koyarak farklı bir şekilde aktarmış. Görünmez Oyuncu ismi de ona istinaden.

Genel yaptığım okumalara göre ilginç bir kitaptı ve ara ara egzersiz kısımlarında sıkılsam da severek okuduğumu hatırlıyorum. Alıntılanacak noktalar da vardı. Hatta kitabı beğenince ardından Oyuncunun Oyunları ’nı GR’de olmadığını fark eder, gidip ekler okumaya başladım ama o kadar aynı başlıyordu ki sıkıldım ve onu zorunlu erteledim.

Bu kitabı Japon ve Batı tiyatro kültürlerinin sentezlendiği bir kültür kitabı olarak görüp okuyabilirsiniz, tiyatro ile daha ciddi ilgilenenlere de farklı bir bakış açısı sunacaktır kanaatim. Kitabı kısaca açıklasam oyunculuğun ritüeli filan derdim galiba, o yüzden teknik bir şey beklemeyin bana kalırsa. Biraz daha kalbini açmakla ilgili açıklamalar yapıyor yazar çünkü.

Çeviri de baskı da gayet güzel onu da belirtmeden geçmeyelim. Abartı Türkçeleştirilmelere kaçılmaması güzel. Tavsiye edebilirim.

[Bihag · Rating 5 out of 5]

How do we converse
with people whom we had never met? , I think the most proficient way to be near to that person's circle of thought is to get introduced to their art through their books, music, films, paintings etc, etc.

Yoshi Oida grants us his precious knowledge of acting in theatre and television through his writings in this lovely book “The Invisible Actor “. Originally from Japan, Yoshi oida is equally immersed in both the styles of the theatre ( Japanese traditional theatre - Noah and Kabuki styles and Western modern contemporary theatre as well. He worked majorly with the great theatre maestro “Peter Brook” in his big productions such as “Mahabharata” and “The man who”.

His work in this book concentrates very much on breath, Jo ha kyu, movement, sounds, repetition, speech and inside of the actor.
After reading this piece of art I discovered so much about myself.

[Carolina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Este livro mostra uma perspectiva muito interessante sobre a interpretação em palco, partindo a partir do teatro tradicional japonês. Com isto em mente, o autor cria uma espécie de manual, em que fala de elementos muitas vezes esquecidos.

Oida esforça-se por transmitir a intenção na respiração, propondo alguns exercícios para que o actor possa aprender a controlá-la. Através do controlo da respiração, o actor terá o controlo total sobre o seu corpo. Esta é uma forma de actuar feita do detalhe, sem gestos elaborados, sem o esforço da limitação física.

Assim, é algo que me agrada bastante, embora eu pense que sem um mestre que possa aconselhar e preparar directamente, seja algo muito difícil de atingir.

[Camsuh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is more than a book on acting: it's a book on philosophy.

Oida perfectly and expertedly captures the essence of acting through not only physical exercises, but also life advice. The last 20-ish pages of this short book caugth me by surprise. I was awestruck by the intelligence he approaches such a topic as acting with. So many parts of this book almost brought tears to my eyes.

I definitely want to get my own copy of this

[Davin Broadhurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the best acting book I have read so far—so many incredible anecdotes and sagacity from Japanese folklore, samurai stories and theatre practitioners. Incredibly helpful to the young actor in addition to really anybody. Some nice breathing and movement exercises throughout but not too much to be like a textbook of exercises. Probably about 30% exercises? Which I did like… 20% of those? They were nice.

[Katie Penn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hands down the best acting book I've read so far!
These practices have completely shown me a new light to acting, performance, preparation, mental health, movements, meditation, speaking & even growing up.
The insights into wisdom and simplicity are so valuable for a performer, and has opened my mind to many more ventures from an Eastern culture!

[bea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leitura obrigatória para os atores! Oida é um mestre e cada ensinamento é mágico. Aprendi muito e fiz diversos links com minhas aulas de teatro. Lógico que o que ele fala é sobre os palcos, pouquíssimas coisas se aplicam às câmeras. Mas tudo começa no palco, logo, é fundamental. Assim como ler Stanislavski, Oida é obrigatório!!

[Ieva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Knyga skirta specifiškai nišai(bet čia aš to ir norėjau iš jos, čia nėra nusiskundimas). Visai kaip vadovėlis, pilna teorijos ir praktikos užduočių.

Čia viena iš tų knygų kurią reiks dar keleris kartus perskaityt, kad pilnai įsisavint, bet jo, gerai, nuostabu. Dabar kai sėdžiu ar vaikštau įsivaizduoju, jog esu plastikinis vandens pilnas maišas be organų.

[Levi S Porto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incrível

[Glosodom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strength in little finger + breathe thru feet

[Yoshi Angelic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Diosito bendiga a Yoshi Oida

[Laura Sánchez Negrete · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tiene mucha información muy relevante sobre la actuación, lo recomiendo especialmente si estás iniciando en el ámbito actoral

[Iasmin Dantas · Rating 5 out of 5]

todo atuante PRECISA ler isso aqui!

[Darwin Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

De hecho Yoshi Oida ☝️

[Joel Juarez · Rating 3 out of 5]

si eres actor supongo qe te servirá

[I · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jäi kohati minu jaoks liiga spirituaalseks...
Esimesed sada lehekülge olid nauditavad, edasi venis, palju kordusi ja sama mõtte edastamist.
Sellegipoolest häid noppeid, tähelepanekuid ja harjutusi.

Meeldiv oli aga märgata, et kui lugesin raamatut kaks ja pool aastat tagasi, panin kõrva taha hoopis muid asju kui nüüd. Tunnen, et olin nüüd põhjalikum ja haarasin rohkemat kui tookord.

[Algernon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Indispensable.

[Abigail]

Art. Ritual.

[Gabriela Cortez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Um ótimo livro, que possui um método de atuação muito interessante. Com certeza um livro necessário para qualquer ator.

[Ed Shamwana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book... about acting innit,