'Robert Cohen's book, Acting Power, follows the tradition of his
other book, Acting One, and has been the veritable bible for acting
teachers for the last quarter century.' -
David Krasner, Emerson College
'This book, above all else, is an attempt to explore the qualities of
acting power.... to suggest to you, the actor, an approach toward not
merely good acting but powerful acting. Great actors display the power
to frighten - and the power to seduce - and can shift between the one
and the other like a violinist can her notes.'
- From the Preface
The first edition of Acting Power was a groundbreaking work of acting
theory which applied sociological and psychological principles to actor
training. The book went on to influence a generation of theatre and
performance studies students and academics, and was translated into five
languages.
This carefully revised 21st Century Edition (re)considers,
in the context of today's field:
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- questions such as 'should actors act from the inside or the
outside?' and 'should the actor live the role or present the role?';
- contemporary research into communication theory, cybernetics, and
cognitive science;
- brilliantly illuminating and witty exercises for solo study and
classroom use, and a through-line of useful references to classic
plays;
- penetrating observations about the actor's art by more than 75
distinguished professional actors and directors.
Cohen's elegant and rigorous updates emphasise the continuing relevance
of his uniquely integrated and life-affirming approach to this field.
The new edition draws on his extraordinarily rich career as teacher,
scholar, director, translator and dramaturg. It is a recipe for
thrilling theatre in any genre.
