Acting

Acting is a fun activity where stories come to life through an actor. Actors tell stories by playing different characters in places like theatre, television, film, radio, and more. To act well, a person needs skills like using their imagination, showing feelings clearly, moving their body, speaking loudly and clearly, and understanding drama.

Actors also learn special ways to talk, like different dialects and accents. They can do things like improvisation and mime. Many actors train for years to get really good. They often learn to sing, work together, practice for auditions, and act for the camera.

Long ago, in places like Ancient Greek cultures, people thought about acting as a way of speaking well, or rhetoric. This shows how important acting has been for telling stories and connecting with people.

History

Main article: History of theatre

One of the first known actors was an ancient Greek named Thespis from Icaria in Athens. A writer named Aristotle wrote about him later. Thespis was the first to step out from the group of singers, called the chorus, and speak as a different character. Before this, the chorus would tell the story. But Thespis spoke as if he were the character. This helped people see the story in a new way. Because of Thespis, we now have the word "thespian" to describe actors.

Training

Further information: Drama school

Conservatories and drama schools offer training that lasts two to four years. This training covers all parts of acting. Universities usually have programs that last three to four years. Students can choose to focus on acting while also learning about other parts of theatre.

Schools teach different ways to act. In North America, many use ideas from Konstantin Stanislavski. These ideas were developed in America as method acting by Lee Strasberg, Stella Adler, and Sanford Meisner. Other schools focus more on physical movement. They follow ideas from teachers like Anne Bogart, Jacques Lecoq, Jerzy Grotowski, and Vsevolod Meyerhold. Classes might also include psychotechnique, working with masks, physical theatre, improvisation, and acting for cameras.

All acting students get strong training in understanding scripts, using their voices, and moving their bodies. To join these programs, young people usually have to try out, or audition. Anyone over 18 can apply, and many schools also offer classes for younger students. These classes introduce them to acting and theatre. More practice and speaking in front of others helps actors feel calmer and less nervous. This is very helpful for their health and performances.

Improvisation

Further information: Improvisational theatre and Devised theatre

Some types of acting use a lot of improvisation. A well-known example is the commedia dell'arte, a funny style of acting from Italy that uses masks.

Improvisation was very important to the Russian acting teacher Konstantin Stanislavski. He started using it in the 1910s after talking with the writer Maxim Gorky in Capri. They got the idea from watching a show in Naples that used commedia dell'arte styles. Stanislavski used improvisation when he worked with young actors at the Moscow Art Theatre. His students, Michael Chekhov and Maria Knebel, also used these ideas.

In the United Kingdom, Joan Littlewood began using improvisation in the 1930s. Later, Keith Johnstone and Clive Barker continued this work. In the United States, Viola Spolin promoted improvisation after learning from Neva Boyd in Chicago, Illinois. Spolin believed that playing games helped actors improve and that improvisation lets actors be free and spontaneous. Actors create characters and stories by reacting to each other without a written script. The filmmaker Mike Leigh used this style in movies.

Actors sometimes use improvisation if they make a mistake, to keep the performance going smoothly.

Physiological effects

Acting in front of an audience can make people feel nervous. This is called "stage fright." It is common, especially for new actors. It can cause a faster heartbeat, higher blood pressure, and sweating.

A study from 2017 found that actors, no matter their experience, had faster heartbeats during performances. Even though all actors felt some stress, more experienced actors had steadier heartbeats compared to newer actors. This shows that with more practice, acting can feel less stressful.

Semiotics

The semiotics of acting looks at how a performance gives meaning to the audience. It studies how an actor's actions, expressions, and words become signs that help tell the story and connect with real life.

Different acting styles think about this meaning in different ways. Some focus on making the performance feel real, while others want to show deeper ideas and messages. Acting always uses certain rules, even when it tries to feel natural. These rules help the audience understand what is happening and feel connected to the story.

Resumes and auditions

Actors and actresses need to make a resume when they want a role. This resume is shorter than a normal one. It uses lists instead of paragraphs and has a head shot on the back. Sometimes, it includes a short video to show the actor’s skills. The video lets the casting director see past performances, if there are any. The resume lists projects the actor has done, like plays, movies, or shows. It also includes special skills and contact information.

Auditioning means performing a short piece. This could be a monologue or some lines for one character, sent by the casting director. The actor shows their skills to look like a different person. It may be as short as two minutes. For theater auditions, it can be longer, or they may perform more than one piece. Each casting director may have different needs. Actors should dress for the part to help the casting director see them as the character. For television or film, they may need more than one audition. Actors are sometimes asked to come back for another audition at the last minute. They receive the lines either that morning or the night before. Auditioning can feel stressful, especially if someone has not been trained for it.

Rehearsal

Rehearsal is when actors practice and get ready for a show together with directors and other team members. Some actors keep practicing certain scenes even while the show is running, to stay fresh and exciting for the audience.

Audience

When actors perform in front of people, they might feel nervous. This can be a bit scary, especially for new actors. But a little bit of nervousness can help them perform their best.

Heart rate

An actor's heart rate changes with what they are doing, as the body feels stress. Before a show, worry can make the heart beat faster. While acting, feeling watched can make the heart beat even faster than in practice, because the show is important for their job. After the show, the heart rate usually goes back to normal, but it can jump up again when people clap.

Acting can help lower feelings of stress, especially for those who feel worried in social situations.