Acting

Acting is an exciting activity where stories come to life through the work of an actor. Actors tell tales by becoming different characters in many places, such as theatre, television, film, radio, and more. To act well, a person needs many skills like using their imagination, showing feelings clearly, moving their body expressively, speaking loudly and clearly, and understanding drama.

Actors also learn special ways to talk, like different dialects and accents, and can even do things like improvisation and mime. Many actors spend years training in special schools to get really good at all these skills. They often learn to sing, work in scenes together, practice for auditions, and act for the camera.

Long ago, in places like Ancient Greek cultures, people thought about acting as a part of speaking well, or rhetoric. This shows just how important acting has been throughout history in 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 this many years later. He said that 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, saying things like, "Dionysus did this." But Thespis spoke as if he were the character, saying, "I am Dionysus, I did this." 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 from two to four years, covering all parts of acting. Universities usually have programs that last three to four years, where 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, developed in America as method acting by Lee Strasberg, Stella Adler, and Sanford Meisner. Other schools focus more on physical movement, following 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, introducing them to acting and theatre. More practice and speaking in front of others helps actors feel calmer and less nervous, which is very helpful for their health and performances.

Improvisation

Further information: Improvisational theatre and Devised theatre

Some classic kinds of acting include 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 like Secrets & Lies (1996), Vera Drake (2004), Another Year (2010), and Mr. Turner (2014).

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

Physiological effects

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

A study from 2017 found that actors, no matter their experience level, 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, even though the heartbeat is still faster than usual.

Semiotics

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

Different acting styles think about this meaning in different ways. Some focus on making the performance feel true to life, while others want to show deeper ideas and messages. Acting always uses certain rules and ways of doing things, 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 applying for roles. This resume is different from a normal one; it is shorter, with lists instead of paragraphs, and it should have a head shot on the back. Sometimes, the resume also includes a short video showing the actor's abilities, so that the casting director can see previous performances, if any. The resume should list projects the actor has been in before, like plays, movies, or shows, as well as special skills and contact information.

Auditioning means performing a short piece, either a monologue or some lines for one character, as 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, as each casting director can 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. Often, actors are asked to come back for another audition at the last minute, and they receive the lines either that morning or the night before. Auditioning can be stressful, especially if one 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 make sure they stay fresh and exciting for the audience.

Audience

When actors perform in front of an audience, they can feel stress. This stress can be especially high for amateur actors, but it often makes their performance better. In fact, some stress can help actors do their very best work.

Heart rate

An actor’s heart rate changes depending on what they are doing, as the body reacts to stress. Before a show, anxiety can make the heart beat faster. While performing, feelings of being watched can also raise the heart rate more than during practice sessions, because the show matters more for their work. After the show, the heart rate usually goes back down, but it can jump up again when the audience applauds.

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