Artaud and Stanislavski, a practical exploration

This pack introduces students to the theatre practitioners Antonin Artaud and Konstantin Sergeievich Alexeiev (Stanislavski). Students will develop a practical understanding of the ideas of Artaud and Stanislavski through the exercises provided, in addition to formulating their own ideas about the nature of theatre.

Artaud and Stanislavski epitomise performing skills vital for all drama students: physical theatre, realism and character analysis. Through the exercises in this pack, students will gain a detailed knowledge of the philosophies of these two contrasting practitioners. The following areas will be explored in detail: how the audience is affected by the performance, different ideas about how to stage a play and the role of the performer.

Through their study of Artaud and Stanislavski, students will be encouraged to refine and develop their own theatre practice by means of regular feedback sheets which serve to organise their thoughts. The feedback sheets will prove a valuable record of the learning experience when it comes to formulating ideas in written work. Knowledge and subject specific vocabulary will be expanded. As well as considering the value of the work of Stanislavski and Artaud, the students will appraise, analyse and criticise their own work in progress and in performance, increasing their maturity as thinking performers.