Get to know Stanislavsky

Stanislavsky never deemed his system or books complete; they remain dynamic, experimental explorations of the unique communicative power of theatre.

Stanislavsky posits that physical tension is creativity’s greatest enemy, not only paralysing and distorting the beauty of the body, but also interfering with the ability to concentrate and fantasise. Performance demands a state of physical relaxation in which the actor uses only enough muscular tension to accomplish what is necessary. Stanislavsky suggested that: Yogic Breathing - Actors practice yogic breathing to build habits of relaxation. Progressive Relaxation - contracting and releasing each muscle of the body in turn, in order to learn the experiential difference between the two.

Reflecting upon Leo Tolstoy, art communicates felt experience, not knowledge. Stanislavskian actors remain essentially dynamic and improvisatory during performance. He relates ‘experiencing’ to states of mind that seem more familiar: inspiration; creative moods & the activation of the subconscious. Existing fully within the immediate moment, what he calls ‘I am’ & Western actors call ‘moment to moment’. Seized by the role.

The entire system is designed to foster experience.