Acting Theories

Display Schedule

Code	Completion	Credits	Range	Language Instruction	Semester
311AT0	exam	3	2 hours (45 min) of instruction per week, 57 to 72 hours of self-study	English	winter and summer

Subject guarantor

Name of lecturer(s)

Zuzana JURECHOVÁ

Department

The subject provides FAMU International

Acting Theories surveys approaches to the art of acting, beginning with Stanislavski’s tools for the creation of psychological character. Approaches stemming from Meyerhold’s emphasis on physical expressivity are also explored, and the course continues to look at approaches which fall within two major categories of acting techniques: techniques for the creation of a psychologically truthful character and techniques for immediate expressivity or training an actor to physically respond to images. As each approach is introduced, in-class exercises demonstrate some of the techniques used by that particular acting teacher. This is why class size has to be limited so that there is space and time for everyone to participate in the exercises.

Learning outcomes

To become familiar with vocabulary and key concepts related to the art of acting
To understand basic theories of Stanislavski, Meyerhold, Brecht, Grotowski and Method Acting teachers
To be able to compare approaches to acting as developed by major acting teachers
To become familiar with core exercises related to different schools of acting
To apply acting theories to practical work with actors

Prerequisites and other requirements

Literature

Hodge, Alison (2009). Twentieth Century Actor Training. (London: Routledge).

Zarelli, Phillip. (1995) Acting (Re) Considered: Theories and Practices. (London: Routledge).

Evaluation methods and criteria

Students are expected to regularly attend class and fully participate in the exercises. Student must have a minimum of 70% attendance to pass the course (more is expected).

See detail of assignments below.

If students miss the class on Lecoq, they must prepare the in-class transfer exercise at home and submit a filmed version to the instructor.

If students miss the class on Grotowski, they must prepare the in-class physical score exercise at home and submit a filmed version to the instructor.

A final grade is calculated is in this way:

40% - In-class participation in exercises, attendance includes transfer exercise (5%) and physical score exercise (5%)

30% - Written response to readings

30% - Two in-class tests on material covered in the course

Note

	06:00–08:0008:00–10:0010:00–12:0012:00–14:0014:00–16:0016:00–18:0018:00–20:0020:00–22:0022:00–24:00
Mon
Tue
Wed	room 207 Room No. 2 (Lažanský palác) JURECHOVÁ Z. 18:10–21:25 (lecture parallel1) starts on Oct. 9, once in 2 weeks - odd weeks
Thu
Fri

Date	Day	Time	Tutor	Location	Notes	No. of paralel
	Wed	18:10–21:25	Zuzana JURECHOVÁ	Room No. 2 Lažanský palác	starts on Oct. 9, once in 2 weeks - odd weeks	lecture parallel1

Schedule for summer semester 2024/2025:

The schedule has not yet been prepared