ABSTRACT

Michel Saint-Denis was one of twentieth century theatre’s most influential directors and theorists. This book combines his seminal Theatre: The Rediscovery of Style with material from Training for the Theatre, newly edited to create a work which moves seamlessly from theory to practice.

  • Theatre: The Rediscovery of Style collects five of Saint Denis’ key lectures, given during his time in America, and perfectly encompasses his synergy of classical theatre and modern realism
  • Training for the Theatre is a key practical resource for actors, directors and teachers alike. It covers crucial areas such as understanding a play’s context, training schedules, improvisation and dealing with stage space, as well as a section on Saint-Denis’ use of masks in actor training

Theatre: The Rediscovery of Style and Other Writings benefits from Jane Baldwin’s new biographical introduction and annotations, that put Saint-Denis into context for a contemporary audience. It brings a wealth of inspirational material both to the rehearsal space and the classroom.

chapter |20 pages

Prologue

part |2 pages

Part I The classical theatre

part |2 pages

Part II Classical theatre and modern realism

chapter 2|14 pages

Style and reality

chapter 3|13 pages

Style and stylisation

chapter 4|14 pages

Style in acting, directing, and designing

part |4 pages

Part III Acting guidelines: Excerpts from Training for the Theatre

chapter 8|10 pages

The imaginative background

chapter 9|35 pages

Silent acting: Improvisation