Introduction

The serious, thoughtful, contemplative study of acting technique can be akin to a religious undertaking. A deep delve into methodology can be a pilgrimage for the actor. Undertaking a full training with a master teacher and an intimate group of committed students can be a profound experience. Committed training can be akin to sacred devotion, mirroring the ancient apprentice-style actor training of both the East and the West. Theatre began as a religious experience. The words “religion” and “spirituality” are often used interchangeably in the vernacular of contemporary Western thought. In early English, the word “spirituality” was used positively to connote a personal and effective relationship with God. Acting methodology, as taught in the West, follows one of two similar patterns: a deep devotion to one technique or a filling of the personal “toolbox” with bits of many separate techniques. This chapter also provides an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.