ABSTRACT
Eugenio Barba is a theatre director, an actor trainer and a writer (see Figure 1.1). With his actors in the Odin Teatret, Barba has developed a distinct approach to actor training and making theatre performances. He has written detailed books, essays and papers on his work and many other aspects of theatre. As well as being a co-founder of Odin Teatret, he is also a founder of the International School of Theatre Anthropology (ISTA), where the craft of the actor is examined and explored. A large amount of his work with Odin Teatret and ISTA has been documented both in writing and on video. Therefore, it is important to note that this book sits within a web of writings and other documentary materials that you might be interested in consulting to gain a fuller understanding of Barba’s work and ideas. In partnership with the writings and video material, it is essential also to have a practical understanding of Barba’s theatre work. Throughout this book, and especially in Chapter 4, you will be given exercises to try that will give you a practical sense of Barba’s particular approach to the craft of the actor.
