"Routledge Performance Practitioners" is a series of introductory guides to the key theatre-makers of the 20th century. Each volume explains the background to and the work of one of the major influences on 20th and 21st century performance. These compact, well-illustrated and clearly written books unravel the contribution of modern theatre's most charismatic innovators, through: personal biography; explanation of key writings; description of significant productions; and reproduction of practical exercises.

Stanislavski’s ‘system’ has dominated actor-training in the West since his writings were first translated into English in the 1920s and 30s. His systematic attempt to outline a psycho-physical technique for acting single-handedly revolutionized standards of acting in the theatre. Until now, readers and students have had to contend with inaccurate, misleading and difficult-to-read English-language versions. Some of the mistranslations have resulted in profound distortions in the way his system has been interpreted and taught. At last, Jean Benedetti has succeeded in translating Stanislavski’s huge manual into a lively, fascinating and accurate text in English. He has remained faithful to the author's original intentions, putting the two books previously known as An Actor Prepares and Building A Character back together into one volume, and in a colloquial and readable style for today's actors. The result is a major contribution to the theatre, and a service to one of the great innovators of the twentieth century. This Routledge Classics edition includes a new Foreword by the director Richard Eyre.

An Actor’s Work on a Role is Konstantin Stanislavski’s exploration of the rehearsal process, applying the techniques of his seminal actor training system to the task of bringing truth to one’s chosen role. Originally published over half a century ago as Creating a Role, this book was the third in a planned trilogy – after An Actor Prepares and Building a Character, now combined in An Actor’s Work – in which Stanislavski sets out his psychological, physical and practical vision of actor training. This new translation from renowned scholar Jean Benedetti not only includes Stanislavski’s original teachings, but is also furnished with invaluable supplementary material in the shape of transcripts and notes from the rehearsals themselves, reconfirming 'The System' as the cornerstone of actor training.

This third volume examines the development of a character from the viewpoint of three widely contrasting plays.

The Russian tradition is a major area of theatre studies Uses a range of historical and archival material, including previously unpublished material from the Michael Chekov archives International market - UK, America. Potential interest in Russia and France

First Published in 1998. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

In his most famous book, An Actor Prepares, Stanislavski dealt with the imaginative processes. In the second book, Building a Character, he deals with the physical realisation of character on the stage, expressions, movement and speech etc. It is a book in which every theory is inextricably bound up with practice - a perfect handbook to the physical art of acting. The work of Stanislavski has inspired generations of actors and trainers. This edition, now reprinted with a new cover at a more accessible price, has stood the test of time for actors all over the world and was the original English language translation. A classic text for every actors library. An Actor must work all his life, cultivate his mind, train his talents systematically, develop his character; he may never despair and never relinquish this main pupose - to love his art with all his strength and love it unselfishly. (Constantin Stanislavski)

This rare book contains a treatise on the subject of realism in acting, written by the creator of method acting, Konstantin Sergeievich Stanislavski. A fascinating and thoroughly valuable text written by one of the founding fathers of modern acting technique, this book is the perfect handbook for the aspiring actor or actress and constitutes a must-have for anyone interested in the subject of acting methodology. Chosen for its immense educational and historical value, this book is proudly republished now with a new prefatory biography of the author. Konstantin Sergeievich Stanislavski (1863 - 1938) was a Russian actor and theatre director, famous for his development of the 'Stanislavski method'. Awards received by Stanislavski include the Order of Lenin in 1937, Order of the Red Banner of Labour in 1938, and People's Artist of the USSR in 1936.