The Art And Craft Of Play Directing

Theatre is an interpretive art based upon a director's emotional reaction to reading a play and imagining a production of that play. Before the audience experiences the production, the director must go through a process, part art and part craft, to create it. This book is intended to introduce undergraduate students with a solid theatre background to that process. Stevens includes chapters covering theatre and art, the interpretation of the script, composition and movement, working with actors, and matters of style. Each chapter contains exercises in order for students to consolidate what they have learned. The complete text of John Millington Synge's "Riders to the Sea" is included as an example and study text, and Stevens relates many examples from his own rich directing background. Twenty production photos, two sample floor plans, and numerous diagrams round out the text. The study of directing is a life-long project, and in this book Stevens provides a basis for that study.

"An introductory theatre text focusing on theatre practitioners and their processes. Using an accessible tone and a focused exploration of how theatre artists work, the book covers playwrights; directors; actors; designers of sets; costumes, and props; and lights, sounds, and technology; as well as the varying roles of scholars, critics, and dramaturgs." - Back cover.

The Director’s Craft is a unique and completely indispensable step-by-step guide to directing for the stage. Written by one of the most adventurous and respected directors working today, this book will be an essential item in every student and practitioner’s kitbag. It provides detailed assistance with each aspect of the varied challenges facing all theatre directors, and does so with startling clarity. It will inspire everyone, from the beginner just starting out to the experienced practitioner looking to reinvigorate their practice. Katie Mitchell shares and explains the key practical tools she uses to approach her work with both actors, production teams, and the text itself. She addresses topics such as: the ideas that underpin a play’s text preparing improvizations Twelve Golden Rules for working with actors managing the transition from rehearsal room to theatre analyzing your work after a run has ended. Each chapter concludes with a summary of its critical points, making this an ideal reference work for both directors and actors at any stage of their development.

With over sixty plays written and premièred at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough before going on to play in the West End or the Royal National Theatre, London, or Broadway, Alan Ayckbourn's expertise in writing and directing plays is unsurpassed. For the first time, here in The Crafty Art of Playmaking, he shares all his tricks of the trade. From helpful hints on writing (Where do you start? How do you continue? What is comedy and how do you write it? What is tragedy and how does it work?), to tips on directing (working with actors and technicians, when to listen to the other experts, how to cope with rehearsals), the book provides a complete primer for the tyro and a refresher for the more experienced. Written in an accessible and highly entertaining style, with anecdotes galore to illustrate the how, when, where and why, it's worth the cover price for the jokes alone. 'A marvellously useful and enjoyably good-humoured book' Daily Telegraph

The formation and communication of vision is one of the primary responsibilities of a director, before ever getting to the nuts and bolts of the process. The Art and Practice of Directing for Theatre helps the young director learn how to discover, harness, and meld the two. Providing both a practical and theoretical foundation for directors, this book explores how to craft an artistic vision for a production, and sparks inspiration in directors to put their learning into practice. This book includes: Guidance through day-to-day aspects of directing, including a director’s skillset and tools, script analysis, and rehearsal structure. Advice on collaborating with production teams and actors, building communication skills and tools, and integrating digital media into these practices. Discussion questions and practical worksheets covering script analysis, blocking, and planning rehearsals, with downloadable versions on a companion website.