This is the first in a series of modules which will introduce you to the fundamentals of acting theory and provide practical workshop sessions for exploring the application of theory. In collaborative settings, you will be looking particularly at the relationship between acting and psychology, acting and emotion, acting and character, acting and cognitive processes, and the many ways in which traditional theories of acting have responded to the question of how actors prepare and perform. Techniques for inspiring imagination and play will be at the heart of the work, and you will be developing the first steps toward creating acting that is engaging, believable and sustainable in varying contexts. The workshops will focus on collaborative exploration, and on learning from both doing and evaluating. You will learn to work with fellow students and on your own to develop complex, believable short scenes that will test your imagination and creativity. You will gain knowledge of some key approaches to acting in both live and recorded media, and develop the ability to think critically about the ways in which acting theory has developed over the last century. You will be learning about the central figures in modern acting theory, beginning with Stanislavski and you will develop your ability to evaluate acting theories critically. You will apply that critical knowledge to practical acting exercises and learn specific acting techniques, working in groups, in pairs and individually, with short texts and excerpts and also without texts. This is the first in a series of modules which will introduce you to the fundamentals of acting theory and provide practical workshop sessions for exploring the application of theory. In collaborative settings, you will be looking particularly at the relationship between acting and psychology, acting and emotion, acting and character, acting and cognitive processes, and the many ways in which traditional theories of acting have responded to the question of how actors prepare and perform. Techniques for inspiring imagination and play will be at the heart of the work, and you will be developing the first steps toward creating acting that is engaging, believable and sustainable in varying contexts. The workshops will focus on collaborative exploration, and on learning from both doing and evaluating. You will learn to work with fellow students and on your own to develop complex, believable short scenes that will test your imagination and creativity. You will gain knowledge of some key approaches to acting in both live and recorded media, and develop the ability to think critically about the ways in which acting theory has developed over the last century. You will be learning about the central figures in modern acting theory, beginning with Stanislavski and you will develop your ability to evaluate acting theories critically. You will apply that critical knowledge to practical acting exercises and learn specific acting techniques, working in groups, in pairs and individually, with short texts and excerpts and also without texts. You will work on improvisational scenes and ‘contextless? scenes, which require extensive imaginative underpinning. Over the course of the class you will be faced with lengthier and more challenging scripted and unscripted exercises, which require rehearsal both in and out of class, demonstrating rehearsal techniques and working fruitfully and responsibly with your fellow actors. You will also be showing your work in class regularly and learning to respond critically and responsibly to what you see. You will be required to write a number of brief, observational essays on people, paintings or photographs.