About the Book:
A dip-in,
flick-through, quick-fire resource book, Drama Games for
Rehearsals offers dozens of ideas and exercises to energize and
inspire a bold, creative rehearsal process for any play, of any
period or genre.
Aimed at directors of all levels, it covers every aspect of
rehearsal, including:
• Warm-up exercises to prepare the body, voice and mind, and
to create a strong ensemble
• Ideas for approaching the text, tackling the 'Story of the
Play'
• A wealth of games for unlocking the 'World of the Play',
including developing characters, finding a physical style,
understanding genre and investigating themes
• Suggestions for exploring sound and music, whether for use
in the production or simply to encourage a sense of fun in rehearsals
This essential 'go-to' book will provide you with a
host of original and illuminating games, perfect for the play you're
rehearsing, be it Shakespeare or Greek tragedy, a Restoration comedy,
physical theatre, Modern Naturalism – or even a brand new play.
Marianne Elliott, one of the most innovative
and exciting directors working anywhere in the world, describes it as
a "beautiful, and very clearly written book" which
will become her "constant companion in future".
What people say:
"I
wish I'd had this book when I was starting out as a young director...
I cannot recommend it highly enough." — Marianne
Elliott,
from her
Foreword
"Great
fun… a 'must have' for directors." — Word
Matters
(Journal of the Society of Teachers of Speech & Drama)
"This
book is great for making the rehearsal room as active as it is
cerebral; it will become as indispensable as its predecessors…
intelligent and well-focused games... not just a manual, it's a good
read full of anecdotes and witty asides. From the start we know that
we are in the hands of an expert practitioner." —
Teaching Drama Magazine
"This
new volume is packed full of activities to help the work of teachers,
as well as directors.. Any drama teacher, youth leader or play
director seeking to develop skills in text-free environments is
likely to find practical inspiration here." —
Teaching Drama
"Should
prove invaluable to creative directors, writers and actors wishing to
develop an ensemble approach... Swale's ideas provide working methods
and creative approaches which will help anyone involved in developing
a production, from the budding director to those working with
experienced actors in the professional sector." —
DramaResource.com
About the Author:
Jessica
Swale is an Olivier Award-winning writer and director across film
and theatre. She is also a workshop leader and educator who has
worked with the National Theatre, Out of Joint, Shakespeare’s
Globe, and for many drama schools, and theatre projects both in the
UK and overseas.
