The Formation of an Actor’s Sense for Improvisation

At the beginning of the article, I define the term “the sense for improvisation” and describe the role of an actor’s sense for improvisation in the pedagogical and theatre work of K.S. Stanislavsky, B.E. Vakhtangov, V.E. Meyerhold and M. Chekhov. I then analyze different approaches to this issue in the process of studying acting at The Russian Institute of Theatre Arts – GITIS. I also explore various elements of the acting technique (imagination, attention, emotional memory, tempo-rhythm, inner monologue, psycho-physical awareness etc.) and analyze their connection with an actor’s sense for improvisation. Finally, I write about the Active Analysis Method, as one of the most effective ways to form an actor’s sense for improvisation in their role.

The integral version of this article can be found in the printed KINO!