Facing the Fear

An Actor's Guide to Overcoming Stage Fright

Bella Merlin

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Paperback

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English

Nick Hern Books
24 March 2016

Theatre Studies; Acting techniques

Stage fright has the power to drive actors away from the stage for months, years, and even a lifetime. It is a monster that can affect any actor at any time - but it is also a challenge that can be met.

In Facing the Fear - the first book of its kind written specifically for actors - performer, author and teacher Bella Merlin draws on her own and other actors' personal experiences to examine: the internal and external roots of stage fright, and how it manifests itself both psychologically and physiologically; the complex relationship between the actor and the audience, and how it contributes to stage fright; the cognitive processes of learning, storing and retrieving lines, and practical strategies to help; the essential principles for building a healthy, fear-free rehearsal environment; the techniques that actors can employ to develop their own practices, from tips on physical wellbeing to performance strategies.

Insightful, empowering and always reassuring, Facing the Fear is a book for any actor: for those who are experiencing or have previously suffered from stage fright, as well as for those who want to be fully prepared in case that day ever comes. It provides all the tools actors need to understand, confront and ultimately overcome stage fright and its effects, thereby regaining control over their lives and careers. It's also valuable reading for any teacher, director or stage manager working closely with actors, and a fascinating insight for anyone interested in what actors go through.

By: Bella Merlin
Imprint: Nick Hern Books
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 216mm, Width: 138mm, Spine: 20mm
Weight: 377g
ISBN: 9781848423138
ISBN 10: 1848423136
Pages: 280
Publication Date: 24 March 2016
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

BELLA MERLIN is Professor of Acting and Directing at the University of California, Riverside. Her publications include Beyond Stanislavsky: The Psycho-Physical Approach to Actor-Training, The Complete Stanislavsky Toolkit and Acting: The Basics.

Reviews for Facing the Fear: An Actor's Guide to Overcoming Stage Fright

'A strong blend of hard evidence, fact and anecdote... detailed but very accessible... a practical book with plenty of advice' * The Stage * 'Loaded with technical, scholarly, and specialized information, yet all of it is articulated in the vernacular of the actor, making it not only accessible, but enjoyable… a refreshingly personal, often intimate, and thoroughly informative glimpse into the actor’s nightmare. It offers a comprehensive review of the possible origins of and causes for stage fright, a genuine system for addressing those issues, and a thought-provoking discourse on the actor’s world and relationships therein that influence this often debilitating phenomenon. If you are an actor who has faced this obstacle, or you know someone who has, you would do well to pick up this book' * Voice and Speech Review * 'Insightful, illuminative and life-changing… this book should be on the top of every performer's reading list' * The Reviews Hub * 'Fascinating and incredibly informative… well researched, excellently structured and helpfully user-friendly… a special book that deserves a special place on anyone's bookshelf concerned, directly or indirectly, with acting' * ReviewsGate * 'This is an important book because I don’t recall anyone writing in such depth and with such honesty about stage fright before… I hope tutors recommend this book to all performance students and that actors, however experienced, will read it and feel strengthened' -- Susan Elkin, * MyTheatreMates.com *