Konstantin Stanislavski

Konstantin Stanislavski was a pre-eminent Russian actor, director and, above all, a theater reformer. Considering himself a representative of naturalism, he developed the “Art of Experiencing”, an acting system based on the assumption that actors have to tap into their emotional memory to be credible in their roles. He laid the foundation to psycho-physical awareness, an acting technique promoting intuitive action. His teachings are based on the relationship of mind and body.

According to Stanislavski, actors have to identify with the characters they are playing. In order to create a personal connection between them and their roles, actors have to ask themselves questions like: Who am I? Where am I? What do I want? Why do I want it? and How will I get what I want?

The Stanislavski method has changed the art of acting considerably and continues to have a substantial impact on modern theater. Stella Adler and Lee Strasberg further developed Stanislavski’s ideas, creating the basis for the success of actors like Marlon Brando, Robert de Niro, James Dean and many others.