Classical Acting

Classical acting differs from newer styles of acting, as it is developed around the ideas of the actor themselves which includes their expression of the body, voice, imagination, personalizing, improvisation, external stimuli, and script analysis. This further places emphasis on an actor's psychological relationship with their part as they 'live' their role in order to create realism.

The origin of classical acting stems from the Russian theatre practitioner Konstantin Stanislavski's who rose to prominence in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Stanislavski created the Stanislavski's System which helps actors create and experience their character.

Classical acting today is available for study in universities, drama conservatories, and acting studios across the world. Schools that are attached to or affiliated with a professional classical theatre company give students exposure and opportunity beyond simply the education. Examples of schools or studios with classical acting programs include:

• University of London's Drama Conservatoire: Draws on theories of Michel Saint-Denis with training of the body, voice, and imagination. There is an emphasis on re-interpretation and re-imagining, with equal parts of art and craft in the education. Classical texts of Greek tragedy and Shakespeare are utilized, as well as modern plays.
• CNSAD France's national drama academy located in Paris.
• The Juilliard School Drama Division in New York: There is both vocal and physical training, with script and word analysis, style work, and risk taking with imagination.
• Montreal's National Theatre School of Canada: Learns the craft and art of acting through the contemporary theatre, applying techniques of voice, singing, and movement. The School ascribes to the philosophies of Michel Saint-Denis, which includes exploration, writing, studio presentations, imagination, improvisation, "the mask", and audition preparation.
• The Berg Studios in Los Angeles: Explores classical acting technique and imagination, including developing of a repeatable acting system, script analysis, physical movement, self-discovery through imagination, and illuminating the dialogue through subtext.
• Andrew Wood Acting Studio in Los Angeles: Offers classes in which students learn an approach to acting taught at the Yale School of Drama. The approach emphasizes visceral activation of the actor through deep examination of circumstances and personalization.
• Yale School of Drama in New Haven, Connecticut: Actors are given extensive production work opportunities, working with director, dramaturgs, and playwrights to create theatre pieces and learn from the collaborative process. Using the body as a source of inspiration and expression of work is a focus of the first year training.
• The Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in Bristol, United Kingdom
• London Academy of Performing Arts (LAPA), was a boutique Classical acting school, until its closure in 2005.
• Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts: Offers training in classical acting, including Shakespeare

Many world-renowned actors and actresses are students of Classical Acting, including Laurence Olivier, Vivien Leigh, Dame Maggie Smith and Ralph Fiennes and Oscar winners Eddie Redmayne and Cate Blanchett.

Some well-known classically trained actors include:

• List of acting techniques
• Stanislavski's system
• Method acting
• Konstantin Stanislavski
• Lee Strasberg
• Sanford Meisner
• Ion Cojar
• Ivana Chubbuck