Which obstacle is actually limiting your availability today?
Freeing the Actor, by Eric Morris.
What the book addresses
An instrumental reference addressing inhibitions, dependencies and habits, with more than 140 exercises and techniques in the author's description.
How to read it
A large exercise collection becomes more useful when you identify a particular difficulty. Distinguish a vocal restriction, an unfamiliar imaginative task, pressure to please and uncertainty about the script. They may interact, but they do not necessarily ask for the same intervention. Read the complete instructions and their context before deciding how to work.
An original rehearsal investigation
Describe the difficulty in observable language: 'I hold my breath before the difficult line' is more workable than 'I am blocked.' Choose an appropriate, familiar preparation and test the scene again. Record whether the observation changes. You can also choose another tool, ask for guidance or stop. An exercise is a resource, not a demand to overpower yourself.
Connections and distinctions
Use No Acting Please for the system's introduction and Being & Doing for an ongoing practice record. Freeing the Actor concentrates on availability; your script and character work remain necessary when you return to performance.
Instrumental work and acting craft
Instrumental work develops the actor’s expressive resources; craft applies those resources to the demands of a role. At JBAS, the six craft tools are Sensory Work, Improvisation, Archetype Work, Externals, Imaging and deep Script and Character Analysis, with voice supporting the work throughout. Morris’s work informs the distinction between instrument and craft. Roy Hart voice work and the Stones’ Psychology of Selves contribute further resources for vocal expression, awareness and imaginative exploration.
This is an original JBAS reading guide with an attributed overview and study questions. Read the complete book for the author's developed argument and exercise instructions.
Further Reading · Acting, voice and psychology encyclopedia · Teacher and practitioner profile
