Carola von Seherr-Thoss has been teaching actors at the Bavarian Theater Academy August Everding in Munich for almost 20 years. As part of her sabbatical semester, she wrote an entertaining, humorous and at the same time informative essay about two training modules – storytelling and speech formation in the acting department. The special thing is that the actors always have their say here. They describe their experiences vividly and authentically. This is how university teaching is fun! There are two booklets:
Issue 1: Storytelling
…In 2007, I was commissioned by the head of the Academy’s drama department to develop an evening program with our students – instead of the usual Christmas party – that would focus on telling stories from all over the world. My decision fell on oriental fairy tales. The more I dealt with it, the clearer it became to me that it could only be about “free storytelling”. In comparison to learning by heart or reproducing a given text verbatim, “free storytelling” ties in with old traditions of oral transmission. None of my numerous elocution exercise and specialist books for actors had devoted a chapter to this topic. I became aware, that pioneering work needs to be done in acting speech training and I got suggestions from a professional storyteller. In the following I report on my procedures and experiences I made with the students in the context of “storytelling”…
Interest? Then contact us, we will be happy to send you a copy.
Issue 2: Speech formation
… Actors, speakers and students have asked me again and again to write down my “basic principles” on the subject of speech formation. However, there were many good reasons not to do this and to prefer practical work. My sabbatical semester at the Bavarian Theater Academy gave me a good opportunity to devote myself to this topic…
Interest? Then contact us, we will be happy to send you a copy.
Photo © Felix Loechner
