11/14/2024

Body Language and Presence

Know the secret to owning a stage

When you watch and listen to a great speaker, do you go home and thrill to the slides you have seen? Or are you still feeling the power of that person's presence? 

I'll bet you're aware—and maybe a little in awe—of how he or she physically owned the stage.What you were probably seeing, in fact, was literally the picture of confidence.

The Physical Dimension of Stage Performance

The theaters in the most vibrant theatrical eras—the ancient Greek amphitheaters and the Elizabethan "thrust" stage—were designed for the audience's response. In Athens, the playing area was circular, and the seats rose steeply so everyone could see and hear clearly. The thrust stage of Shakespeare's time jutted out into the house, so the audience was on three sides. The reason for both of these configurations from different theatrical periods is clear: The physical relationship of actor and audience is as vital as anything spoken by the players.

Please select this link to read the blog post from The Gary Genard Method.