Acting Techniques and Character Building
This domain tests practical acting vocabulary and the process of building a role. You should be able to explain objectives, given circumstances, beats, and the difference between representational and presentational acting.
Core techniques
- Stanislavski: given circumstances, magic if, objective, superobjective, obstacle, and emotional memory.
- A beat is a unit of action changed by a new intention or tactic.
- Character building includes biography, physical life, voice, relationships, and the character's spine or driving need.
- Listening and reacting are as important as speaking; acting is interaction, not recitation.
- Brechtian technique uses alienation or gestus to make social behaviour visible rather than psychologically naturalistic.
Worked example
Line: 'You can leave whenever you want.' Reasoning: the words sound generous, but the character may want to retain control. The actor chooses an objective, such as 'to test her loyalty', an obstacle, such as fear of being abandoned, and a tactic, such as smiling while blocking the doorway. The performance shows subtext through action, not by announcing the intention.
Exam traps
- Indicating an emotion with a facial expression instead of playing an action.
- Writing a character biography that never affects choices on stage.
- Ignoring the other actor and playing only to the audience.
- Confusing Stanislavski's objective with the playwright's theme.
- Over-emoting without a clear beat change.