Workshops at the Moving Dock Theatre Company

Michael Chekhov, a student of Stanislavsky and a leading actor as well as director at the original Moscow Art Theatre, devoted his career to bringing out the best in actors. His method is a comprehensive creative process for the actor. Michael Chekhov’s approach awakens creative abilities that we have, but might not be using as actors, or even as people. In every exercise, we learn to look with our imaginations and our intuitions, not merely through the perspectives of our everyday lives. When we peer with our ‘better’ eyes, then we can find an inner life for our characters that isn’t limited.

This creative process is taught through exercises and concepts that provide a way for actors to access their inner life, create more interesting and truthful characters through their imaginations, and have command over their performances. The basic concepts of Chekhov’s approach, covered in all workshops, include -

     - presence, improvisation and ensemble, and creative movement
     - learning to work with the imagination
     - developing the inner-outer connection through the ‘psychological gesture’
     - the elements of character
     - refining, strengthening, and working with the inner action

These concepts then provide a pathway for ongoing development - a way to practice and apply the technique to characters and scenes. Repetition of these exercises, in creative innovation, continues to hone our talent, make us more confident, and lead us to achieve inspired acting.

Each workshop is unique in the way the material is presented. Though all the workshops include the fundamental concepts in some way, the emphasis is tailored to meet the needs of the participants. The progress occurs in the individual who is building upon their first exercises with gradually increasing understanding and ability - Zen for the actor.

Our workshops are offered to give many people the possibility to try this approach in ways that suit their lives. Actors may create their own combination of workshops from -

     -weekend Intensives appropriate for newcomers and continuing students
     -weekly workshops which offer more time to work with the concepts     
     -continuing workshops to practice and apply the technique

Workshop Titles:

The Michael Chekhov Acting Technique - The Basic Ideas
        Learn how to bring out your creative individuality through exercises that focus and expand your expressive self. The fundamental concepts of the Chekhov Technique, as outlined in his book, To The Actor, will be taught in a group setting. In these sessions, each actor is essentially working on his or her own process. Some of the exercises are designed to be done while focusing on oneself, while other exercises involve guided ensemble improvisations and games. These ideas lay the foundation for working creatively with the technique.

Acting from the Imagination - Creating Characters and Playing Actions
    Building on the concepts in The Basic Ideas, this workshop focuses on the development of character and learning how to play the character's underlying drives (what Stanislavsky calls 'objectives'). This process includes the technique of the Psychological Gesture, the cornerstone of the Chekhov approach, involving the whole physical/psychological instrument of the actor, and the sessions are very active. After working on a particular aspect of the character, the class improvises short scenes to find out how to bring these ideas into play.

Ensemble Acting - Developing the Scene
        Bringing together many of the concepts in the Chekhov technique, actors will develop characters and create scenes. Some of these will be generated from the ideas of the actors, while others will be found through working with play scripts. Actors will learn how to stay true to an artistic idea while acting spontaneously with their scene partners, first in improvisations, and later, in shaped and rehearsed scenes.
(Prerequisite - the first two workshops or equivalent in previous Chekhov training.)
   
Developing Audition Pieces with the Technique
    Learn how the Chekhov Technique can help develop your audition material. In this workshop you will be guided in how to apply the concepts to create your "little work of art." The class will work together with exercises to develop the character and shape of the monologue based scene. There will be opportunity to perform for each other in the sessions as well as participate in an "Open Workshop" at the last session for an invited audience in the Studio.
(Prerequisite - the first two workshops or equivalent in previous Chekhov training. Can be taken in conjunction with Ensemble Acting.)

Company Class
    Ongoing practice and further exploration for advanced students of the Chekhov Technique.
(Prerequisite - the first two workshops or equivalent in previous Chekhov training.)