Stanislavski System

Hey, im new here...so nice to meet all of ya :D I'm a teen from S.A and am currently choosing subjects for year 11. Howevever to do drama, i have to chosse drama A or B. In drama A, it says that a majority of the work and assessment will be done on the Stanislavski system,which until now i hadn't heard of (i have been acting for 5 years). So i was just wondering if anyone here has done work on this and has any feedback on it (ie. loved or hated it). Thanks! P.s- Sorry if this isn't posted in the right spot.

hey, I'm a yr 12 Drama Studies Student from W.A. We have done a bit on Stanislavski over yr 11 and 12. Stanisklavski was a drama practitioner in the early 1900's. His theories/system is to do with realistic theatre. You create drama and characterisation through his many techniques such as effective memory, the magic if, superobjective to name just a few. These are methods that help you to develop your character. You may do exercises based on these theories, especially improvisation. Alot of his theories relate to improvisation and developing drama or a character from that. The methods are good once you get your head around all the terminology. I dunno if that helps or no .

Thanks...your description is a bit easier to understand than the one on wikipedia :P

That is the worst description I have ever heard :p. No seriously, it wasn't very precise OR accurate. If you still need some help, message back here and I will give you a better account of it. Cheers

The intention behind my description was to give a very BASIC idea of Stanisklavski. I know from personal experience that when I first heard of it when I myself was in Yr 11 I had no idea what it was all about .I was not intending to be precise or outline every aspect of his life and theories as that would have most probably lead to even more confusion. And as for the comment that it is not accurate, what may I ask is not accurate about it. Stanisklavski was a drama practitioner in early 1900's . True... He actually started in the very late 1800's ( 1888 to be "precise") but his techniques gained fame and recognition in the 1900's. His theories are to do with realistic theatre. Also true, while some techniques may be able to be used with other styles it is mostly realism and naturalism to which they apply. " Stanislavski's System focused on the development of realistic characters and stage worlds" ( quote from wikipedia).The methods mentioned are correct, except that I wrote effective not affective... a simple mistake caused by lack of attention and careless typing, most people do occasionly make them. These methods help you to develop characters--- extremely true and accurate. And do exercises based on these theories , based on improvisation... also true, something that I was taught by my Drama Studies teacher who has a degree in funnily enough Drama Studies and has years of theatre experience. I fail to see what was inaccuarte about my description. Yes it was meant to be brief and basic, not a university level explanation.

well any help is appreciated! and that description was fine (espesh considering it's one that is actually easy to understand,haha) but Daniel Kershaw, if u have anything to add, that's cool :)

No, see - the difference is that Stanislavski's system is about imaginative processes - if you want it simply, using your imagination, to create believable characters. Not necessecarily realistic ones by any means. Yes,it developed concurrently with Russian and Northern European "Realism" and "Naturalism". That doesn't concretely suggest, though, that the system best applies to those approaches. Since the Wikipedia articles already been referenced, here's another quote: "Stanislavsky's Method developed a systematic approach to training actors to work from the inside outward." Otherwise, yes. Reasonably accurate. From where I sit/stand/hop about like a damn fool, anyway. Good luck!

Hi I'm at the Mary Erskine skl studying Stanislavski. I'm at my final year in skl so next year i will be of to uni studying drama. Your paragraph helped me to understand more about Stanislaski as it broke it down for me. Thank Kind regards Cara

hi there its worth doing the stanislavski course because u get taught to ask the fundemental questions ie who am i? where am i? etc (when it comes to characterisation). and because u have been acting for five years u probaly already answer these questions (and the ones youll learn) without realising it.once you learn this method it becomes second nature and for our exams in w.a we get graded on it also if u want to continue acting in the future its definately worth you learning now. because once you finish they always refer to "the method" hopefull that helps