|
MOON FOOL hosts research, conferences, workshops and residencies in its unique ACTOR - CHORUS - TEXT (ACT INTERNATIONAL) Ensemble Practices. ACT INTERNATIONAL is an original approach to voice and performance training and making and the methodology and ethos has been conceived and is led by Anna-Helena McLean. The methodology has been tried and tested over 20 years' professional practicing with a diversely representative cross-section of participants including parent artists, LGBTQIA*+ communities, multi-abled and neurodivergent artists as well as classical actors and mainstream theatre, film and music makers. ACT is an acting and voice training methodology that symbiotically interweaves music, movement, text, audiovisuals and other advanced multimedia to tell stories, while responding to and reinventing the given spatial location.
This training includes a range of comprehensive acting, performance and presence centred techniques that are introduced through an accessible and integrated system of exercises and these are not limited to but include: Ensemble balance training Physical partner listening Spinework, co-consent and intentional practices Chorus leading and gesture work Extended vocal techniques Integrated physiovocality Choral singing and pitch Intervals and the relational actor Rhythm and breath awareness Dynamic speech work Musical dramaturgy and composition Structured improvisation Collaboration and devising Crafting music theatre for production The training is applied to an exploration of self and other, sensitising each individual to unique and heightened sense of awareness and the associative 'characters', flavours and energies that evolve as rooted in differing world views. ACT draws on rigorously researched stories, plays and chronicles from around the world leaning into the marginalised voice, the relevance of the silenced and rehearsing the subversion of 'norms'. Workshops have been known to draw on scene extracts from classical texts including Shakespeare and the Ancient Greeks. In 2019 the work has moved toward Ancient Mesopotamian poetry, modern novels, fairy tales and new-writing. The deep practice with and through research and source texts enables ACT to generate original ensemble works of theatre in a constantly evolving, responsive and relevant style while also prioritising high quality production values and high definition performances. ACT INTERNATIONAL operates through freelance appointments and private commissions, in educational contexts or as an annual residency in Italy every summer. |
"ACT truly aims for living up to the expectations of creating a heightened reality on stage. No drama or production or a story telling medium should overlook such a process even if it is filtered or edited in later stages of productions to nuanced levels. I would suggest every actor to experience this training"
Anuj Choudhry, Actor participating in ACT India "When engaging in a physical workshop with Anna-Helena McLean, it is not only the body that is activated, but also the mind and the spirit. She is an incredible leader. Her power as a performer is both admirable and awe-inspiring, but her greatest ability is to inspire in others a stronger belief in their own abilities. I enthusiastically endorse her workshops for performers and non-performers alike". Director of Sideway Theater and MFA student DePaul Chicago “... The texture of your work weaves physicality and words together with a musicality that penetrates all levels of what takes place in the space... in the 10 days we had, what came out was absolutely incredible, and I deeply admire every single person I worked alongside. The combination of people, your brilliant leadership, the space, and Shakespeare’s text, really really worked for me... we were actually there for each other all throughout the piece when we performed, which is remarkable and a real treasure to take away”. Workshop Participant |
|
|
|
