Act as a Feminist: Towards a Critical Acting Pedagogy

Act as a Feminist is a book that explores the female genealogy of UK actor training practices from 1970 to 2020, positioning it as a critical pedagogy for the twenty-first century. It highlights the pioneering contributions of women in actor training, emphasizes the political potential of acting, and addresses the inequities faced by a female majority in the industry. The book offers a methodology to evaluate the critical potential of pedagogic practice and applies it to the work of UK women practitioners through analysis of the pedagogic exchange in training grounds. It concludes with a feminist manifesto for change in acting.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 214 pages
Publication date: 31 March 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Inc

Act as a Feminist is a groundbreaking exploration of the female genealogy of UK actor training practices from 1970 to 2020, offering an alternative to traditional male lineages. This book re-orients our understanding of acting through its intersections with feminisms, positioning it as a critical pedagogy that is relevant and fit for purpose in the twenty-first century.

The book highlights the pioneering contributions of women to actor training, emphasizing the importance of recognizing the political potential of acting and addressing the inequities faced by a female majority in an industry where they remain a minority.

In Part One, the book expands the epistemic scope, developing a methodology to evaluate the critical potential of pedagogic practice. It argues that feminist approaches provide an alternative affirmative position for training, offering a via positiva and a means to re-make mimesis.

Part Two applies the methodology to the work of UK women practitioners by analyzing the pedagogic exchange in training grounds. Each chapter focuses on how the broad curriculum of acting intersects with gender as technique to produce a hidden curriculum, with case studies on Jane Boston and Nadine George (voice), Niamh Dowling and Vanessa Ewan (movement), Alison Hodge and Kristine Landon-Smith (acting), and Katie Mitchell and Emma Rice (directing).

The book concludes with a feminist manifesto for change in acting, aimed at students, actors, directors, teachers of acting, voice, and movement, as well as anyone with an interest in feminisms and critical pedagogies. Act as a Feminist offers new ways of thinking and approaches to practice, contributing to the ongoing dialogue about gender equality and representation in the arts.

Weight: 352g
Dimension: 150 x 228 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780815352365