Invisible Actor

Yoshi Oida is a Japanese actor and director who developed a masterful approach to acting that combined the oriental tradition of supreme and studied control with the Western performer's need to characterise and expose depths of emotion. He explains that once the audience becomes aware of the actor's method and becomes too conscious of the actor's artistry, the wonder of performance dies.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 128 pages
Publication date: 01 October 2020
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

The Invisible Actor delves into the captivating and distinctive methods of the renowned Japanese actor and director, Yoshi Oida. During his time with Peter Brook's theatre company in Paris, Yoshi Oida honed a masterful approach to acting that seamlessly merged the oriental tradition of supreme control with the Western performer's urge to delve into and expose the depths of emotion. Co-authored with Lorna Marshall, Yoshi Oida elucidates that once the audience becomes fully cognizant of the actor's method and becomes overly conscious of the actor's artistry, the enchantment of performance dissipates. The audience must solely perceive the actor's performance, never the actor themselves. Throughout, Lorna Marshall offers contextual commentary on Yoshi Oida's work and techniques. In a new foreword to accompany the Bloomsbury Revelations edition, Yoshi Oida revisits the questions that have shaped his career as an actor and explores how his skillful approach to acting has intricately shaped the broader tapestry of his life.

Weight: 178g
Dimension: 139 x 215 x 8 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350148260