The Integrated Actor

Combining work on physical and vocal embodiment with exercises in imagination and interpretation, this book facilitates a fuller, freer and more complete use of the self when it comes to creating a role.
Building on the work of established methodologies and existing research - including the Alexander Technique, Estill Voice Craft and polyvagal theory - and of major practitioners - such as Michael Langham, Niamh Dowling, Glen Park, Carolyn Serota, Sally Grace, Patsy Rodenburg, Cicely Berry, Kristin Linklater and Josephine Estill - the book offers a holistic approach to voice work and acting.
In doing so, it develops or questions received ideas to offer a deeper and more accurate understanding of the way imagination, body and breath can be harnessed and integrated, in an organic way, in your acting.
Each chapter includes exercises designed to enable the concepts discussed to be embodied. Through working through these concepts and exercises you can explore and reintegrate imagination, body, breath and voice in order to become more open, free and expressive, and to more fully realise your potential as an actor.

Alex Taylor teaches at the Birmingham School of Acting, UK. Previously, he was Head of Voice at Rose Bruford, UK; Director of the School of Theatre at Manchester Metropolitan University, UK; one of the Master Teachers at the Juilliard School, US; and Head of Voice and Movement at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. He has directed productions for the National Theatre of Korea and the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, and led masterclasses in acting and voice at the Shanghai Theatre Academy and the University of Korea. He has also worked at the RSC as a voice coach on a number of productions.