Meisner

Come along and experience to what has been described as ‘the cutting edge technique for 21st century actors’.

Developed by Sanford Meisner, a member of the Group Theatre and founder of the New York Neighbourhood Theatre, the aim of the work is to develop in the actor the ability to behave truthfully in the moment, creating exhilarating and moving performances.

The technique frees actors to be courageous, resourceful, flexible and confident in their work. The course will focus on the foundation exercises of the technique and will include time for reflection and discussion, then will move on to working with scripts at an intermediate stage. Prominent actors who have trained in Meisner technique include – Tom Cruise, Diane Keaton, Amy Schumer, Alec Baldwin, Naomi Watts and James Franco to name but a few!

The workshop is facilitated by Fiona Watson, who trained with Scott Williams at the Impulse Company in Meisner Technique, and at Ecole Jacques Lecoq in Paris.

Fiona Watson 

With 25 years of experience as a performer working with companies including Birmingham Rep, Liverpool Playhouse, Chester Gateway Theatre, and Contact Theatre, Fiona originally studied Drama at Manchester University, then physical theatre, mime and mask skills at Ecole Jacques Lecoq in Paris. She trained in Meisner Technique with Scott Williams at the Impulse Company, with whom she is now an associate artist.

Also an associate artist with Tangled Feet Theatre Company, one of the UK’s leading site-specific companies, she has devised and performed in numerous site-specific productions with them over the last eight years. Her most recent work was playing the central character of Rita this summer in ‘Care’, a co-production between Tangled Feet and Watford Palace Theatre.Fiona is also a member of Foreign Affairs theatre company, a Meisner- based ensemble producing international theatre. Most recently she performed in a new translation of Schnitzler’s ‘Professor Berhardi’, due to tour in 2016.