On The Sense Of Conviction In Dramatic Performance

This paper examines the important artistic element of the actor’s incarnation as a character-the ’sense of conviction’.Firstly,it discusses the need for a sense of conviction in the art of theatre performance,explains and analyses the current state of research on conviction,and then presents the issues to be studied in this paper.Secondly,the definition of "sense of conviction" is discussed,and the similarities and differences between the "sense of conviction" in life and the "sense of conviction" in the art of drama performance are analysed.The question of how actors build a sense of conviction is then explored in relation to the process of building a sense of conviction in the context of portraying the character of Cadia in Temporary Residence.This is followed by a practical discussion of the impact of a sense of conviction on the characterisation of the play.Finally,the thesis is summarised.Through this research,we aim to address how actors can build up a sense of conviction to help them portray their characters in a realistic way.It is particularly relevant for the more rational actor.