The Application Of Status Exercises For Directors

In Shanghai Theater Academy, director Nicholas Barter used the Status exercise which is proposed by the British director and drama educatorKeith Johnstone, in the rehearsal of Shakespeare’s plays. By using Status related games and improvisations during every stage of the creative process of producing a performance, Barter helps actors to develop self-recognition, enter good creation state, analyze and create characters, as well as create realistic interpersonal relationships on stage. In the same time, Status helps directorial work in terms of blocking and rhythm.Status exercise used by director Barter on the actors/actresses is a set of method for psychologically and physically exploring actors/actresses and the characters they play by letting them play games of different identities and status, and through improvisations.Status exercise, together with theories like “Spontaneity” and “Narrative Technique” had deeply influenced the teaching of performance in Great Britain since the 1960 s. These theories add to the options directors use in directing actors/actresses. As a director’s option, Status exercise may help the actors/actresses to get hold of some aspects of the character psychologically and physically and at the same time placing them in a state of realistic communication among others.The complexity in Shakespeare’s characters provides the actors/actresses great room for character creation. Meanwhile, this method provides new thoughts in reviewing scripts. This can be seen in the case study of director Barter’s rehearsal of Shakespeare’s plays by using Status concept and training to help actors/actresses create roles.