Module 3: Theater Systems
3.1. Stanislavsky, Del Arte, Epic Theater and others

A theater system is a way of organizing theater activities that includes creating, financing, promoting, and showing theater productions. Theater systems can be public, private, or mixed. Public theater systems are financed by public funds, private theater systems are financed by private investors, and mixed theater systems are financed by a combination of public and private funds. Each theater system has its own structure, goals and objectives, as well as its own characteristics in the organization of the theater process.

There are many different theater systems and techniques developed by different directors and theater practitioners to create and develop acting skills and theatrical works. Some of the most well-known theater systems are listed below:

1.       Konstantin Stanislavsky system: Developed by Russian actor and director Konstantin Stanislavsky. The main idea is that the actor must find inner motivation and emotional connection with the character in order to create a more realistic and deep performance.

The Stanislavsky System, also known as the "Method" or "Acting Art", is a theatrical methodology developed by Russian film director and actor Konstantin Stanislavsky. Key features of this system include:

1.       Emotional Preparation: Actors using the Stanislavsky system seek to create a deep emotional connection with the character by analyzing their motivation, internal conflicts, and emotional state.

2.     Objective Goal: Actors define the "character goal" or "desire" that their character faces in each scene. This helps them understand what actions and motivations drive the character in a given situation.

3.     Spontaneity and loyalty to the moment: Stanislavsky's system emphasizes the importance of staying open to spontaneous reactions and events on stage, as well as authenticity and immediacy in the game.

4.    Body Training: Actors pay attention to physical training and control over their bodies in order to embody the character's physical traits and characteristics.

5.     External circumstances: Actors take into account the external circumstances of the scene, including scenery, props, and other actors, to make their acting more realistic.

6.     Concentration and Imagination: Stanislavsky's system draws attention to the actor's concentration and imagination in order to recreate the character's inner world and enter into his role.

7.     Anachronism: Actors explore the character's character regardless of the time and place of the play, which allows them to better understand their motivation.

These principles of the Stanislavsky system are considered important for the development of natural and emotionally rich acting. It has had a significant impact on acting and theater education around the world and remains an important component of acting practice to this day.

2.     Berler method (Lee Strasberg Method): Developed by Lee Strasberg and based on the work of Konstantin Stanislavsky. It focuses on using the actor's personal emotions and memories to create characters.

The Lee Strasberg Method is an acting methodology developed by Lee Strasberg that focuses on an actor's inner world and creating emotional depth in their acting. Here are some features of the Lee Strasberg Method:

1.       Affective Memory: The actor uses his own personal emotional memories to truly experience the character's emotions.

2.     Sensory Memory: The actor develops sensory experiences to bring the character to life by paying close attention to sounds, tastes, smells, and so on.

3.     Research goals and objectives: The actor analyzes the character's goals and objectives, exploring their motivation and inner world.

4.    Concentration and Focus: The actor develops the ability for deep concentration and mindfulness to bring the character to life.

5.     Improvisation: The Lee Strasberg method also includes elements of improvisation to help the actor develop reaction and attention skills.

6.     Reaction to the other person: The actor learns to react to the actions and words of other actors inside the scene, making the game more organic.

7.     Emotional Preparation: The actor works to be ready to embody the character's emotional states at any moment.

8.    Text Analysis: Studying the text and analyzing the role is an important part of the Method to better understand the character and situation.

This method is widely used in acting practice and training, and it helps actors achieve a deep emotional and psychological connection with their characters.

3.     Epic Theater: Berthold Brecht's theater system, which focuses on distancing the actor from the character so that the audience remains more critical and analytical about events on stage.

Brecht's theater system has several key features:

1.       Distancing and the werfremdung effect": Brecht encouraged actors and audiences to keep their distance from what was happening on stage. This was achieved through the use of the werfremdung (alienation) effect, which helps viewers see events on stage as observers, rather than emotionally involved in the plot.

2.     Epic Theater: Brecht suggested using a form of" epic theater " that was different from traditional drama. This style includes elements such as the use of ballads, paintings, and commentary to reveal the story, and focus on public issues.

3.     Separation of role and actor's character: In the Brecht Theater, actors did not seek to identify with the characters, but rather remained consciously "at a distance" from them. They often commented on events and characters, destroying the illusion of reality.

4.    Use of posters and outdoor commentary: Brecht supported the practice of using posters and outdoor commentary to warn viewers about the play's content and to provoke their critical thinking.

5.     Political orientation: Brecht's theater often dealt with social and political issues. His plays served as a means of discussing and analyzing current problems of society.

Thus, Brecht's theater system aimed not only to entertain, but also to educate the audience, as well as their active participation in the analysis and discussion of public issues.

4.    Grotowski Theater Method: Developed by Gerard Grotowski and known for his physical and psychological training for actors, as well as experiments with bodily expressiveness.

Its system has a number of the following features:

1.       Actor's physical training: Grotowski's system focuses on the actor's physical fitness. This includes exercises to develop the actor's flexibility, strength, and endurance.

2.     Subordination of the actor to the role: Grotowski attached great importance to ensuring that actors obey the role and do not merge with it. He was looking for the actor's true self within the role.

3.     Installation development: In Grotowski's system, the emphasis is on developing montages and stage images. He aimed to create unique and visually impressive scenes that would be symbolic and could evoke strong emotions in the audience.

4.    Research and symbolism: Grotowski supported the study of symbolism and metaphors in theater. He believed that theater should be not only entertaining, but also philosophical and symbolic art.

5.     Laboratories and research approach: Grotowski often worked in a laboratory setting, where actors explored various aspects of acting and stage expression.

6.     Connection to spirituality: In some of his works, Grotowski also addressed the spiritual and mystical aspects of art and human nature.

Grotowski's system focuses on making the theater more profound and metaphorical, and the actors have outstanding physical and emotional abilities to convey meaning and emotion on stage.

5.     Documentary Actor's Theater: This style, developed in modern theater, uses real facts, documents, and stories from actors to create performances based on real events and stories.

The Documentary Actor's Theater has a special approach to creating and presenting works. Here are some of its features:

·        Sources of material: Uses real events, documents and testimonies as the basis for the performance.

·        Play and Reality: Actors can combine elements of acting with real interviews or facts, creating a unique interaction with the audience.

·        Documentary method: Applying documentary filmmaking techniques, such as interviews, on-location filming, to create a more realistic experience.

·        Actor's Authenticity: Actors strive for maximum authenticity in character portrayals, often exploring real people and situations.

·        Viewer engagement: Often includes elements of interaction with the audience, which enhances the impact and authenticity of the presentation.

·        Social reaction: The documentary actor's theater is often focused on social and political issues, raising discussion of important topics.

6. Commedia dell'arte: This is a traditional art format that originated in Italy in the XVI century. It is characterized by the use of masks and standard character types, as well as improvisation. Here are some key elements of this system:

• Masks: Actors use masks to create recognizable characters such as Harlequin, Pantalone, Columbine, and others.

• Character Types: The del Arte system provides a set of standard characters, each with their own characteristics and behaviors. For example, Harlequin is usually a buffoon and acrobat, and Pantalone is a greedy old man.

• Improvisation: Actors use basic scenarios and plot elements, but many dialogues and actions are developed on the fly, depending on the audience's reaction and the current situation.

• Physical Comedy: The del Arte system also includes physical comedy, including acrobatics, grimaces, and funny gestures.

• Music and Dance: Some performances may have musical and dance elements.

The del Arte system has had a significant impact on the development of comedy and theater in general. Its influence can be seen in the works of many famous playwrights and directors.

Each of these theater systems has its own unique methods and approaches to acting and creating theatrical works. Directors and actors can choose the most appropriate method depending on the performance's goals and artistic vision.