About INTEGRATED ACTOR TRAINING: BODY MIND VOICE

***APRIL 2021 WORKSHOP AT 16TH STREET ACTORS STUDIO***

6 week Studio Series workshop commences on Thu, 22 April 2021

Book at: https://www.16thstreet.com.au/classes/suzuki-with-emma-pursey/

ENTER THE FICTION THROUGH THE BODY - WWW.INTEGRATEDACTORTRAINING.COM

“…physical theatre training is not for the accumulation of skills to be applied as character traits in a play, but rather to foster an overall cognitive framework for fictional aesthetic in a real material world.” – Maiya J Murphy, Assistant Professor, Performance Studies, National University of Singapore

“I feel like I need my body to work to get into the voice, but then once I find the voice, it helps me get further into my body – truly they are connected!” – Narda Shanley, Writer / Performer / Former ED/Co-CEO, St Martins Youth Arts Centre

WHAT IS THE SUZUKI ACTOR TRAINING METHOD?

“The Suzuki Method of Actor Training was developed by Tadashi Suzuki, Artistic Director of the Suzuki Company of Toga (SCOT). This technique has gained a broad following in professional theatre circles including the Royal Shakespeare Company, among many. The Suzuki Method develops the actor’s inner physical sensibilities, and builds the will, stamina and concentration. The workshop activities include a series of exercises focussing on the use of the feet in relation to one’s centre. These exercises are designed to throw the body off centre while maintaining a consistent level of energy and not swaying the upper body. The training involves precise physical discipline to bring a heightened awareness and emotional and physical commitment to each moment on stage. The Suzuki Method is designed to gain expressive perspective and abilities, and to explore the power of the human body in the theatrical context.” – The Japan Society

WHAT IS INTEGRATED ACTOR TRAINING?

Inspired by over ten years of intense and exclusive training in the Suzuki Actor Training Method in both Australia and Japan, and 22 years in the acting industry, Emma Louise Pursey’s Integrated Actor Training is a set repertoire of rigorous physical-based exercises that incorporate speech to focus on the core in relation to the body, mind and voice.

Whilst largely derived from Suzuki’s method, it has been adapted to encourage more natural alignments of the body, focusing on safe technique and longevity of practice.

In October 2016 Emma hosted and co-taught a masterclass here in Melbourne with renowned Japanese performer and former Suzuki company principal actor, Okubo Noriaki. Together they outlined the basic performative principles for this adapted methodology.

The Integrated Actor Training method complements all other acting and performance methodologies and is a powerful tool in the creation of powerful actors.

What You Will Learn:
-How to integrate and strengthen the body, mind and voice
-How to be energised, focused and connected
-How to be centred, grounded and alive in-the-moment
-Increased vocal strength and dynamic
-Increased discipline and concentration
-Intensified performance stamina
-Breath control
-Precision and spatial awareness
-The art of stillness
-An expanded stylistic range
-A broadened body-knowledge within a performative context

What You Get:
-Experienced and dedicated teacher with invaluable knowledge of the methodology who is also a working practitioner within the stage and screen industries
-Select repertoire of rigorous physical-based exercises that incorporate vocal work
-Supportive learning environment
-Exciting group dynamic
-Greater commitment to self-discovery and transformation
-Professional studio space

This training is most suited to professional actors, dancers and performers, though is open to anyone interested in physical-based training.

NB: Like any physical-based training, profound understanding of this method is experiential and true insight into how it works can only happen through regular commitment to the training.

See website for details on course schedules.

www.integratedactortraining.com

ABOUT EMMA LOUISE PURSEY

Emma Louise Pursey is a critically acclaimed stage and screen actor who has performed nationally and internationally since 1997. The first decade of her career was with Frank Theatre, a repertory ensemble who trained exclusively in the Suzuki Method of Actor Training in Australia and Japan. She toured regularly to numerous Japanese and European theatre festivals playing principal roles such as Lady Macbeth, Juliet, Gertrude and Jocasta; some of which were in bi-lingual productions. Festivals include the 1999 2nd International Theatre Olympics (Shizuoka, Japan), 2000 Shizuoka Spring Arts Festival (Japan), 2002 6th International Youth Theatre Festival (Pula, Croatia), 2003 Toga Spring Arts Festival (Japan), 2003 European Regions Festival (Hradec Králové, Czech Republic), Hluboká Castle (Czech Republic), 2004 Adana International Arts Festival (Turkey), 2006 Aberystwyth University Theatre Festival (Wales), 2006 London Festival (UK). During this time, she was also directed by the legendary Diane Cilento in her production of Myrrah, performed alongside David Helfgott, and became co-director of her own ensemble theatre company, The Brides of Frank; one of Queensland’s most significant (and infamous) independent companies of the mid 2000s. In 2007 Emma’s final performance with Frank Theatre saw her perform her Dell’Artè award-winning role of the Medium in Rashomon for Tadashi Suzuki’s second ever visit to Australia. Emma moved into independent and mainstage work for Queensland Theatre Company, Brisbane Powerhouse, QPAC, Metro Arts Theatre and La Boite Theatre where she won her second Dell’Artè award for her multiple roles in Oodgeroo. Relocating to Melbourne, Emma expanded her screen work to include roles on Neighbours, Winners and Losers, Underbelly Squizzy and numerous award-winning short films. Melbourne independent theatre highlights include playing the role of Character A in North of Eight’s Terminus, being directed by John Gauci in The Process, Prospero in Melbourne Shakespeare Company’s The Tempest, and Belinda in The Man Of Mode at Chapel Off Chapel. Early in her career Emma was also a vinyl electronic music DJ who played in Beijing for the Millennium, and toured nationally and internationally performing a live-mixed soundscape to contemporary dancer, Lisa O’Neill’s solo work, Fugu San at Dancehouse (Melbourne), The Performance Space (Sydney), New Territories Festival (Glasgow) and the Asia Contemporary Dance Festival (Osaka). Emma has also produced/assistant-directed photographer, Peter Milne’s The Oddfellow’s Daughter for MICF at ACMI, short-films The Last Time I Saw You and Grevillea, and Butoh artist, Helen Smith’s performance of Lady Macbeth at the Asia Pacific Triennial of Performing Arts. In September 2021 Emma will play the role of May in Sam Shepard’s Fool for Love, directed by former La Boite Artistic Director, Sean Mee at 16th Street Actors Studio B where she is also a faculty member.