Using new interview material with actors, directors and writers, this book explores the challenges of performance in documentary theatre. Through a series of high profile case studies, Cantrell uses acting theory to examine the actors' complex processes, and makes a significant contribution to our understanding of stage performance.
Acting in British Television is the first in-depth exploration of acting processes in British television. Focused around sixteen new interviews with celebrated British actors, including Rebecca Front, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Ken Scott, Penelope Wilton and John Hannah, this fascinating text delves behind the scenes of a range of British television programmes in order to find out how actors build their characters for television, how they work on set and location, and how they create their critically acclaimed portrayals. The book looks at actors' work across four diverse but popular genres: soap opera, police and medical drama, comedy [and] period drama. Its insightful discussion of hit programmes such as Downton Abbey, Rebus, The Thick of It, Coronation Street and Poldark, and its critical and contextual post-interview analysis, make the text an essential read for students, academics and anyone interested in acting and British television--Amazon.com.