Suzuki Training

The Suzuki Method of Actor Training is a rigorous, martial-arts inspired approach to the training of an actor's body, voice and mind. Through exercises focusing on strength and control of the breath and the lower body, the Suzuki Method builds focus, endurance, and a powerful stage presence. In these recurring sessions, participants will move through the Basics, or training forms, as an ensemble. The "choreography" of the Suzuki Method is straightforward and easy to learn - the true rewards of the training emerge through repetition, which is my goal with these regular group training sessions.

The space will be open from 12:45 for arrival and individual warm-up before training begins. We will start at promptly at 1pm with a short group warmup, move through the Basic forms as an ensemble, then finish with a short stretch and cool-down before leaving the space at 3pm. If you are running late, please enter quietly and sit in the audience until a suitable point to join in. There will be no formal breaks - please leave and rejoin the group quietly if you need.

Venue information: MakeSpace is at 253 Gouger Street. Enter through the door around the corner on Bailey Street. The venue contains bathrooms and a small kitchen where we'll store our belongings while training. More information at ActNow's website (here), or contact Lucy with any further questions.

What to bring: You'll need clothing you can move in (full range of motion in the lower body is important!), socks, and a water bottle.

Text: We sometimes work with layering speech over the physical work. Voice work is optional, but if you'd like to try it, please memorize the below text from Dante's Inferno. Feel free also to prepare a piece of individual text - something of approximately the same length that you know well enough to recite while distracted by other challenges :)

Midway on our life's journey I found myself in dark woods / the right road lost. *
To tell about those woods is hard / so tangled and rough and savage / that thinking of it now, I feel the old fear stirring. *
Death is hardly more bitter. *
(Dante's Inferno, tr. Robert Pinker)
* - breath

On difficulty: The Suzuki Method is physically and mentally challenging - we will get sweaty, and I'll encourage you to go your hardest. What that looks like differs from person to person and day to day, however, and the training is not competitive. Modifications to the forms can be made to allow every body to participate safely. Feel free to reach out with any concerns you might have on this front and I can offer more specifics. 

On cost: Participation is free, thanks to the legends at ActNow for offering the space at a considerable discount. If you intend to come along please do book a free place so I have a sense of numbers ahead of time. If you're in a position to make a donation to ActNow, that would be very much appreciated (but by no means mandatory) - you can either opt to book a paid ticket, or make your own donation directly on ActNow's website at https://www.actnowtheatre.org.au/donate

Very much looking forward to training with you all!