The Academy of the Science of Acting and Directing is one of the world's leading drama training establishments

With roots in the Stanislavski system and a mission to create a coherent, working method for actors and directors, the Academy has rapidly established itself as a centre of excellence

The Academy has an international profile and attracts dedicated students from complete novices to established actors & directors. Our courses offer the most thorough and complete grounding for a profession in acting and directing for theatre, film, television & radio

The reason for setting up the Academy was to find, if possible, criteria for looking at art in general and acting & directing in particular. This means having points of reference for tutors and students so they can compare their judgements and decisions. This led to the name 'Science of Acting'

The term 'Science of Acting' comes from the English actress Ellen Terry (1848-1928). She, like so many others, felt the need for the knowledge that would make good actors. Gordon Craig said 'Art arrives only by design'

The science of an art form is not a new idea. Five hundred years ago Leonardo da Vinci found certain regularities in the process of painting and in the human perception of works of art. This led him to write about the science of painting. It is because of this knowledge that he is still one of the best-known artists to have ever lived. The logo of our school, the man on the flying machine, was inspired by Leonardo's idea. We feel this picture clearly expresses the idea that "knowledge is freedom"

Michelangelo said: "A man paints with his brain and not with his hands, and if he cannot have his brain clear he will come to grief". This seems to mean that an artist is only as good as his thinking; and judging by Michelangelo's achievements, he knew what he was talking about. His statement goes against the idea, which a lot of drama education is based on, that an actor acts with his voice and body. This is not true because an actor's voice and body can, without ignoring the importance of the training of these, only be as good as the way he or she thinks

We believe that to act and direct well you need the knowledge of how to do it - this will give you peace of mind and leave you with more time for perfecting your skill. The finished quality of the art will depend on what you do with this knowledge and on your understanding of life and culture

Most actors shape each and every one of their characters' thoughts according to their own 'mould'. We will teach you how to create a different 'mould' for each character depending on the playwright and director's wishes. A good actor's way of thinking will be able to accept any character's way of thinking. A good director will be able to understand any character and direct any play. Acquiring these skills is a challenging but tremendously fulfilling process for which the student has to be inquisitive, understanding and dedicated

Pictures by Oistein Thomassen

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