Lee Strasberg
A Dream of Passion: The Development of the Method
Romanian translation by Adrian Buz
Year of publication: 2024
The volume A Dream of Passion: The Development of the Method explains, under the guise of a memoir, the famous Method—the most renowned tool for refining the art of acting in the last century. Lee Strasberg builds on the actor training system of the esteemed Russian actor Constantin Stanislavski, expanding it and finding psychological foundations that facilitate and enhance acting performance. Although not without its critics, the Method has been and continues to be the most productive recipe for transforming the actor’s vocation into a profession and an art.
"A must for young actors – for old ones, too, for that matter." – Paul Newman
"An exploration of the creative process that will reward all who are interested in the nature of inspiration." – Library Journal
"The definitive sourcebook on acting." – Los Angeles Times
Lee Strasberg (1901–1982) was born at the beginning of the century in Budzanów, Galicia, part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, into a Jewish family. In 1909, he emigrated to the United States with his family. In 1923, after being profoundly influenced by the Moscow Art Theatre’s tour in the U.S., Strasberg discovered his vocation. He dedicated the rest of his life to the stage and the refinement of what would become the Method – adopting and expanding the actor training techniques of the esteemed Russian actor Constantin Stanislavski. In 1931, he co-founded the first professional theatre school in New York, Group Theatre. Later, in 1947, he established the Actors Studio, which became the most prominent and successful acting school in America. Marlon Brando, James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, and Dustin Hoffman are just a few of the great actors and theatre and film personalities whose careers were shaped by training in the spirit of the Method.
Declan Donnellan
The Actor and the Space
Romanian translation: Carmen Stanciu
Year of publication: 2024
Declan Donnellan’s famous book, The Actor and the Target, introduced a new, original, and radical approach to theatre, one that has influenced actors around the world.
With his new volume, The Actor and the Space, he develops and deepens these ideas, exploring the most fertile ground for being, both in life and on stage: the space that surrounds us. In seeking to answer fundamental questions faced by every actor – “How can I be better? How do I create a vital space for my character? How do I connect with that space to draw energy from it?” – Donnellan offers a set of solutions to unlock the mysteries of theatre.
An essential read for any actor or director, The Actor and the Space also offers an insight into the unique creative universe of a world-class director, enriching anyone passionate about theatre.
Gerhard Jörder:
backstage OSTERMEIER
Romanian translation: Ozana Oancea
Year of publication: 2024
This volume brings to the forefront a captivating dialogue between Gerhard Jörder, a renowned theatre critic, and Thomas Ostermeier, one of the most influential and acclaimed European directors of the moment. In backstage Ostermeier, the director recounts his journey into theatre, exploring both the successes and challenges of his career, from his beginnings at the Deutsches to his creative process and theatrical philosophy, rooted in a commitment to the social and political relevance of contemporary theatre.
Throughout the book, Ostermeier offers readers an intimate glimpse into how he transforms theatre into a space for social confrontation and reflection—unacademic, yet profoundly human.
Thomas Ostermeier, often described as the "face of modern German theatre," has been the artistic director of Schaubühne Berlin since 1999, and his innovative productions are recognized and invited to festivals worldwide. From groundbreaking stagings of texts by Ibsen and Shakespeare to intense interpretations of contemporary authors such as Lars Norén, Sarah Kane, and Jon Fosse, Ostermeier’s productions have won over not only German audiences but also the international stage
Jean-Louis Perrier:
These Castellucci Years
Romanian translation: Sorin Gherguț
Year of publication: 2024
Romeo Castellucci is one of the most fascinating and unsettling contemporary directors. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bologna, where he graduated from the painting and scenography departments. He has written several theoretical essays on directing, based on his own theatrical experience. His work proposes dramatic choices not based on the primacy of the text, so that his theatre becomes a plastic, complex, and visionary art form.
This volume traces the career of the Italian director and sketches the portrait of an essential artist on the international stage, one who has never ceased to radically shatter any preconceived ideas about theatre and its representation. Castellucci captures and reveals the unrepresentable in a form of visual, cerebral, and sensitive spectacle, of which he is the complete and total creator.