Notes from the Rehearsal Room: A Director’s Process(Theatre Makers)

Renowned theatre and film director Nancy Meckler delves into her hugely varied experiences in the rehearsal room and shares examples of tried-and-tested “tools” to bring a play to life. Meckler encourages you to interrogate, play, experiment and to use her methods as a starting point to begin creating your own unique directing toolkit and finding your own style. The examples are drawn from her experience directing a range of work from classic plays, including work by Chekhov, Brecht and Shakespeare, to new writing, including work by Pam Gems and Sam Shepard, and in a wide range of renowned theatres, including the RSC, National Theatre, Royal Court and a number of the UK's regional theatres. The author's approachable and relatable writing style enables an in-depth look into how she works with actors and the many ways in which she may approach a new project while also providing with a unique insight into her own wealth of experience over a remarkable career as an award-winning and internationally celebrated director.

Table of Contents:
Introduction Chapter 1: Preparation Chapter 2: The Concept Chapter 3: Keystones Chapter 4: Improvisation Chapter 5: Rehearsal Process Chapter 6: The Mystery of Comedy Chapter 7: Collaboration Chapter 8: Discovering Physical Theatre and Working in Different Mediums Epilogue Index

About the Author :
Nancy Meckler is an award-winning theatre director. Having grown up in Long Island, she moved to the UK to train in classical acting at LAMDA. In 1969, she set up and ran The Freehold Theatre Company, one of the main alternative theatre companies to emerge in London at the time. She was the first woman to direct at the National Theatre and was the Artistic Director of Shared Experience for 22 years. As a freelancer she has directed for the RSC, NT, Hampstead, Royal Court, West End, Broadway and Shakespeare’s Globe, among many others, and worked regularly with playwright Sam Shepard, directing many of his premieres.

Review :
The book is a delightful meander through the director's career, is anecdotal and informative, and truly captures the heart of her rehearsal rooms. For aspirant directors, there's a wealth of wisdom in its pages. Ever wondered what happens on the other side of that door with the sign warning, “Rehearsals in process. Do Not Enter.” Well, master director Nancy Meckler graciously opens this door and invites you into her remarkable process. She brings this often mysterious endeavor refreshingly back down to earth while still inspiring all of us to shoot for the moon. A must-read for anyone who loves theatre and how we go about making it. A fascinating read, in which the link between writer, director and the performer(s) is explored through a mix of memoir and workshop exercises ... this book is not just an essential read on this particular director’s career experiences, but also a primer on teamwork and how everyone works to make a show a success. There’s a lot that a director or adaptor (or potential one) could learn from this.