Meisner Technique
with Alex Murphy.
Meisner Technique
Meisner Technique for actors is quickly becoming a centrepiece for any serious actor training program. The technique is on fire… from London to Manila to Prague to Dublin to Sao Paulo to Helsinki to Amsterdam – world-wide. It has become essential study for actors. Many of the most well-known actors working today have Meisner training on their resume.
The truth of ourselves is the root of our acting.” Sanford Meisner.
This class will drill down on the ethos and the practice of “repetition exercises” as set out by Sanford Meisner and the late William Esper, arguably the finest teacher of Meisner’s technique after Meisner himself. We will take a layered approach.
Repetition work is a practice that will serve the actor for the rest of their creative lives. In addition to repetition exercises, we’ll move into the “independent activity/knock-knock” improvisations; Meisner’s “Preparation” technique for the actor will also be introduced.
All actors will be assigned a scene partner and a scene to prepare for a final presentation-emphasizing text from contemporary, world-class writers in English. Sanford Meisner had very particular ideas about how to begin and advance work on a scene – and we’ll integrate that into our work. Actors will be urged to do some rehearsals with partners during off hours.
“It’s much more important that the actor have an understanding heart, an ability to empathise with other human beings, an ability to respond with his feelings, and not with his head. That’s what makes an actor.” William Esper.
Tutor: Alex Murphy
This class will be taught by Alex Murphy who began his training with Meisner Technique at Obie Award winning Ensemble Studio Theatre in New York City. As an actor Alex has performed on film in the US, Europe, and in Asia.
In July 2023, for gogoHeart Film and Stage, Alex both lead acted and directed the Broadway hit Seminar, by Theresa Rebeck -in an intimate series of performances for an invitation only audience at wonderHouse boutique theatre in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Seminar then moved on for more performances at BadHuisTheater in Amsterdam, in November, 2023.
He has performed in over 40 plays in Asia, Europe, and the US-many in the Off-off Broadway circuit in New York City. Alex’s first lead role was in the feature film MADMAN in New York City. Murphy’s work in film and television in the U.S. includes ONE LIFE TO LIVE, ALL MY CHILDREN, MADMAN and GUTS ( Best Short Film at Athens Film Festival). His European films include KILER, MLODE WILKI, MLODE WILKI ½, SUKCES (one season, prime-time TV series), and Russian/Polish/German feature film, AWKWARIUM. In Asia, Alex completed lead acting work on the short film RIVERSIDE, directed by Darwin Buschman and shot by Odie Flores (Kinatay, Serbis-Palme D’Or nominees). In 2014, Alex was nominated for “Best Actor” at the Sinulog film festival in Cebu, Philippines, for PADULONG PINUY-ANAN. In 2022, in Amsterdam, Alex filmed a lead role in Beek Groot’s Entertain Me. During summer 2023, in Amsterdam at wonderHouseBoutique theatre, Alex directed and lead acted in the Broadway hit, SEMINAR, by Theresa Rebeck, and will do so again in November at BADHUIS Theater in Amsterdam.
Pay the Registration Fee to secure a place on the course.
Pay the Final Fee before the Course begins.
N.B. Don’t pay for the Course until you have been accepted!
Meisner Technique – Introduction
Meisner Technique an introduction – term 3 ’24/25
Dates: Wednesday January 15 – February 26, 2025.
7 weeks.
Times: 6pm – 10pm (4 hours)
Location: WG Plein/Studio 163
Fee: € 525
