In the last few years, mindfulness has become something of a buzzword, with numerous studies showing the benefits of mindfulness-based interventions in healthcare and education. But mindfulness also has a part to play in the theatre. At the University of Huddersfield's Mindfulness and Performance Project, researchers are exploring connections between Buddhist and yogic-derived mindfulness practices and actor training.
Mindfulness is usually described as a way of paying attention to the present moment with a non-judgmental attitude. Cultivating mindfulness is, at its simplest, a means of developing concentration and the ability to withstand distractions – fundamental capacities for the actor. Stanislavski's own distractedness onstage in a production of Uncle Vanya is reported to have been the catalyst for his work on strengthening the actor's creative concentration. Both yoga and Buddhism provided him with psychophysical strategies that influenced the development of techniques such as the Circles of Attention.
Advanced meditators, like master-actors, often generate a sense of impressive presence – they capture our attention through the strength of their own attention. Mindfulness practice, however, is much more than simply an attentional technique. The non-judgmental attitude that it fosters is known to generate positive effects, such as acceptance, equanimity, and resilience. These qualities enable actors to take creative risks, deal with the unexpected, and manage their emotions. For the trainee actor, mindfulness can provide a crucial means by which to handle stress and reduce self-criticism.
In a theatre setting, mindfulness can be an opening into a deepened encounter with one's partners – a sensitive, extended awareness of the group, the cast, the ensemble.
The theatre is such a very human pursuit, and acting so much the heart of it, that we should not, perhaps, be surprised that mindfulness – designed for the cultivation of positive human capacities – should also prove beneficial for actors. Mindfulness training can be a way to support the actor herself, as well as a means to enhance her acting.
There are now numerous opportunities to engage in mindfulness training – everything from advanced degrees and 8-week courses to apps and online meditations. If the benefits of mindfulness seem appropriate for your students, why not see what happens if you take up a little mindfulness practice yourself!