The Independent Actor

Does the world really need another book about acting – and how to improve? It's a reasonable question, with theatrical bookshelves the world over groaning under the weight of titles that discuss every possible facet of the craft, profession and business. Sally Ann Gritton makes a highly persuasive case for the addition of her own title, offering a genuinely refreshing and upbeat look at a business and discipline she knows really well.

Gritton is principal of Mountview (the prestigious London drama school) and, having been at the chalk face of actor training for over two decades, also has a ‘previous life’ as a performer. It's these two strands of Gritton's work that give the book its authenticity. Rather than another actor training manual that starts in the past (usually sometime around the establishment of the Moscow Art Theatre) and offers theory and exemplification, The Independent Actor is emphatically contemporary and all the better for it. Deliberately light on theoretical discussion, this is a fast-paced and accessible guide using real-world examples to explore the craft of performing.