How performers use their body
Director Anastasia Osei-Kuffour talks about how voice and physicality can help define characters
A performer’s use of physical skills can help to convey lots of important information to the audience and helps to show a character’s emotions. Performers use a range of physical skills to help transform themselves into the character they are playing.
Physical skills include:
- body languageThe non-verbal way in which a person communicates their physical and mental state through using facial expressions, gesture and posture.
- eye contact
- facial expressionAn aspect of body language, using the face to convey emotions or feelings.
- gaitA person’s manner of walking.
- gestureA movement of the head, hand or other body part to express meaning.
- pace
- quality of movement
- space
- levelsLevels can be created through position of the body, set or staging. They show action in a different place/time and can reflect relationships.
- specialist skills
- physical tension