An Actor Adrift

An Actor Adriftis the remarkable account of Japanese actor director Yoshi Oida, who in 1968 left Japan and joined Peter Brook's international theatre company in Paris. Since then he has become a leading member and trainer in the company. In this book, part personal story and part a workbook for actors and directors wishing to understand and employ Peter Brook's techniques, Oida describes the formation and early training of Brook's company and provides an account of the first decade of work. It provides a fascinating account of the company's first public performance -The Conference of the Birdsin Iran, of the extraordinary explorative journey that followed through Africa, of work in America and of the return to work in France. While he relates productions ofThe Ik,The Conference of the Birds,The Mahabharata,OrghastandTimon of Athens, he interweaves his vivid personal experience as an actor in whom Eastern and Western culture and practices come together.

Lorna Marshall is one of the foremost theater practitioners in the world today dealing with stage movement.