Whether you’re just starting your acting journey or you’re in the middle of refining your craft at drama school, understanding the work of key drama practitioners is essential for your development. These creatives have shaped modern theatre and performance training as we know it.

In this article, we’re going to talk through 10 of the most common drama practitioners you should know about.

What is a Theatre Practitioner?

Before we dive into the list, we’re going to answer a common question: What is a theatre practitioner?

A theatre practitioner is someone who creates theatrical performances. Whether that’s through acting, directing, writing, or teaching.

10 Influential Drama Practitioners

Konstantin Stanislavski

Often nicknamed the father of modern acting, Stanislavski created a system of acting that encouraged performers to draw on their own experiences and emotional memory. His focus on objectives, subtext and truth in performance is still studied worldwide.

Sanford Meisner

A student of Stanislavski, Meisner developed his own technique, which focused on discovering the emotional truth through repetition and active listening. The Meisner Technique helps actors perform truthfully, in imaginary circumstances.

Uta Hagen

Another American teacher, Hagen, emphasised the actor’s connection to the text they are performing. Her books, Respect for Acting and A Challenge for the Actor, are still widely used in drama training today.

Michael Chekhov

Michael Chekhov explored themes of physical gesture, imagination and energy in performance. His ‘psychological gesture’ technique can help actors unlock character through dynamic movement.

Viola Spolin

Viola Spolin is known as the mother of improvisational theatre. She created games and exercises to build spontaneity and creativity into drama practice. Her work heavily impacts improv training.

Sharrell D. Luckett

Luckett is a leading voice in contemporary performance and identity-based work. Her research into Black acting methods challenges the Eurocentric approach. She advocates for culturally responsive teaching and representation in actor training.

Tia M. Shaffer

Shaffer focuses on decolonising the theatre and making space for underrepresented voices. She works as a creative arts educator, empowering performers to explore their identity and heritage through acting.

Bertolt Brecht

Brecht encouraged audiences to think critically about social issues, rather than getting lost in emotional storytelling. His use of alienation effects had a huge impact on the way stories are told on stage.

Augusto Boal

Boal developed interactive techniques that empower communities to explore social change. His methods are used worldwide in education, activism and group theatre.

Explore These Drama Practitioners’ Impact at Italia Conti

At Italia Conti, we encourage our students to engage with the works of a wide range of practitioners in our BA Acting Course. Understanding where theatre comes from and those who have impacted it is key to making a difference to the future of the industry.