The Outstanding Actor

Written by someone who has a complete and utter grip on the nuances of the acting profession and whose main purpose in publishing such a book is to further the actor’s understanding. The inclusion of links to videos showing in more detail what Ken is writing about is a brilliant addition and can only add to the reader’s passion.

Written by someone who has a complete and utter grip on the nuances of the acting profession and whose main purpose in publishing such a book is to further the actor’s understanding. The inclusion of links to videos showing in more detail what Ken is writing about is a brilliant addition and can only add to the reader’s passion.

Extremely well-written and clear to follow … A must have for any actor’s bookshelf, and one that needs to be frequently revisited.

The classes with Ken at Guildhall, I consider to be the most important part of the acting training. They are exercises in patience, unpredictability and encouraging students to make utter fools of themselves – vital for any actor embarking on a life in the profession.

Ken’s classes were some of the most interesting that I was lucky enough to attend at drama school. He opened the mind to what acting could be.

Ken taught us to be dangerous, to abandon any sense of failure and to take risks – that’s where to find creativity. A lesson we can never stop learning.

This book demystifies the art of acting and provides us with invaluable tools to stay active and keep going. Ultimately, it inspires us to take charge of our own destiny.

When we think of our favourite actors, we are drawn to danger, risk, charisma, spontaneity, charm...Ken is a master at drawing these qualities out of you and teaching you to own them. He’s brilliant, and so is this book.

Ken Rea is Professor of Theatre at Guildhall School of Music & Drama. He is a theatre director, acting teacher, writer and one of Europe's leading presentation skills trainers.