1921 - 1999 | Physical Theatre & The Mask
Jacques Lecoq started his career not in theatre, but in sports. He applied his knowledge of muscles to acting, creating a method that focuses entirely on the body. He believed that the body speaks before the mouth opens, and that great acting comes from physical precision, not just intellectual thought.
Lecoq used a scale to analyze how much energy a character is holding in their muscles. Click through the 7 levels to see how an actor's body changes based on their internal tension.
The body is a jellyfish. There is no tension in the muscles. You can barely keep your eyes open or stand up. Complete relaxation.
A featureless mask. It hides the face so the actor must communicate with their posture.
French for "The Game." Lecoq believed acting should always be playful, even in tragedy.
A group of actors moving and breathing as one organism to teach ensemble awareness.
Using the minimum amount of effort for the maximum effect. No wasted gestures.
Describe a character or scene. The AI will tell you how to find the character's physical center, tension level, and movement style.