Advanced Acting Exercise - Performing Through Distractions

In an ideal world, there would be no distractions when you're performing a scene or monologue. Unfortunately, we don't live in an ideal world, and you're likely to encounter a host of distractions at auditions, theater performances or in rehearsals.

As an actor, you are responsible for continuing to perform even when there are a myriad of distractions at your footsteps. However, being able to continue acting without skipping a beat when there are distractions takes a long time to develop your concentration and commitment to the world you're acting in.

The "Performing Through Distractions" exercise is perhaps one of the most challenging acting exercises for all actors, as it requires an actor to have steel concentration. When performing this exercise, you have only mastered its lessons after you can successfully complete a monologue or scene with minimum effort.

Below are three exercises that you should do in the order they're written. Each exercise becomes more difficult. Thus, use this exercise based on the skill level of each actor. The goal is to be able to successfully pass each exercise; however, this may take some time.

Written Material

Have an actor stand in front of the class. Hand the actor a monologue written out on a sheet of paper. Instruct the actor to perform the monologue, not simply read it. We can all read through distractions; however, performing throughout the forthcoming distractions is much more difficult.

Once the actor begins to perform the monologue, instruct the rest of the class to make as much noise as possible. Instruct them to yell, laugh loudly, speak loudly, bang chairs and make any other noise. Throughout this entire time, the performing actor should try to narrow his circle of attention to only the paper and the world immediately around him.

Math Problems

Repeat the same type of distractions, but this time, hand the actor a sheet of various mathematical problems. Make sure to include scenario math problems that the actor must read to solve.

Memorized Monologue

Instruct an actor to perform a memorized monologue while the rest of the class uses the aforementioned methods of distraction. Make sure the actor actually performs the scene, and doesn't just recite it.