Becoming a Better Actor Through Chekhov

Discovering the Inner Life of Your Character

By Brenda Bazineta class given as part of #ArtApart

Over six classes, we will look at scenes from one of Anton Chekhov’s greatest plays, Three Sisters. Each actor will be assigned a role and through discussion, script analysis, listening exercises, and improvisation, we will delve into the hearts and minds of these complex beings.

Chekhov writes about what it is to be human. He presents life as it is lived inwardly. Because of the simplicity of his writing, actors are required to dig deep to find the hidden meanings beneath the words. Studying Chekhov deepens our work as actors and teaches us to explore the inner movement of all characters, whether acting on stage, film or television.


Brenda Bazinet

Brenda Bazinet is an actor, theatre director and acting instructor.  A four-time Dora Award nominee, she has played leading roles on stages across the country.  Some of her favourite credits include Long Day’s Journey Into Night, Death of a Salesman (Sterling nomination), The Goat (Citadel Theatre); Hamlet (Resurgence Theatre); Leaving Home (Blyth Festival); End of Civilization (Factory Theatre); A Streetcar Named Desire (Persephone Theatre).   A Gemini Award winning actor, she has appeared in over one hundred film and television projects.  Her credits include Anne With An E, Utopia Falls, The Strain, Shoot the Messenger (ACTRA nomination), Lost and Found, Haven and Flashpoint. Her directing credits include Outside Mullingar (Festival Players); The Wolves (Queen’s University Theatre Department); Other Desert Cities, The Penelopiad (Citadel Theatre); The Ladies Foursome (Grand Theatre); Skylight (Troubadour Theatre Collective); Machinal, Munsched!! (George Brown Theatre School); Of the Fields, Lately (Sudbury Theatre Centre).  As an acting instructor she has taught for colleges and universities, theatre schools and independent training programs.  She conducts Acting for the Camera classes in Toronto, and serves as an acting coach, helping actors prepare for auditions.  For the past four years, Brenda has taught Canadian Scene Study for the National Theatre School.

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