Actions: The Actors' Thesaurus

Marina Caldarone, Maggie Lloyd-Williams

• Publisher: Nick Hern Books
• Year: 2017
• Print ISBN: 9781854596741
• eBook ISBN: 9781780019727
• Topic: Media & Performing Arts
• Subtopic: Acting & Auditioning

A vital companion for actors in rehearsal - a thesaurus of action-words to revitalise performance, with a foreword by Terry Johnson. Finding the right action is an essential part of the process of preparation for the actor. Using this thesaurus of active verbs, the actor can refine the action-word until s/he hits exactly the right one to help make the action come alive. The method of 'actioning' is widely used in rehearsal rooms, but has never before been set down in a systematic and comprehensive way.

'If you want to act, or act better, Actions will take you a long way on the journey to excellence' Terry Johnson

A

Abandon Desert, Discard, Ditch, Drop, Dump, Forsake, Jilt, Leave, Reject, Relinquish, Renounce, Shun, Snub, Surrender

Abduct Capture, Entrap, Kidnap, Pluck, Seize, Snatch

Abet Advocate, Aid, Assist, Back, Boost, Condone, Encourage, Endorse, Favour, Forward, Foster, Further, Goad, Help, Patronise, Promote, Provoke, Second, Strengthen, Succour, Support

Abide Bear, Endure, Obey, Stomach, Suffer, Tolerate

Abjure Discard, Renounce

Abolish Annihilate, Destroy, Dismiss, Eradicate, Nullify

Abridge Condense, Encapsulate

Absolve Acquit, Clear, Discharge, Exculpate, Exempt, Exonerate, Forgive, Liberate, Pardon, Purge, Purify, Redeem, Release, Vindicate

Absorb Consume, Digest, Envelop, Incorporate, Process

Abuse Assail, Attack, Berate, Blemish, Brutalise, Censure, Curse, Damage, Decry, Defame, Deprave, Deprecate, Disparage, Exploit, Harangue, Harm, Hurt, Impair, Impugn, Injure, Insult, Jeer, Knock, Malign, Maltreat, Manhandle, Mar, Misemploy, Mistreat, Misuse, Molest, Objurgate, Persecute, Pervert, Rebuke, Revile, Ruin, Slander, Torture, Use, Vilify, Violate, Wrong

Accelerate Hasten, Hurry, Quicken, Spur, Stimulate

Accept Acknowledge, Admit, Adopt, Approve, Condone, Embrace, Espouse, Permit, Receive, Welcome

Access Reach

Acclaim Applaud, Approve, Cheer, Commend, Exalt, Glorify, Hail, Honour, Laud, Praise, Welcome

Acclimatise Adapt, Adjust, Season

Accommodate, 1 Adapt, Adjust, Customise

Accommodate, 2 Contain, Foster, House, Lodge, Place, Shelter

Accommodate, 3 Aid, Equip, Favour, Oblige

Accompany Attend, Chaperone, Escort, Follow, Lead, Track

Accost Attack, Confront, Impugn

Accuse Arraign, Blame, Challenge, Charge, Cite, Defame, Denounce, Disparage, Expose, Impeach, Indict, Incriminate, Prosecute

Accustom Acquaint, Condition, Familiarise, Habituate, Season

Acknowledge Accept, Address, Admit, Befriend, Greet, Hail, Notice, Receive, Recognise, Tribute

Acquaint Accustom, Advise, Appraise, Befriend, Enlighten, Familiarise, Inform

Acquire Attain

Acquit Absolve, Clear, Deliver, Discharge, Disencumber, Exempt, Exonerate, Excuse, Forgive, Liberate, Pardon, Release, Vindicate

Activate Animate, Arouse, Awaken, Cue, Deploy, Electrify, Energise, Enliven, Galvanise, Generate, Impel, Initiate, Inspirit, Instigate, Invigorate, Mobilise, Motivate, Prompt, Rouse, Stimulate, Stir, Trigger, Vitalise, Waken

Adapt Acclimatise, Accommodate, Alter, Amend, Change, Convert, Emend, Prepare, Remodel, Shape, Tailor

Addle Agitate, Befuddle, Confuse, Distract, Dizzy

Address Acknowledge, Approach, Greet, Hail, Invoke, Name

Adjudicate Arbitrate, Judge, Mediate, Referee, Umpire

Adjure Command

Adjust Acclimatise, Convert

Admire Deify, Esteem, Honour, Idolise, Laud, Praise, Respect, Revere, Venerate

Admit Accept, Acknowledge, Adulate, Embrace, Encompass, Initiate, Involve, Permit, Recognise, Receive

Admonish Advise, Caution, Rebuke, Reprimand, Reprove, Reproach, Warn

Adopt Accept, Appropriate, Embrace, Espouse, Receive, Welcome

Adore Admire, Adulate, Cherish, Deify, Enshrine, Exalt, Idolise, Revere, Treasure, Venerate, Worship

Adorn Beautify, Bedeck, Crown, Deck, Decorate, Distinguish, Emblazon, Enrich, Festoon, Grace, Idolise, Ornament

Adulate Admire, Adore, Beatify, Cherish, Deify, Enshrine, Exalt, Idolise, Laud, Revere, Treasure, Venerate, Worship

Adulterate Bastardise, Bowdlerise, Contaminate, Corrupt, Debase, Devalue, Dilute, Dirty, Doctor, Pollute, Taint, Weaken

Advise Acquaint, Admonish, Alert, Appraise, Apprise, Caution, Counsel, Dissuade, Doctor, Educate, Encourage, Enlighten, Guide, Inform, Instruct, Notify, Prompt, Teach, Warn

Advocate Abet, Aid, Approve, Back, Boost, Champion, Encourage, Endorse, Favour, Forward, Further, Patronise

Affect Afflict, Alter, Change, Disturb, Influence, Interest, Modify, Move, Stir, Sway

Affirm Approve, Authorise, Aver, Back, Certify, Champion, Confirm, Endorse, Favour, Ratify, Recommend, Sanction, Support

Affix Anchor, Fix, Pin, Secure, Wedge

Afflict Affect, Bedevil, Bother, Curse, Distress, Hurt, Molest, Oppress, Persecute, Punish, Trouble

Affright Alarm, Frighten, Horrify, Menace, Scare, Shock, Terrify, Terrorise

Affront Charge, Degrade, Insult, Outrage, Provoke, Slander, Slight

Aggrandise Boost, Dignify, Distend, Elevate, Ennoble, Exalt, Glorify, Honour, Inflate, Promote, Raise, Swell, Upgrade

Aggravate Annoy, Antagonise, Bait, Bedevil, Bother, Embitter, Enrage, Exacerbate, Exasperate, Fret, Frustrate, Harass, Hassle, Hector, Hurt, Impair, Inflame, Irk, Irritate, Maltreat, Nark, Needle, Nettle, Pester, Provoke, Rankle, Rile, Tease, Torment, Vex

Aggrieve Displease, Hurt

Agitate Addle, Alarm, Arouse, Churn, Confuse, Derange, Disconcert, Distress, Disturb, Disquiet, Dizzy, Fan, Faze, Fluster, Fret, Generate, Harass, Hassle, Impel, Incite, Inflame, Jumble, Panic, Perturb, Press, Rattle, Rouse, Ruffle, Shake, Shock, Startle, Stimulate, Stir, Trouble, Unnerve, Unsettle, Upset, Vex, Worry

Aid Abet, Accommodate, Advocate, Assist, Back, Befriend, Bolster, Boost, Comfort, Cultivate, Ease, Encourage, Favour, Forward, Foster, Further, Help, Improve, Nurse, Refresh, Relieve, Remedy, Restore, Revive, Save, Serve, Strengthen, Succour, Support, Teach, Tutor

Alarm Affright, Agitate, Alert, Distress, Disturb, Frighten, Horrify, Menace, Panic, Perturb, Petrify, Scare, Signal, Startle, Terrify, Terrorise, Threaten, Unnerve, Warn

Alert Advise, Alarm, Awaken, Caution, Forewarn, Notify, Signal, Warn

Alienate Disillusion, Distance, Embitter, Enveno...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Dedication
• Contents
• Thanks
• Foreword
• Introduction
• How to Action the Text
• How to Use The Actors’ Thesaurus
• Sample Scenes
• Acknowledgements
• Actions
• A-Z
• Emotional Groups
• About the Author
• Copyright Information