Steven Berkoff- practitioner

Steven Berkoff- practitioner

1. His physical, exaggerated style of theatre is both popular and controversial, defying the norms of naturalistic theatre. Berkoffian actors use techniques such as background movement, repetitive actions, and mime to explore further the ways in which Berkoff approaches exchanges between two characters.

   • Berkoffian actors use techniques such as background movement, repetitive actions, and mime to explore further the ways in which Berkoff approaches exchanges between two characters. Berkoff said that it was important “to see how I could bring mime together with the spoken word as its opposite partner, creating the form and structure of the piece”
     • Berkoff’s approach to theatre is incredibly physical. Kenneth Reah titled an article, “Like smoking, naturalism can damage your health”[3] which sums up Berkoff’s approach to naturalistic theatre. His style is non-naturalistic, often focusing on movement rather that voice. According to him, the only purpose of a script is to help “minimalise and physicalise”[4] the story; stripping it down to its most basic components.

2. As an actor, he is best known for his performances in villainous roles, such as Lt. Col Podovsky in Rambo: First Blood Part II, General Orlov in the James Bond film Octopussy, Victor Maitland in Beverly Hills Cop and Adolf Hitler in the TV mini-series War and Remembrance.

   • High intensity warms up are key, as Berkoff or directors working in his style screen actors based on their stamina and physical dexterity. Actors do exercises and stretches to increase their flexibility as well as physical theatre exercises, such as background movement, repetitive actions, and mime
     • Steven Berkoff influences. Influences on Berkoff as a performer and as a playwright/director. Laurence Olivier (1907-1989) was possibly the greatest theatre actor in Britain. His acting and direction of Shakespeare such as Richard III and Henry V are considered definitive.