The Role Of Research In Building A Character

This thesis serves as a guide for beginning actors when determining how to conduct and apply research to the process of building a character. Throughout this thesis, I reference a production that I was a part of my junior year of college at Appalachian State University entitled Silence by Moira Buffini and the research I did to better understand the world of the play and my character. When analyzing the play, an actor will use research to determine more about the time period, setting, style, relationships, and the given circumstances. They can also use additional research in improvisations to enhance their character choices. Research affects the way actors interact with other characters, places, and ideas, as well as their reactions to events and circumstances. It also informs their decisions on the character’s social constructs, and creates stakes for the actor that deepen the understanding of the character and the world in which they live. This thesis demonstrates the importance of research for actors in order to build a fully developed character that is consistent with the world of the play and is believable to the audience.