SUMTEKNIKS

It's all about Soul

Mikhail Aleksandrovich Chekhov was born in 1891 in St. Petersburg, Russia. He was the nephew of the well-renowned author and play-write Anton Chekhov. During his years in the Russian First Studio of the Moscow Art Theatre, Stanislavsky labelled Michael as his best student.  As a result, Chekhov began to lead the Second Moscow Art Theater Studio; however, this enraged Stanislavsky who felt betrayed by Chekhov. 

Nevertheless, in 1928 the ruthless Soviet leader Joseph Stalin ordered for Michael Chekhov to be exiled from Russia due to Chekhov's work in the Moscow theatre believed by Stalin to be counter-revolutionary to the his communist regime. Therefore, Chekhov emigrated to Berlin and set up his own studio and worked there as an actor, producer, director and teacher. In 1936, Chekhov decided to settle in England. He was later invited by the American actress Beatrice Straight to establish the Chekhov Theatre Studio at Dartington Hall, Devon. This is where Chekhov began to structure the foundation of his method.  

Unlike, other theatre practitioners, Chekhov believes the actor should have a lot more freedom on stage rather than being tied down by rather intense methods. He strongly believed that actors are creative artists and therefore should create characters using their own characteristics. This character should not be directly tied to his/her personality or the performance will have no substance. However, this creative individuality allows the artist actor to use parts of themselves; not the stale, cliche and lifeless elements, but rather to explore the subconscious depths of one's self thus to obtain in Checkhov's words, "The soul of the character".   

Before the outbreak of World War 2, Chekhov relocated his theatre company to Connecticut in the US. He formed the Chekhov Theatre Players and began to tour his productions across the US which allowed him to increase his profile. During the 1940's Chekhov broke into the American film industry where he obtained masses of respect and success. In 1945, Chekhov received an Oscar nomination for Alfred Hitchcock’s Spellbound. Chekhov spent the remainder of his years  teaching actors such as  Marilyn Monroe, Mala Powers, Clint Eastwood and many more. 

Michael Chekhov died on the 30th September 1955, age 64 in the Beverly Hills, California. His name and method still remains deeply imprinted in today's theatre and film industry.