The Actor’s Speaking Voice, Body and Text with Tom Soares

This session will begin by physically exploring some questions: What are the similarities and differences between vocal production for speaking and singing? What habits might inhibit or promote effective use of the voice and body when we speak and perform? Participants will engage in various exercises that help them connect to their voice, body and text with greater depth and specificity, leading to greater clarity and meaning for an audience. We will then delve into how the voice and body work together to serve the actor’s fundamental unit of their craft: action, using a series of expressive tools that bring their voices and text to life in a nuanced and impactful manner. While it isn’t a requirement, participants are encouraged to bring in a new monologue they would like to work on (otherwise, one will be provided).

About the Facilitator: Tom Soares is an actor and a voice, dialect, and text coach. He was most recently seen in Shakespeare in the Ruins’ production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Tom was the Dialect Coach for The Long Walk, produced by Lionsgate Entertainment. This season, he will be the Voice and Dialect coach for RMTC’s productions of The Recipe and Murder for Two. Tom has taught introductory to advanced courses in performance and voice for the Department of Theatre and Film at the University of Winnipeg for over a decade. He has an MFA in Acting with a voice specialization from York University.