The video is from the AusAct 2020 Australian Actor Training Conference workshop.

Zero Zone praxis is a self-cultivation praxis that helps tackle ego-based conflicts during the rehearsal period in Performing Arts and avoid stage fright manifestations in the actor-director dyad. 

The essence of the praxis is the selection, design and system of exercises with personal development coaching facilitating knowledge. It moves beyond the closed conservative teaching and practising performing arts, increasing anxiety and stage fright. Instead of considering fear as an encouraging tool (a common viewpoint among the older generation of practitioners), the praxis concentrates on preventing or releasing existing unnecessary fear from the actor-director relationship by creating a horizontal, equal and supportive dyad (an amplified holistic approach, especially among the younger generation). As a result, the praxis creates trust and builds an open and sincere relationship between the ensemble members by distilling out personal egoistic motives from the process. 

Zero Zone praxis is derived from Performing Art, coaching and self-cultivation practices. It practically applies a theory based on theatrical directing, acting, coaching, and Yogic practices. As a distillation, source exercises were selected from theatrical (Stage 1) and Yogic practice (Stage 2) and Vedic philosophy (Stage 3). They were designed according to their effect and efficiency (acting, stage fright, actor-director relationship).

ZZ self-cultivation exercises are designed to increase the practitioners’ introverted kinaesthetic bodymind awareness and heighten one’s perceptual tools for guiding emotion and focus. Thus, all three ZZ praxis levels together provide a uniquely complete set for conscious training, elevating the practitioner’s distinction and attention skills to a higher level of perception. This, in turn, brings a personal qualitative change and allows one to perform on a higher level of consciousness.

ZZ praxis creates an agreement between the ensemble members for a more subtle, intimate, caring and appreciative approach to cooperation in the rehearsal process: precision and appreciation for one another.

This method alleviates the actor’s and director’s creative hesitations and fears relating to the final artistic product (the performance), improves their personality, and reduces tension in the studio. Practising ZZ praxis together in the studio and individually during rehearsing decreases confrontation between creative persons and dissolves unneeded defence dynamics: a self-protective attitude.