The Viewpoints Book: A Practical Guide to Viewpoints and Composition

The Viewpoints Book by Anne Bogart and Tina Landau is the definitive guide to the Viewpoints technique, a method of physical improvisation that has transformed actor training and rehearsal processes since its codification in the 1980s and 1990s. Bogart, one of the most influential American directors of her generation and co-artistic director of SITI Company, adapted the original Viewpoints concept from choreographer Mary Overlie's Six Viewpoints, expanding it into a comprehensive framework for theatrical creation. Published in 2005, the book provides the first thorough written documentation of a technique that had previously been transmitted almost exclusively through workshops and direct instruction.

The book introduces the nine physical Viewpoints organized into two categories: Time (Tempo, Duration, Kinesthetic Response, Repetition) and Space (Shape, Gesture, Architecture, Spatial Relationship, Topography). It also covers Vocal Viewpoints, which extend the same principles to the voice. Each Viewpoint is explained in clear, practical terms with exercises designed to develop awareness and facility in that specific area of physical expression. The systematic presentation allows readers to understand each element individually before exploring how they interact and combine in more complex improvisational and compositional work.

Beyond the individual Viewpoints, the book covers Composition, which Bogart and Landau define as the practice of creating short theatrical pieces using the Viewpoints as building blocks. Composition exercises challenge actors and directors to create original work using specific formal constraints, developing their abilities as theatre-makers rather than merely interpreters. This section of the book has proven particularly influential in the growing field of devised theatre, where ensembles create original works collaboratively rather than staging pre-existing scripts. The Composition work bridges the gap between actor training and artistic creation in a way that few other techniques achieve.

The book is written in an accessible, inviting tone that demystifies what can initially seem like an abstract or intimidating technique. Bogart and Landau share personal anecdotes, practical tips, and philosophical reflections that contextualize the exercises within a broader vision of what theatre can be. The writing conveys the authors' passionate belief that Viewpoints training develops not just physical skills but a way of seeing, listening, and responding that enriches every aspect of an actor's life and work. Their prose style manages to be both intellectually rigorous and warmly encouraging.

Viewpoints training has become a standard component of many university and conservatory acting programs, and the book has been instrumental in spreading the technique to institutions and practitioners who have not had the opportunity to study directly with Bogart or her associates. The technique is particularly valued for its ability to build ensemble cohesion, develop physical expressiveness, and break actors out of habitual patterns of movement and response. Directors use Viewpoints as a rehearsal tool for generating staging, discovering physical relationships between characters, and creating visual compositions that emerge organically from the actors' bodies rather than being imposed from outside. The technique is compatible with virtually any other acting methodology, making it a versatile addition to any actor's toolkit.

The Viewpoints Book is available in paperback from Theatre Communications Group, typically priced between $12 and $20 for a new copy. Used copies are available for somewhat less, though the book remains in strong demand among theatre students and professionals. Digital editions are available for Kindle and other e-readers at approximately $10 to $15. The book provides exceptional value relative to the cost of attending a Viewpoints workshop, which typically runs several hundred dollars for a weekend intensive. For actors and directors who want to begin exploring the technique or who have experienced it in workshops and want a reference text, the book is an essential and affordable investment.

The Viewpoints Book is essential reading for any actor or director interested in physical theatre, ensemble work, devised performance, or expanding their understanding of what actor training can encompass beyond text-based technique. It is particularly valuable for actors who feel stuck in habitual physical patterns or who want to develop greater spontaneity and responsiveness in their work. Directors will find the Composition exercises an invaluable tool for generating staging and discovering visual storytelling possibilities that would not emerge from conventional blocking processes. If the book inspires you, seek out Viewpoints workshops offered by SITI Company, university programs, and independent teachers to experience the technique in its full experiential dimension.

Begin by reading the book straight through to understand the overall framework before attempting the exercises — the philosophical context enriches the practical work significantly. Gather a group of fellow actors or students to explore the exercises together, as Viewpoints is fundamentally an ensemble practice that cannot be fully experienced solo. Start with the individual Viewpoints exercises before combining them, building facility in each element before attempting the more complex improvisational work. Document your Composition pieces on video so you can review and discuss them, developing your eye for visual storytelling alongside your physical skills. Return to the book after you have some practical experience with the exercises, as your embodied understanding will unlock layers of meaning in the text that are not apparent on first reading.