Stanislavski Acting Method: Tactics

Understanding tactics is essential to building truthful, powerful performances as an actor. Within the Stanislavski acting method, tactics are a core part of creating layered characters and driving each scene forward with intention.

Before diving into tactics, it's helpful to understand how they fit into the bigger picture. You may already be familiar with:

• Objective: What your character wants in a scene or the play overall

• Motivation: Why your character wants it—what drives them emotionally or practically

• Given Circumstances: The facts and context about your character’s world, relationships, and situation

Once you've explored those foundational tools, tactics are the next essential step. They answer the question: "How does the character try to get what they want?"

• 🎭 Actors grab your FREE Audition Materials Guide– The eight pieces you need to prepare for almost any theater audition.

• 📚Drama Teachers, grab your FREE Drama Classroom Toolkit– A free resource bundle for drama teachers to help support acting instruction in the classroom.

What Are Tactics in the Stanislavski Method?

Tactics are the specific actions your character takes in pursuit of their objective. Think of them as strategic tools used to achieve a goal. In other words, while objectives describe what the character wants, tactics describe what they actively do to try to get it.

You can think of tactics like the strategies used in sports, war, or even board games. You have a goal, and you change your approach based on what’s working and what’s not. The same principle applies in acting—characters shift their tactics depending on how others in the scene respond.

🎭 Important note: Tactics are actions, not emotions.
Instead of trying to “act angry” or “act sad,” focus on doing something. The emotion will follow naturally.

How to Identify Tactics in a Scene or Monologue

Use strong, active verbs when naming your tactics. These should be in-the-moment choices—things your character is doing right now to try and achieve their goal.

Examples of strong tactics:

• To charm

• To intimidate

• To beg

• To guilt

• To seduce

• To manipulate

• To warn

• To reassure

Avoid flat or vague words like “talk,” “argue,” or “be mad.” Instead, get specific and expressive with your choices.

💡 Try to identify at least four tactics in a monologue or scene. These should be clearly distinct from each other and show how your character adapts based on success or resistance from other characters.

Example: Juliet in Romeo and Juliet

Let’s look at Juliet in the famous balcony scene. Her objective might be:

“To connect with Romeo and express my love while avoiding the danger of getting caught.”

Here are some possible tactics Juliet uses:

• To romanticize: She describes Romeo using poetic imagery and lofty metaphors.

• To warn: She tells him that if he’s found, he’ll be killed.

• To test: She asks Romeo to prove his love and swear his intentions.

• To confess: She opens up about the depth of her feelings.

Each of these tactics shows a different side of Juliet and gives the actor distinct moments to explore on stage.

Tactics Are Relational and Flexible

Tactics usually target another character in the scene. You're trying to affect that person, get them to do something, or change their mind. This makes tactics highly relational, and it’s what brings life and conflict to a performance.

Also, tactics are fluid. If one tactic fails, the character tries another. This constant adjustment keeps the scene dynamic and engaging.

Acting Exercise: Practice Using Tactics

Try this simple exercise with a monologue or short scene:

1. Identify the character’s objective.
   What does the character want overall in this moment?

2. Choose three tactics.
   Pick three strong action verbs that your character could use to pursue the objective.

3. Perform the piece three times, each time using one of the tactics as your primary approach.

4. Bonus challenge: Mark in the text where your character might change tactics, and perform it again, switching tactics mid-scene.

5. Observe: How do your tone, pacing, gestures, and expressions shift depending on the tactic? Which version felt most alive and grounded?

Additional Resources for Actors and Teachers

If you’d like more help preparing for performances or auditions, be sure to grab these free resources:

• 🎭 Actors grab your FREE Audition Materials Guide– The eight pieces you need to prepare for almost any theater audition.

• 📚Drama Teachers, grab your FREE Drama Classroom Toolkit– A free resource bundle for drama teachers to help support acting instruction in the classroom.

These tools can be printed, shared, or used digitally to help deepen understanding and streamline rehearsal and preparation.

Happy acting, and break a leg!