The Encyclopedia of Interactive Performance

 » Character shoehorn

Character shoehorn

something said or done to slip quickly into character


When actors perform with an accent, they often have a phrase they say to get into it. You can use a similar approach when playing a character. Find something physical or verbal that makes you feel like your character, and make that your shoehorn. It’s might be anything: a gesture, a facial mask, a costume piece, a catch phrase. Whenever you need to drop into character, simply use your character shoehorn. It’s a basic conditioning technique that helps you get into character quickly and easily.

Updated: August 22, 2024

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Encyclopedia of Interactive Performance