From sound to understanding: actor and teacher Yury Novikov delivers a lecture on the power of the artistic word at the National Centre RUSSIA

What makes our speech vivid and expressive? Why can the same text leave an audience bored or hold it spellbound? These questions were explored at the lecture "Working with Literary Text: From Understanding to Expressive Reading", held at the National Centre RUSSIA on 20 September. The event was part of the cultural-and-educational programme accompanying the "Legacy. Theatre. The Greats" exposition.

The meeting was led by dubbing actor, television presenter, announcer for the Protocol of the Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation, speaker at the Higher Party School and stage speech teacher Yury Novikov. He noted that expressive reading begins long before the first phrase is spoken — it starts with understanding why the text is being delivered, the circumstances in which the character acts and the meaning hidden behind the words. The audience learned how to identify the author's intention, place emphasis effectively and turn a text into a coherent expression of an idea. Yury Novikov also paid particular attention to breathing, voice, articulation and the principles of spoken language. As he noted, speech remains an actor's key tool. 

Photo: Ivan Semenets, Press Office of the National Centre RUSSIA

"In my view, speech is the actor's main tool. Of course, there are gestures and movements, but pantomime, for example, is a separate art form, and people come specifically to watch it. Dramatic theatre, however, is still about words and meaning. The actor carries the author's ideas and, wherever possible, conveys them effectively," Yury Novikov stressed. 

Photo: Ivan Semenets, Press Office of the National Centre RUSSIA

The lecture proved useful not only for stage professionals. As the speaker pointed out, even a simple birthday greeting for a friend can be considered a speech — which means that the ability to work with words is important for anyone who occasionally finds themselves in the spotlight. At the end of the meeting, Yury Novikov shared some secrets of successful public speaking. 

Photo: Ivan Semenets, Press Office of the National Centre RUSSIA

"If you are speaking to an unfamiliar audience, remember that 30% of the success of your speech depends on your appearance. Only after the audience has formed a visual impression does it begin to respond to the tone of your voice and the way you speak, put words together, pause and emphasise certain meanings. In other words, up to 70% of the audience's like or dislike develops during those first moments. And if the audience likes both your appearance and what you are saying, it becomes less important what you say afterwards — those 70% of success are already secured. Moreover, when preparing for a speech, make sure to rehearse it at home in the outfit you plan to wear in front of the audience. You should also memorise the beginning and the ending of your speech. If we apply school marks, the beginning must be 'excellent', while the ending must be a 'highest possible grade' — then it is acceptable for the middle of the speech to be 'above average grade'," the expert shared. 

Photo: Ivan Semenets, Press Office of the National Centre RUSSIA

The "Legacy. Theatre. The Greats" exposition at the National Centre RUSSIA is a large-scale project dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the Union of Theatre Workers of Russia and implemented with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives. The exposition is held under the motto "A Union of Happy People". Visitors can see unique exhibits and explore the backstage world of theatre until 25 September. Admission is free of charge. Advance registration on the russia.ru website is required to take part in guided tours and the cultural-and-educational programme.