Strongly practical in its approach, Russian Theatre in Practice equips readers with an understanding of the varying approaches of each director, and through the practical exercises the opportunity to participate and explore their ideas in practice, thereby honing their own directing skills. Amidst the turmoil of political revolution, the directors of twentieth century Russia rewrote the rules of theatre making. From realism to the avant-garde, politics to postmodernism, and revolution to repression, these practitioners shaped the perception of theatre direction across the world. This edited volume introduces students and practitioners alike to the innovations of Russia's stage directors, blending familiar names like Stanislavski and Meyerhold with the less well-known including Anatoly Efros, Oleg Efremov and Alexander Tairov. The full range of directorial skills useful to the student director is covered - including work on text, rehearsal technique, space and proxemics, audience theory, and characterization. Each chapter focuses on one director combining an examination of their directing theory and technique with practical exercises for use in classroom or rehearsal settings. Through their ideas and their techniques, Russia's directors still demand our attention, and in this volume they come to life as a powerful resource for today's theatre makers.