Exploratory investigation of South Indian techniques and Neurolinguistic Programming as methods of reducing stage fright in actors

The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the potential of techniques drawn from (1) the South Indian traditions of Siddha Yoga, Kuttiyattam and the martial arts, and (2) Neuro-Linguistic Programming to reduce performance anxiety in professional actors. Fourteen actors, with an average of 5 years’ professional experience, for whom stage fright was a serious problem, were assigned (randomly with a motivational constraint) to a 4-day workshop in either South Indian Techniques or Neuro-Linguistic Programming. The actors performed a short monologue before and after the workshop. A variety of physiological, behavioural and self-report measures were taken on each occasion. Both physiological and self-report measures indicated that training in either South Indian techniques or Neuro-Linguistic Programming may have beneficial effects in reducing performance anxiety in actors. Overall, the results favoured the former as having more potential as a therapeutic technique.