"Adrian Cairns, apart from being an actor, was one of my teachers at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. His experience both as an actor and as a teacher, and his practice of considered thought, make this an invaluable book at a time when Government and Local Authorities seem confused as to what actors' training should be, let alone what their role should be in contemporary society. The uncertainty has caused, in many cases, withdrawl of an educational subsidy towards actors' training. Mr Cairns' book examines the history of actors' training, leading to an analysis of the present situation as well as a prediction of the actors' role in the future and the method of training we should work towards to accomodate this. The Making of the Professional Actor should be required reading, not only for those decision makers who hold the responsibility of subsidizing the next generation of actors, but for any prospective, student, or professional actor. It is a vital addition to the current debate."