The Character Analysis Book

This is the defining book on Character Analysis.
Written by Christopher Fettes, (joint founder with Yat Malmgren, of the renowned Drama Centre London) the book offers an elegant and systematic journey into the extraordinary Laban/Jungian theory of Character Analysis / Movement Psychology.

The work is designed for actors, dancers, directors, writers – and in fact, anyone with an interest in developing a psychological understanding of themselves, of others or of the characters they may be asked to play – in life, on the stage, or in front of a camera.

A Peopled Labyrinth was published by GFCA in September 2015, and has been bought worldwide ever since, by those seeking in-depth understanding. It provides a thorough explanation and interpretation of the method of Character Analysis developed by Yat Malmgren, out of Rudolf Laban’s work. In 2023 it was released in a soft-back edition, still incorporating the same high production values.

Christopher Fettes

Christopher Fettes

The book was launched at a flagship event at GFCA London, attended by many former Drama Centre London alumni and colleagues, in September 2015. Subsequently the book was launched at the Academy of Music and Drama, Gothenburg University, Sweden, in November 2015, and at the Players Club, New York on 1 February 2016.

If you would like to be kept informed about associated events including workshops in Character Analysis, and for more about the work, please sign up to the mailing list.

The book is available for purchase by visitors to our GFCA London studio, and also online via Amazon.co.uk.
ISBN 978-0-9932775-1-1 hardback | ISBN softback 978-0993277504

The Laban-Carpenter Theory of Movement Psychology, adapted and brought to completion by Yat Malmgren, fully described and interpreted by Christopher Fettes.
Perfect-bound edition: 360 pages, full-colour.
The Theory described in four parts: The Components; The Inner Attitudes; The Externalised Drives; The Confluence of Externalised Drives. Complete with extensive commentary by the author, illustrated by copious examples: with diagrams, biographies, bibliography and a foreword by Colin Firth.

The book in use

The book in use

The launch of this book in 2015 marked the completion of 4 years of intense work that was designed to bring into being a long overdue, thorough and complete analysis of the theory. It is invaluable as a tool for future students, and serves to preserve this extraordinary work for generations to come.

Information about the book

Information about the book

For more information on the work, click on the links below:

The Guardian newspaper obituary – Yat Malmgren

Back Stage West – Colin Firth interview

Soul of the American Actor – article

January 2017: Swedish Radio podcast SPOTLIGHT – about Yat Malmgren, and the work. Including recordings made in 2000 with him and with Christopher Fettes at Drama Centre, plus commentary from Simon Callow and Pierce Brosnan.

Simon Callow speaking about the book, Christopher and Yat – in advance of the NYC book launch.

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