Street Speak: A Working Vocabulary

“The actor is an athlete of the heart.” — Antonin Artaud

At Paper Street, we embrace the power of Street Speak, a unique vernacular born from our belief that acting is a sport and actors are athletes. Rooted in the realms of theatre, sports, and entertainment, Street Speak draws inspiration from Straßensprache (German street slang), where everyday language is transformed into something bold and inventive. Just as Straßensprache uses creative twists to elevate common speech, Street Speak allows us to break free from traditional terminology, fostering a playful and expressive form of communication.

Influenced by the immersive culture of Disney, where terms like “backstage” and “cast members” create a collaborative atmosphere within their theme parks, we also look to the discipline of sports and the strategy of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) to shape our language. At Paper Street, our ethos is infused with the energy and focus of athletics—especially the grit and strategy of martial arts and MMA. Just like athletes who train, spar, and evolve, we see acting as a game—a dynamic art that requires focus, preparation, and teamwork.

In this spirit, we incorporate sports terminology into our practice. When we use the terms “player” (actor), “team” (class), or “training sessions” (classes), we frame acting as a high-energy pursuit—where every performance is an opportunity to refine skills, push boundaries, and engage in Mixed Dramatic Arts (MDA). MDA combines the best elements of each acting technique while discarding what doesn’t work in practice. Acting, then, becomes more than performance—it is a game to be played, with actors as the athletes of stage and screen.

Street Speak at Paper Street is not just about words—it sets the tone for an experience that blends attitude, action, and athleticism. This approach creates a space where acting feels as much like a sport as it does an art form, fostering growth, collaboration, and the spirit of healthy competition.