The Actor and His Text is a direct extension of Cicely Berry's first book, Voice and the Actor. It sets out to apply the methods of voice production directly and practically to the speaking of text. Specifically, it addresses the problem of how to infuse life and meaning into words that are first encountered on the printed page. While the greater part of her book is about the speaking of Shakespeare, Cicely Berry also includes the speaking of modern plays, such as those of Davis Rudkin and Edward Bond. She expands, too, on the exercises given in Voice and the Actor which help to develop relaxation, breathing and muscular control.