Breaking Set by Mark Rylance

‘Breaking set’ is a term used by psychologists to denote speech or action that breaks out of the expected pattern or norm – coming at you left-field. We are all used to the standard award acceptance speech, where a tearful actor thanks their manager, agent and mum. Watch the amazing actor Mark Rylance break set hilariously in these two acceptance speeches.

P.S. Some people on watching these ‘get it’ and love them. Others are just puzzled. Perhaps it helps to know that Rylance is reciting prose poems by one of his favourite poets.