The Drama Student

The Drama Student Magazine is the first and only magazine dedicated to drama students in the UK. Published quarterly, the magazine brings together an exciting community of current and prospective students actively pursuing a career in theatre, film, television or radio, either as performer or behind the scenes. The publication features in-depth editorial on all aspects of the drama school journey, from auditioning right through the graduation, with inspiring interviews, articles and news that assist students in their chosen career path.

The Drama Student Online is an additional resource for students to keep up-to-date with the latest news stories from drama training institutions, as well as highlighting the latest theatre and cultural events in the UK. The site also features special articles and interviews with industry professionals, blogs, competitions and regular reader offers. There are forums to interact and opportunities to for students to write their own reviews, articles and blogs.

www.thedramastudent.co.uk

 

An Actor’s Journey

Act 1: Humble Beginnings

I was 10 years old when I decided I wanted to be an actor. Like most kids at that age I’d performed in countless school plays. My most noteworthy credit at that point was my rather silly (yet worryingly realistic) performance as an Ugly Sister in Cinderella. Bursting with enthusiasm and innocence, I dreamed of stardom; stage, screen, the lot. Of course it was much later when I discovered the job of an actor is more than some fickle celebrity status.

My mother, always keen to get me involved in local activities, was more than supportive. She immediately got in touch with our local youth theatre and before I knew it I was walking through the stage door and into my first acting class. I was terrified. This was a huge step, but one I fully embraced and that initial class really did seal the deal for me. I couldn’t wait to go back.

I remained with that group for four years, building up a mini-CV of productions. Through experience and guidance, I learned the basic skills of performing on stage and although I probably made several mistakes along the way, it proved to be an invaluable primary apprenticeship.

Act 2: Stepping Board

Yet it wasn’t until I enrolled myself in a larger, even more proactive Youth Theatre at the age of 14, that I began taking my craft seriously. Developing at a faster pace with industry professionals taking our weekly classes, I began learning advanced techniques in a more demanding environment. As well as partaking in customary workshops to build confidence and develop social skills, I was now exploring new texts with other talented young performers and devising our own work. It wasn’t long before I was taking LAMDA examinations to consolidate all my hard work to an end result. In my first assessment, I was awarded Honours. It was at this stage I began looking at the long game. The feedback from the examiner gave me the required self-belief to look at acting professionally.

These combined experiences were an important foundation to what I now appreciate was the stepping board to my career. Following lead roles in Bugsy Malone and the musical The Young Ones, I was spotted by a local agent who signed me up and started sending me out for auditions. I got a couple of lucky breaks with corporate educational videos and I had to quickly self-train the ‘acting for camera’ technique. Working with other professional actors, I found myself watching as much as I could, even when I wasn’t required in the scene. I would subtly stand in the shadows observing the relationship between the director, camera operator, sound guys and of course the actor.

Act 3: The Inevitable Setbacks

Everything seemed to be falling into place, what could possibly go wrong? Well nothing prepared me for the heartbreak of my first major rejection. I spent weeks and rounds and rounds of auditions for a lead role in the BBC children’s drama Byker Grove. Getting down to the last two was both an exciting and nerve-wracking experience. It was ultimately the stress that got the better of me and from the moment the producer phoned to give me the news, I knew it wasn’t good. I think I cried for three days straight, believing my career to be over before it had even started. Yet with hindsight I’m rather pleased it didn’t go my way, because if anything it certainly put this crazy industry into prospective. I realised that if I was going to have a shot at this, I needed to be strong enough to deal with being rebuffed. Trust me, it happens a lot. Two years later, I auditioned for another lead role in the same series and a few days later I was on the set getting to grips with my new role.

Act 4: A Firm Training

Several other television and theatre roles followed, at the same time a B-Tech Performing Arts course at my local college. The programme opened me up to studying theatre and the great practitioners, who up until this point, I had limited knowledge of. There was always this burning desire to make that final step and further cultivate my skills with a proper training. I auditioned for six of the top drama schools in London and accepted a place on the three acting course at Central.

For me, my drama school training was exceptional. Through intensive practical classes, workshops, rehearsals and productions, the course was structured to enhance student’s existing skills and help discard those bad habits that restricted our progress. It allowed us to form our own process of working and I took from the course a colourful tool-box of skills, knowledge and personal understanding that I have used in my professional career. I have continued to work in television and theatre (most recently at the Trafalgar Studios in New Boy), and although there have been times when it has been quiet, I have always been sure this is the career path for me.

Act 5: The Advice

Making that firm decision to enter this industry as an actor should not be taken lightly. It is absolutely essential that you have that burning passion to act, with the inner-strength to deal with rejection. Being an actor can be the most rewarding career in the world, like nothing else in fact. Yet it can also be an extremely lonely path if things don’t work out. It really isn’t enough to say you’d “like to give it a go”. You really have to channel your energy into living and breathing the world you want to go into, always eager to learn new skills, developing your craft and expanding your knowledge no matter what stage you’re at. A good actor is always aware that they never stop learning.

It’s also about being honest as an actor, knowing your strengths and weaknesses. It’s about having the courage and self-belief to overcome those challenges. As one of our greatest British actresses said to me recently, “For me insecurity never disappeared, I don’t think it does and it’s a good thing to have yourself as a critic, but not let that critic get in the way. It’s about trying to keep that critic outside the room.” An endearing admission from the award-winning Zoe Wanamaker.

by Phil Matthews, Editor, Drama Student Magazine