To train or not to train?
I have met quite a lot of actors over the last few months. Some of them I have met through this site (hello!). Some actors I have seen performing in plays and then met them afterward. Some actors I have met in the pub and they tell me they're an actor. They are all different in acting style, looks and personality. Some are trained, some have been to university, some have done classes, others have no training other than life experience.
I have also met quite a few young want-to-be-actors who are asking for advice on whether to go down the traditional Drama School route, to study at University, or go travelling...
Some actors have told me that actors MUST be trained - and 3 years at an elite drama school - to achieve any level of career. I have also heard from others that the best actors are those that don't train, that aren't shaped into a 'type' by traditional training, and are encouraged by their independence to think on their own. Then there seems to be a whole other set of opinions on masters/postgraduate drama training! When a director looks at CVs, it can be really interesting for them to know why training choices were made and in what context - and I know a few actors who feel cheesed-off because they are written-off because of their choices!
All options seem to have pros and cons, so I started thinking it would be good to ask you guys...
What did you do? Did you go to drama school? If so, which one and was it worth all that time and money you invested into it? What about those of you who did the University route? What did you get out of that? What about those of you with no 'training'?
What advice would you give someone who is thinking through their options?
I have also met quite a few young want-to-be-actors who are asking for advice on whether to go down the traditional Drama School route, to study at University, or go travelling...
Some actors have told me that actors MUST be trained - and 3 years at an elite drama school - to achieve any level of career. I have also heard from others that the best actors are those that don't train, that aren't shaped into a 'type' by traditional training, and are encouraged by their independence to think on their own. Then there seems to be a whole other set of opinions on masters/postgraduate drama training! When a director looks at CVs, it can be really interesting for them to know why training choices were made and in what context - and I know a few actors who feel cheesed-off because they are written-off because of their choices!
All options seem to have pros and cons, so I started thinking it would be good to ask you guys...
What did you do? Did you go to drama school? If so, which one and was it worth all that time and money you invested into it? What about those of you who did the University route? What did you get out of that? What about those of you with no 'training'?
What advice would you give someone who is thinking through their options?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Nathan Keates on
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Right, I don't think there is a correct route or a better route. It is all about a personal journey to know how you work personally. Once you understand that and fit yourself into the industry you can see if the route/choices taken were correct then. In any case, the choice for all has its pros and cons.
Tis what I think anyway. -
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Permalink Reply by Iain Goosey on
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Hi! This is a really important debate to have, and is something I always think about retrospectively when considering whether I made the correct career decisions. I went to Royal Holloway, University of London and learnt a huge amount of theoretical training to add to the professional experience I had gained already. It was a great course but it still is yet to be seen whether it was worth the time and money.
In my opinion a brilliant actor has to have gone on their 'personal journey' and gained a wide range of personal experiences (drama schools do tend to have a habit of knocking this out of you).
However, even if you are the greatest actor in the world but you don't have any 'training' you won't get very far in the industry (very rare exceptions apply). A sad fact I know! A director when casting a show will most of the time only call people who have had the training. So without the training you are unlikely to even get through the door to an audition... Also it is a requirement of most reputable acting agencies.
So to sum up the unfortunate situation: When you sign up for 'training' you're not paying for 3 years of knowledge and experience; you're buying the Degree, Name and Brand of the chosen institution (the bigger the better i.e RADA). With that in hand you will then be able to have an agent, get the call for auditions and gain the success in the industry. Without that you are on your own fighting a very difficult battle.......
Would be interesting to hear what others think, especially those who arent just actors? -
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Permalink Reply by Catherine Paskell on
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Iain, thanks for this. What you say seems to reflect a lot of what people say about the aforementioned 'unfortunate situation'. For myself, I'm a director so the path may of course be slightly different - but I went to University and did American Studies. I thought that, to be a director, it would be good for me to develop my analytical mind, know a bit about the world and I guess gain more life experience! It was a great path for me, especially as due to the nature of my course, my tutors were very supportive of my passions and didn't mind late essays during production week. I got loads of practical experience running and directing with the Student-Run theatre company - and met lots of talented actors, directors and creatives. Many people have gone on to form great careers after Nottingham - but I think it has been a lot harder for the actors to do so.
I then decided to be taken more seriously as a professional director! So I then "trained" as a director at Birkbeck, on a fantastically practical course, which was geared more towards building networks than learning to direct - they expected you to know how to do that before you joined! So for me, training in this sense has proved essential - I would not have had the opportunities I have had if it weren't for the experiences I have had and the people I met through Birkbeck and I have managed to sort of meld lots of different "training" paths together.
However - the actors I know from Nottingham University who have gone on to enjoy successful careers, graduated and THEN went straight on to do a 3 year conservatoire-type training.
I know some wonderful actors who have not got the traditional 3 year training and can't get work. Some may have a one-year masters degree, but this hasn't helped them because it hasn't provided them with a depth of training and they call it their 'Mickey Mouse Conversion Degree'. Some of my actor friends have tried entering a 3-year training but find that they have missed the boat - and as 21-year-old graduates were too old to be drama students.
I think it is essential that to avoid these dilemmas, people share their experiences and opinions. I wish that I had had some guidance about being a director, rather than stumbling about in the dark. And yes, I know this has probably 'made me the person I am today' but I do think it is up to us to help others - and also to challenge the 'unfortunate situations' of this world if we don't agree with them to try and change the way things are done. -
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Permalink Reply by Chris Jenkins on
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"as 21-year-old graduates were too old to be drama students."
I really have a disagree there!! Many people on my course were either 21 or above when they started training - some were even 25. It is never too late to go and train, if that is what you want to do of course. -
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That's great that Guildford were letting people in and appreciating that a range of ages and diversity of background and experience in a teaching year can add to the students' own training. All I can say is that some of my friends have now been trying over a couple of years to get into school and are told by some colleges that because they previously went to university, it is perceived that their wish to then go to drama school is to treat training almost as if it were a finishing school. For one of my friends, this summer is his 4th trying to get into drama school. Maybe he's just not what the schools are looking for?
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Permalink Reply by ALED OWEN PEDRICK on
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Hi Catherine,
I trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and graduated last year. I was also fortunate enough to be invited back to Guildhall over the last year as a teacher, as well as being empoyed by the school over the last 4 years to work on the audition process, so I have quite a lot of experience regarding training, the institutions and teaching, as well as the actual audition process itself. In addition to this, I and some young actors and directors, Tom Daley and Richard Twyman have recently established a Saturday and Summer Acting Academy in London which trains and prepares young actors predominantly looking to apply to and train at drama school.
I was fortunate enough, as many others to be in a year group of diverse individuals of various nationalities, ages and degrees of life experience: some straight from school; some having taken a gap year (like myself); some having done academic degrees; others having come to train much later in life having done no degree. Within any year group there is an age range of 18 to around 30, one friend of mine turning forty in his final year of training.
I am of the opinion that the larger the degrees of differences and experience within any year group produces richer, more rounded and developed actors. However, I have been aware of how the average age of year groups has been decreasing over the last couple of years, and the reason being is that the government has declined ANY founding or financial support what so ever to any postgraduate students hoping to do a second degree. And since the vast majority of acting training- a vocational and craft based education- have been forced to seek degree status to allow the courses to be funded by the government, the craft of acting training has began a dangerous route of decline to another ten-a-penny 'degree'which does nothing for the individual in helping them form a career.
If anyone would like any advice or help regarding training or the shcools themselves, please feel free to send me a message and I'll get back to you. -
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This is such an interesting discussion. It all depends on you! Whether you have been trained or not, it is up to you to implement what you have learnt. Even if you have trained, it depends on the course, tutors, syllabus and hundreds of other factors - being trained, sometimes I feel that I'm being tarred by the same brush as other colleges or actors who had experienced 3 years in an accredited drama school.
One thing I believe that any form of training will give a performer is maturity. I use that word quite loosely, as you probably may realise! I mean, the growth of ones self in confidence, knowledge and application. It is up to that actor to decide whether to use what he/she has experienced or not, if it becomes necessary in his/her career. From my experience of training, you are exposed to new areas of theatre and yourself, for that matter, that may not have existed for you before. I find that invaluable.
Self discovery is the key. If you know exactly who and what you are, so will your character. -
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I honestly cannot say if Guildford was the best for me, because I still don't know about any other schools. It is difficult to choose which school you think may be the best to attend - when you audition for schools, you have to remember that you are also, in a way, auditioning them; seeing if they make you feel comfortable or welcome, perhaps if you would want to work with them!
I primarily went to study musical theatre, though I still love acting. Without that training I don't think I would have had the opportunity to intensely study dance and movement, let alone stage combat. I would not be at the high standard that I am now. But being musical theatre trained, I feel that people expect an inability to act, therefore won't accept a CV for an audition until I have more acting credits. Don't people act in musical theatre! -
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An interesting element to choosing training must also be the division of skills between different drama schools. With your specific skills (fight director, Musical Theatre), your choice of drama school was a great choice and hopefully will pay dividends as you now build your CV. If you want Musical Theatre training, you would choose Guildford, Mountview, Arts Educational... You may not choose Drama Centre, for example! But if you wanted the special kind of in-depth character examination that DC offers, you would benefit from that. Self discovery is key; as is making the most of the opportunities you are given, whether at Drama School or elsewhere. But how do you choose which skills or school will benefit you the most? Do you think that your school was the best one for you, now you have finished?
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Permalink Reply by Melody Louise Brain on
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I think it is important to look at the individual - whether they have had training in drama/acting/dance etc or not. If one is passionate about acting then they should be open to 'adapt' to any requested style anyway and should be open to new ways of working learning etc. Emotional journies and life experiences are vital in any actors development. I believe an actor should know themsleves inside-out and be in touch with their own emotions.
The fact is that they have to be able to protray these complex emotions on stage in front of an audience and if somebody can do what is asked of them does it matter if they are not technically "trained" in acting? -
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Permalink Reply by Alexander Vlahos on
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If I had to give any advice to someone thinking through their options, I would say from personal experience that drama school training is the way forward, if you want to make a career out of acting.
The knowledge and experience you gain while training holds you in good stead for the future and what happens in drama college can also dictate how successful your career may be.
Having a 'Showcase' in front of hundreds of industry professionals (agents, casting directors, writers, producers, directors) gives you an enormous advantage over non-trained actors and sometimes can quite literally give you that foot in the door.
The people you meet while training is vital to building up a network of people which will help you gain auditions and keep you in the know about what's happening in the media world.
As you can probably guess I trained at a drama school and loved every second of it.
I am not a "type" of person, and RWCMD prides itself on maintaining peoples individuality, not breaking it.
I agree with Chris Jenkins, it does all depend on you, but I'm just talking from my experience and what I took from it... Others may speak differently. -
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Maybe another thing you get from training is confidence? Confidence in your talent and abilities, how to attend an audition the best way you can... you are very impressive with UndebTheatre in that you have started your own company, gotten up and decided to make your own work the way you want. This takes talent yes but also confidence to know that you can be proactive and make the work you really want to be in! Do you think you would be starting your own company if it wasn't for the training? A lot of people may think that you could have started UndebTheatre without going to Drama School and just diving straight in....?
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