London has always played a pivotal role in the world of acting. You only have to look at the number of acting classes in London to understand that this is a city with its heart in the arts.
The West End of London is called Theatreland – and for good reason. There are more theatres there than in probably any other city in the world.
People flood from all over the world to watch shows in the West End which fuels a very healthy proportion of theatre shows.
As well as people coming to watch shows in London, people also flood to train to become an actor London. Why? Well, London has the reputation of providing some of the best acting training in the world.
Of course, there are acting classes in London that will be substandard, but with this being such a large industry, this is no surprise.
The best acting classes in London can be found with some careful investigation and thought about what you need and what the class can provide.
Here are some points to bear in mind when selecting an acting class in London.
- Review the coaches’ credentials. Are they players within the industry or are they just dabbling in training actors?
- Make sure the technique that they teach is top quality. There is no point in learning a technique that is no good.
- Get some form of guarantee. For my Method Acting Boot Camp I always offer a 100% money back guarantee on the first day. I wouldn’t want to take anyone’s hard-earned money for acting training they did not deem exceptional. Unfortunately, I am one of the only people to do this. Most acting classes in London won’t do this for you.
- Will they teach you the business of acting? It’s all well and good learning to act but once you have learned your craft you need to get knee-deep in the industry and you will need guidance.
If you are looking to start an acting career, it’s crucial that you get the correct training. Believe me, when I was training I discovered my fair share of good and bad acting classes, and sometimes you have to give a few a go to find what’s right for you.
One thing I believe is crucial in today’s industry is that the acting class that you choose must be able to teach you how to be real, and show you how to deliver emotion on demand. When you get into the industry this is invaluable. When you’re on set for the first time and the Director wants you to get emotional, you want to be able to flick the right switches in you to achieve that. There is no room for doubt at that stage – you can either do it or not. And you want to be able to deliver on demand.
Good acting classes in London can be hard to come by despite the amount of training offered. Tread carefully and do your homework.
Method acting is a style that was pioneered by inspirational teachings from Lee Strasberg, who taught method acting up until his death in 1982. The teachings showed an actor how to connect with his or her own emotional experiences and recreate them for their performances.
No actor can learn their craft without attending a drama school, and this is especially important for method actors, as they have to deal with the emotions they are recreating for their performances. Once a drama school has been found, what can a student of method acting expect?
Emotional Management
Emotional management is a key element in ‘The Method’. Drama schools will show an actor how to take their own emotional experiences, analyse and explore them, and then bring them fourth for the performance. Just as importantly, drama schools will show an actor how to deal with revisiting experiences he or she may find unpleasant.
When a method actor starts the process of finding the right experiences that match the needs of the role they are playing.
Connecting With a Character
Once a method actor has landed a part it is important that they can break down the elements that make up that character. This way, they can learn every aspect of the character and make the part far more believable for audiences. Some key elements which drama schools teach a method actor are motive, mannerisms, beliefs, and emotional state.
When combined with real emotions, the part played is often highly believable.
The Acting Business
Acting is a business and actors are self employed. It is important that an actor learns how the business works for a variety of reasons, including performing purposes and administration.
This part of the acting profession is vast! It deals with choosing an agent, audition preparation, taxation, showcasing an actors talents, and expectations of casting directors. This barely scratches the surface of what is involved!
Actors who are ignorant in these areas rarely find success as an actor, unless they have someone who does most of this type of work for them, or they are very lucky. For the majority of actors, the teachings of their drama school will help them cope with this side of the business.
Criticism and Rejection
Criticism and rejection are two areas of acting that are encountered on a regular basis. Many actors we know and admire today had plenty of rejections and received plenty of criticism before they landed the dream part. Drama schools help actors accept and learn from these experiences, and as method actors, they often incorporate these feelings and how they deal with them if future parts require it.
All good actors learn from their mistakes, and it is vital that an actor forgets about the last audition he or she did not land, and concentrate on the one that is happening next week!
Through coping with rejection and criticism, actors become better actors.
Getting into Acting School can be a tough business. There is a high demand for places so you need to be as prepared as possible.
I sit on the audition panel for my acting school and I have seen all sorts of auditions, from the brilliant to the proverbial car crash.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that drama schools don’t mind if you mess up, because they are looking for the best and it’s a competitive environment, as is the industry.
So, here are five tips to help you secure that elusive place at acting school:
1. Usually you are asked to perform a monologue. This is a short speech from a play or film. Make sure you pick something that you can shine in and that will suit you. Don’t make life difficult for the panel by picking something you would never be cast in. You can stretch your range during your training – but to start with, do something appropriate and do it well.
2. Read the whole play and know every detail about the character, including their full name. A panel may test your knowledge of the character or play to see how well you have prepared. Sometimes I ask for the full name of the character they are playing. You would be surprised how many people can’t answer that question.
3. When you perform, don’t look the audition panel in the eye. Look to the side or above them unless you are reading with them or directed to look at them. When you look them in the eye, you involve them in the acting process and they may be uncomfortable with that. They also want to be able to watch you – not be part of the action.
4. Do some research on the school and be able to talk about what they do. It’s not all about you, you know. Walk a mile in their shoes: what do they teach and how do they teach it? This shows you’re interested in them and have taken the time to do some research.
5. Don’t antagonize a panel by being smart or confrontational. This will get you dumped faster than you can say “Acting School audition”.
Professional audition technique is an art form. When you start auditioning for acting schools, they are not looking for the finished product but raw material and a great attitude they can work with.
I cannot stress how important your attitude is in this process. When I audition people, I am on high alert for any problem people. I spend a year with the students and it could be a long year if you let the negative people slip through the net. I am not alone in this; this is the way most agents and casting directors work. We are well versed in reading the signals of any potential problem people and they never see the light of day.
So, work on having a great attitude and the doors will start to swing open.