Drama schools in London
Theatre is, and always will be, a cultural marvel. It’s a way of an audience looking into society and thinking about things that they perhaps wouldn’t have otherwise, or it’s a spectacle that can dwarf ‘real-life’. Every aspect of the creation process is an art unto itself; producing, directing, acting, lighting and sound. Each area is a tool for the artist in the layer up – A producer will assemble the team, the director will have a vision for the whole piece, the technicians will aim for perfection, and the scriptwriter has spent years refining their work. But, at the bottom of that list is the actors, who are working to present the vision of the director with all they know how to do, and a question worth asking for an actor is, “are you the artist, or the art itself?”
Why Study Acting in a drama school in London?
Understanding yourself as a tool or a block of clay is useful in understanding why you might want to go to drama school. The education received isn’t meant to make you rigid and firm in acting prowess, its aim is to help you bend and deliver things that you perhaps aren’t comfortable with, but somehow work in a theatrical sense. Acting training in London is renowned for cementing the skills needed for acting on the stage and should be regarded as the highest quality vocational training around for such endeavours. Everyone know the famous roster of acting talent that has left London and made a mark for themselves on the world-stage and the training there truly deserves its merits.
The truth about London-based establishment is that they are now so varied in their approach that it’s important to look into prospectus with the intent of being surprised. Yes, a lot of the schools training regimes involve animal studies and strange voice wobbles, but there’s a reason they are deployed by so many; they work. Institutions are now taking the time to teach their students the intricacies of camera work and voice-acting as well. The Industry is moving forward with the times and if you’re looking to focus on screen-work, look into the establishment properly.
London is also a fantastic, metropolitan, diverse city. As a student, you’ll probably want to escape from learning lines and practising a Welsh accent from time to time. There’s never nothing on; don’t worry. This is an aspect a lot of students don’t have the hindsight to fully-appreciate, but the environment where you’re studying is important to your development. London as a city will keep you occupied for certainty. However, it is not cheap to live in London. It is not cheap to go to drama school. But, it is at the forefront of British Theatre, so the contacts you will meet might well be worth it.
Tips on How to join a Drama School in London
So, you’ve been convinced London is for you, hey? Fair enough. Presuming you’ve decided which institutes you’re going to be auditioning for by a process of meticulous sorting. Let’s take you through what the next steps are. Auditions run from approximately September to March, each training center will have its own process of applying for domestic or international students and normally have an audition charge of £40-£70. Then you go down, perform in front of 1-3 auditioners and might get a recall/tour/nothing (and you’ll hear from them later.)
The key thing to remember about the audition panel is that they want you to be confidant and do well. They don’t want to see someone who doesn’t look like they’re enjoying themselves on stage. Being bold and dynamic with choices goes a long way, especially if you can explain why you’ve chosen them in relation to the context of the play. Being friendly and chatty and knowledgeable about plays is an important aspect of selling yourself. These institutes take 10-18 people a year for their course; you are selling yourself as much as the character.
Actually, it’s worth mentioning that when performing, imagine yourself as the character… don’t wheel out props, or do an accent. You might be fantastic at a Scottish accent, but drama training is about individual discovery and they’re only looking to see what you bring as yourself. Otherwise you might have well have sent your nan.
Alternative Locations where you can learn Acting
Also, it should be said that London isn’t the only city in the UK with drama schools that offer fantastic training. Cardiff and Edinburgh, the Welsh and Scottish Capital cities respectively, offer training to match London toe-for-toe. Other British cities include Bristol, Manchester and Liverpool.
In correlation to British training, other world-class institutions can be found all across the globe; from Europe to the Americas to Oceania. Notable establishments can be found in Paris, Prague, New York, Sydney, Melbourne, Los Angeles, Moscow and St. Petersburg. Known as some of the most recognisable schools in the world for the talent they produce, nothing should come as much of a surprise to say that these offer the best training imaginable to aspiring actors.
Perhaps overlooked by prospective actors is the invaluable life-experience that would be gained from living in a foreign country of their own. Understanding that the world is highly complex and different from what you’re used to, give you the ability to grow in a more intense manner than staying at home. Plus, who knows? Being able to call upon that time in Paris where you couldn’t find a cab to get to class. You found yourself stuck on the banks of the Seine, in the rain, watching the sunset near the Eiffel Tower. Crying.
That might be perfect for your Oscar winning portrayal of… someone… somewhere.
Read Isabelle Duperray's interview, Headmistress of Acting in English Department