Progression and Personal Opportunities.
I aim to further my education at drama school, enabling me to polish my craft. Three places I am applying to is Urdang Academy, Italia Conti, and Mountview. On the Musical Theatre course at all three of these schools, the three disciplines are evenly focused on in order to help students achieve the sought-after triple threat status. If I was lucky enough to go on to study a degree course at a drama school, I hope I would leave education as a well- rounded actor, with the knowledge and experience to face the real-life industry. Many of the graduates from this school can be seen on stage and screen both in the UK and internationally. Past students are in the West End, touring, and working within cabarets and cruise ships. As mentioned in my career aspirations I would love to work on a cruise ship so it is exciting seeing some graduates take that path after leaving drama school. This also demontrates that the school provide the necessary skill set for this part of the industry.
As mentioned previously in my short-, mid- and long-term goals, I understand the vital part drama school plays in maturing an actor, ready to work professionally. The drive I have for getting into drama school, I hope will help me to achieve the goals I have set for this 6 week programme as I understand the importance of flexibility, especially in auditions. I also recognize that improving upon my dynamics will help me to add something extra to choreography thrown at us in an audition.
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Many of the ex-students at all three of these schools have left higher education to go on to very successful and satisfying careers.
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I hope this training programme will help me to develop skills vital when auditioning for drama school. Resulting in three years on a degree course. Higher education links to my career aspirations as I understand the level of talent, commitment and resilience that is needed to succeed. This can clearly be demonstrated in the attitude of students at drama school as they attend every lesson, have extremely long days and also get pushed to their limit to discover their capabilities as a performer. Helping me to achieve my long-term goals as I can carry over skills such as pick up, maintaining of choreography and working within an ensemble.
Our
Story
Freelance Performer with Agency Representation
As previously mentioned in my career aspirations it is one of my dream roles to one day play Anastasia. This role explores a wide range of emotions which therefore appeals to my acting as I would really enjoy the opportunity to explore and push the limits of my acting capability. Another reason I would love to play this character is due to the songs she has throughout the musical. All of the songs sit nicely within my vocal range, yet also allow me to demonstrate impressive elements to my voice. The story is aided a lot by the songs, therefore the story telling within them is vital. This would give me the opportunity to showcase many of the skills I have worked on throughout this programme such as vocal phrasing and facial expressions. Both of which help to add emphasis and show a deeper connection between the character and the words she is singing. I really love the story of this show and hope one day I will get the opportunity to play Anya.
I understand that in order to achieve my long term goal of working professionally I will have to attend lots of auditions. Open calls are a great way for talent from anywhere to be noticed. However, I do think it might be slightly easier for me to achieve my goals with the representation of an agent. This would mean I would possible get the opportunity to audition for shows that are not open to the public. It also means I would be put in for roles I am suited to.
An example of a Musical Theatre agent is Curtis Brown who represents Carrie Hope Fletcher. Carrie has played many roles I would dream of playing such as Fantine (Les Misérables) and Truly Scrumptious (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang). Therefore, I would hope to get an agent with similar connections in the future to help me one step closer to achieveing my dream roles.
Professional Progression Opportunities
This industry is full of varying careers, opening the door to endless possibilities. I am aware of lots of roles I would like to take on related to performing, both on and off the stage.
Lots of the skills I have discussed throughout this programme will be transferable into several opportunities that may present themselves throughout my career.
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Theatre Company creator and owner
Musical Theatre is an industry in which performers are fortunate enough to get the opportunity to remain within the industry when retired from full time performing. I have always had a passion for directing and creating ideas within a group. It is a big dream to open a performing arts group one day after finishing my career working full time as a performer. Due to taking part in drama classes since the age of 6 years old, I know first hand how the arts can make a child feel accepted, special and celebrated. Allowing a child to be creative and push themselves out of their comfort zone is proven to create a more positive and emotionally mature human. I would love the opportunity to allow children to experiment and learn how to express their thoughts and feelings in a creative way. Opening an amateur dramatics company would allow me to to teach, direct and choreograph.
Starting a business requires lots of time, thought and money. Therefore, I would go through the application process for the Arts Council in the hopes of being granted funding. The Arts Council invest public money from the government and the National Lottery into opportunities they believe need to help to flourish. They also want to give everyone the chance to have access to a range of high quality cultural experiences.
Achieving my career aspirations would mean I could apply my real life experiences into teaching children how to become a better performer or just how to channel their creativity into whatever they choose.
WORK EXPERIENCE
I am currently in rehearsals for the current season show, Christmas Cabaret. The starting process of the show mirrored one very like a real life job. We went through an audition process, of which there was three rounds. This helped me to gain a further understanding as to what the auditions may be like for my dream shows such as Les Misérables and Anastasia.
The rehearsal process for the show so far has really pushed me. It has made me understand how quick the turn around of a professional show is. I have been expecting to learn harmonies in a short period of time and be able to retain that information.
During the early stages of rehearsals I was appointed dance captain, this is a big privilege which comes with lots of responsibilities.
This role consists of being at every dance rehearsal, making notes on the choreography and spacing, and also being the person, who people come to if they have a question and be able to provide an answer. This responsibility has been one that has made sure I have been a committed and reliable member of the cast, I believe I have also been able to improve the overall dance pieces so far as I have spent time cleaning and working on them.
As a dancer within the show I have been able to incorporate the two skills I am focusing on within the next 6 weeks. I have been able to see areas in which flexibility needs to be showcased, and highlight those. I have also been able to explore different dynamics throughout the show, when thinking about my varied charcters.
This experience as a whole and as Dance Captain has made me excited for my dream of being in the ensemble of show likes Hairspray, Mamma Mia and Wicked. It has also shown me how much work and commitment goes into big dance numbers, which all three of these shows have so I feel more insight to the professional industry.
Personal
Opportunities
During this programme I have evaluated myself as a performer and identified specific areas I want to improve, in order to better me as a performer. Both in and outside of this project I have put action in place to help me get better. I have also identified opportunities for me to work upon these specific skills. For example, I identified my ballet technique as a weakness that I thought would affect me going into auditions. I have been doing extra ballet classes outside of college in order to see an improvement. I think this has been beneficial as it has helped me improve my technique and grow my confidence.
I also, do 1-1 singing lessons outside of college time. This focused attention has helped me to highlight areas within my voice that need improving and has also helped me to correct some of them already. Working on my vocal technique will help me when working professionally as it is vital an actor can sustain a high level of vocal quality 8 shows a week.
I identified my classical monologue as a potential weakness heading into auditions, so I arranged a 1-1 with one of our acting teachers at college. This short session helped me to understand me piece a lot more and find a deeper connection with my character that I was struggling to find. The techniques I learned about how to connect to a character that feels completely different to you will help me when working professionally. As I will be able to approach any show or character and deliver an insightful performance. They also gave me lots to think about heading into my auditions. It allowed me to understand the extent of research and preparation I should put into my audition material to achieve a thorough and insightful performance.
I am very fortunate to have lots of opportunities provided by college to work with industry professionals. As part of the Connected Festival at college many professionals from all different areas of the industry came into college to share their wisdom and give us an insight into the world of work. One workshop was provided by Performer's College, this consisted of being taught a dance from Jamie the Musical in a short space of time and performing it in small groups. Video
This experience pushed me out of my comfort zone massively but allowed me to start to apply some of the skills I have been working on such as dynamics and facial expressions. I was fortunate that this workshop was before I started any of my auditions for drama school and I felt as though it gave me a really good insight into how an audition would be. Preparing me for my short term goals.
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