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It's a Hard LifeDateline: 3rd August, 2003When, two weeks ago, we drew attention to the P-A-N-I-C noticeboard (which now, by the way, is again up and running, but is moderated and clearly draws attention to all the safety concerns expressed by the BTG and others), we focused on the dangers young people were exposing themselves to by giving away personal information online. What is also worrying - although for this the forum and its administrators cannot be held responsible - is the belief that all it takes for a successful career in the performing arts is to be given the chance. Give me a chance and I'll be a star! cried so many of the forum's posters. Fact - at any one time, more than 80% of actors in the UK are out of work. This is not because they are not good actors (although there are bound to be some who are pretty ropey!), but because there just isn't enough work to go around. Fact - there are many very good actors in the UK who do not get very much work at all. Same reason: there isn't enough work to go around even all the good actors. It makes sense, therefore, for anyone who wants a career as an actor to give him or herself the best possible start they can. So what is the best career path for a youngster starting out? It should begin early. If the school offers it, Drama in GCSE (or the Performing Arts GNVQ, although how long these qualifications will last is not, at the moment, sure) is the starting point, as is taking part in school or youth theatre productions. In fact, take every opportunity to develop skills and experience by joining, perhaps, a local drama club's youth section or even a local Saturday or Sunday stage school (but do check out their standards: these schools vary from excellent to dreadful). Then at 16 there are two ways forward. The direct route will take you to the local college of further education or tertiary college which offers, preferably, the BTEC Higher National award (HND/HNC) which is at Level 4 of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). Within the NQF structure, Level 1 is covered by the Introductory Certificate and Diploma, Level 2 by the First Diploma and Level 3 by the National Diploma. The Higher National award is the only one which is regarded as qualification for university entrance. The next step would be to a university drama course or a place at a drama school. The indirect route would be to take Theatre Studies as an A Level, and then move to a university course in Drama. There is a third option: to do an A Level course, following the student's academic inclinations, then going on to a degree in whatever, and finally moving on to a course at a drama school. The latter has the advantage that the student has another qualification which could be useful if the theatre career is not successful. Each of these options includes either a practical university course in Drama (at somewhere like Bretton Hall in Sakefield) or a drama school. It is possible to by-pass this system entirely and simply register with a local agent (which would usually mean an agent in a regional centre, not London) and pick up whatever work is possible locally. It has to be said that, although there are some who do make a career out of this, it is the most uncertain way of all! Acting is both art and craft. The art is in the inspiration that responds to the text and suffuses the actor: the craft is in the skills which (s)he then uses to create the performance that arises from the response. Good drama training, sustained over a period of three years, develops these skills and hones them until they become second nature, so that the actor can call upon them almost unconsciously. Without them the actor is only half complete: like the fine artist who cannot draw, the untrained actor is handicapped and therefore limited. Yes - of course someone can become a star without any training, but star quality is a rare commodity, so the majority have to make do with being the best actor they can, and that means training. The kids with whom we began, those who are just waiting to be "discovered", need to learn this hard truth. Articles Indices:
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