In her extensive work with dyslexic and neurodiverse actors, mentor and coach Deborah Groves has helped performers at all levels discover how they learn and work best, and identify strategies to help them achieve their goals. Here, in an extract from her book The Dyslexic Actor's Toolkit, Deborah shares her top tips for sight-reading in … Continue reading Top tips on sight-reading for dyslexic actors
Drama School
Seven top tips for choosing your drama school audition speeches
If you're thinking of applying to drama school, then selecting your audition speeches is a key part of the process. But with so many options to choose from, where do you start? And how do you make sure you're picking speeches that will maximise your chances of success? Here, John Abbott – a former teacher … Continue reading Seven top tips for choosing your drama school audition speeches
Five top tips for running effective drama workshops
Linden Walcott-Burton has over fifteen years' experience of running drama workshops – including for the National Theatre, The Old Vic, Barbican, Battersea Arts Centre and National Youth Theatre. Now he's written The Drama Workshop Leader, a comprehensive, easy-to-use guide that contains everything you need to plan and deliver effective drama sessions yourself. To get you … Continue reading Five top tips for running effective drama workshops
‘My happy place is where Art meets Activism’: Julie Hesmondhalgh on why she feels at home with political theatre
Julie Hesmondhalgh is one of those rare human beings: an actor who is instantly recognisable from her performances in popular TV dramas such as Broadchurch and Happy Valley, and as Hayley in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street; but at the same time, one who remains grounded in a politically engaged, compassionate, activist, grass-roots theatre … Continue reading ‘My happy place is where Art meets Activism’: Julie Hesmondhalgh on why she feels at home with political theatre
‘Dear Class of 2020…’: A message to new drama graduates – Part Two
Graduating from a course or degree is always a momentous moment of change – but with the world in grips of a pandemic and the theatre industry almost entirely shut down, the Class of 2020 face additional challenges. Here, in Part Two of a special two-part blog post, we asked some celebrated theatre-makers (and NHB … Continue reading ‘Dear Class of 2020…’: A message to new drama graduates – Part Two
‘Dear Class of 2020…’: A message to new drama graduates – Part One
Graduating from a course or degree is always a momentous moment. Mortarboards are tossed in the air in an act of celebration, freedom, and release from years of education and training. Independence, new horizons and the prospect of employment beckon, and the search for a new, post-student identity begins. It's a huge change no matter … Continue reading ‘Dear Class of 2020…’: A message to new drama graduates – Part One
The Prompt Book 