Fourth Monkey

Hey everyone. Does anyone have any experience of Fourth Monkey? My son has an online audition with them early Nov. It’s his 1st audition as it’s a direct application school. What are they like by reputation? Id be grateful for any thoughts as they don’t seem to come up much in chats (I wonder if that’s telling!?)
We’re just finalising UCAS & Conservatoire forms (what a minefield!) bit it’ll be good to get one audition under the belt.
Thanks!

Thanks that’s really useful feedback. I think my son will audition, for the experience anyway, but we will very much reserve judgement.

Thanks. We have done the research and realise the difference in studying drama at Uni. He is applying to the more established schools (RADA, GSA, Italia Conti etc) but we thought Fourth Monkey sounded really interesting and that it is beginning to garner a positive reputation in the industry rather than being a ‘pretend drama school’. The negative comments make me wary though so we will proceed with caution!

Fourth Monkey is not well regarded - to put it brutally, expect to be offered a place as the talent simply doesn't choose it. They will likely try to draw him in but if your son is recalled at any of the accredited schools without going all the way, he'd be much better off taking a year out and reapplying to those, or doing a foundation year. I'd also choose a decent university acting course (Chichester, UCLAN, Falmouth) over Fourth Monkey any day. Good luck!

Thanks - that’s useful and noted! While I don’t doubt you, can I ask where you get your insight from? Are you involved in the acting profession? Or a student?

Yes that is (again!) helpful. Thanks for your openness. This is all new to us. Offspring here is desperate to begin the next phase and tempted to go with anywhere that makes him an offer first time around, whereas I think he should take a year out if he only gets an offer from this school. He’s so keen it’s hard to tell him to wait. (But this is all hypothetical at this stage anyway!)

No, just, no!
It usually takes time to get into a good drama school. I used to recommend this blog on here though it's quite old now: https://aspiringactresssite.wordpress.com/
For my insight... my wife and I used to go to a lot of final year productions at Lamda and Rada. Our very first was Henry IV at Lamda, featuring Joseph Quinn, Callum Woodhouse and Josef Davies. That's the sort of company your son should be aspiring to join.
We also have a friend who is a reasonably successful professional actor (RSC, Hull Truck, BBC, ITV etc) who went to Guildhall. And another friend who studied drama at a university and who struggles to make a living at minor theatres, Edinburgh fringe etc.

And thanks for the link to that blog too. Just been reading it and it’s so useful!

Yes that is (again!) helpful. Thanks for your openness. This is all new to us. Offspring here is desperate to begin the next phase and tempted to go with anywhere that makes him an offer first time around, whereas I think he should take a year out if he only gets an offer from this school. He’s so keen it’s hard to tell him to wait. (But this is all hypothetical at this stage anyway!)

One other point. Any actor has to get used to rejection. It's part of the business and happens more often than winning a part. The same applies to getting into drama school.

My young person auditioned for two years including a Foundation course (at an accredited drama school) and that was still pretty quick. Lots of students on his current course are in their mid 20s and to be honest, they're probably better actors for it. But the whole audition process, including the inevitable rejections, is a great learning and maturing experience. Visit the FDS website (Federation of Drama Schools) and look at its list of members: those are the schools worth targeting. Just be aware that a couple (e.g. Mountview, OSD and possibly ArtsEd) are private and therefore not eligible for student finance.

Hey everyone. Does anyone have any experience of Fourth Monkey? My son has an online audition with them early Nov. It’s his 1st audition as it’s a direct application school. What are they like by reputation? Id be grateful for any thoughts as they don’t seem to come up much in chats (I wonder if that’s telling!?)
We’re just finalising UCAS & Conservatoire forms (what a minefield!) bit it’ll be good to get one audition under the belt.
Thanks!

Avoid like the plague. Advice for yourself and anyone else seeing this
They have favourites.
Don’t care for their students physical or mental health.
Will happily throw you to the side (literally).
Will happily give you almost nothing to do come your second year in terms of acting.
The staff turnover is embarrassing. Terrific practitioners come in, work for 3 months then quit when they are constantly being micromanaged and harassed by the two owners of the company.
The higher staff have no care for the students well being. Employing numerous people who have since be reported numerous times and nothing being done about it.
Literally anyone can get on the course. All they want is your money. And will happily push you to the side the moment they have it.
Do yourself the favour of finding a drama school that will take care of you and your future in the industry

Avoid like the plague. Advice for yourself and anyone else seeing this
They have favourites.
Don’t care for their students physical or mental health.
Will happily throw you to the side (literally).
Will happily give you almost nothing to do come your second year in terms of acting.
The staff turnover is embarrassing. Terrific practitioners come in, work for 3 months then quit when they are constantly being micromanaged and harassed by the two owners of the company.
The higher staff have no care for the students well being. Employing numerous people who have since be reported numerous times and nothing being done about it.
Literally anyone can get on the course. All they want is your money. And will happily push you to the side the moment they have it.
Do yourself the favour of finding a drama school that will take care of you and your future in the industry