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What is drama school actually like?

Ay up :smile:
I'm going to study English at uni, and I really like acting and watching good acting/filmaking.
I don't want to go to drama school - the very word 'audition' makes me sweat - but I really want to know just out of interest what it's like.

Anybody here go to/know somebody at a drama school? Doesn't have to be RADA, just anywhere for training actors.
What kind of exercises do you have to do? How exactly do they get the best out of you? Even if you don't want to do musicals do they teach you how to sing and do the whole razzle dazzle showbiz thing? How much of it is working on film? Do you have accent workshops?
Is it stressful? Does anybody find it especially easy/hard?

sorry I have lots of questions I just want to know. I was in a play recently and in doing so I found out a lot about myself and how to conduct myself onstage, so I was wondering what it must be like experiencing that on a regular basis. Or not, it could just be me being super-sensitive unnecessarily :smile:

Thank you!:moo:
Reply 1
anyone? :frown:
Reply 2
:mad:
Reply 3
I have a close friend of mine who underwent the audition circuit for three years running (I accompanied her for moral support during her third attempt) and she finally managed to gain a place at RADA on the BA (Hons) Acting last year. I use to live with her until recently, so I'm well aware of her weekly routine, in addition to knowing many of her friends on the course. Furthermore, I also knew a few people that went to the Drama Centre London (part of Central Saint Martins, where I studied).

It's safe to say that the course is extremely demanding, like most NCDT/CDS accredited drama schools, where she is required to attend, on average, five days a week, 9 until 7, possibly longer, and occasionally during the weekend as well (for rehearsals and final productions). The day is mostly comprised of movement classes (that can be improv or on a specific dance style), individual or duologue tutoring, vocal/accent training (similar to elocution), class rehearsals, and amongst many other specified classes. I don't know the exact ins and outs, naturally, but that's a rough outline.

I'm referring largely to Acting courses (not Musical Theatre), so it's dependent on whether the course in question has an MT element. Some courses do not require the students to sing, although I believe many do have optional singing classes. My friend can and does sing, although it isn't the primary focus of the RADA course. I believe at Central, they have individual strands/pathways, one of which is Musical Theatre.

Camera work isn't introduced until the second year for RADA. This will obviously differ on the drama school and course. RADA is predominately concerned with theatre based performances, but they do release regular short films too, throughout the year. However, much of the camera work is intended to produce showreels for each student. The showreel will usually consist of a chosen play that the student performs, whilst filmed.

I'm probably missing stuff out, but hopefully I've given you a rough gist of what happens during drama school. I cannot emphasize how intense these courses are, though. That said, the amount of work clearly shows. I have attended many RADA productions and I'm consistently taken back by the standard.
Reply 4
my friend was in one (and was in harry potter!), and she said that its great fun, but at the same time, it can be horribly bitchy and competitive.
Reply 5
Matisse
I have a close friend of mine who underwent the audition circuit for three years running (I accompanied her for moral support during her third attempt) and she finally managed to gain a place at RADA on the BA (Hons) Acting last year. I use to live with her until recently, so I'm well aware of her weekly routine, in addition to knowing many of her friends on the course. Furthermore, I also knew a few people that went to the Drama Centre London (part of Central Saint Martins, where I studied).

It's safe to say that the course is extremely demanding, like most NCDT/CDS accredited drama schools, where she is required to attend, on average, five days a week, 9 until 7, possibly longer, and occasionally during the weekend as well (for rehearsals and final productions). The day is mostly comprised of movement classes (that can be improv or on a specific dance style), individual or duologue tutoring, vocal/accent training (similar to elocution), class rehearsals, and amongst many other specified classes. I don't know the exact ins and outs, naturally, but that's a rough outline.

I'm referring largely to Acting courses (not Musical Theatre), so it's dependent on whether the course in question has an MT element. Some courses do not require the students to sing, although I believe many do have optional singing classes. My friend can and does sing, although it isn't the primary focus of the RADA course. I believe at Central, they have individual strands/pathways, one of which is Musical Theatre.

Camera work isn't introduced until the second year for RADA. This will obviously differ on the drama school and course. RADA is predominately concerned with theatre based performances, but they do release regular short films too, throughout the year. However, much of the camera work is intended to produce showreels for each student. The showreel will usually consist of a chosen play that the student performs, whilst filmed.

I'm probably missing stuff out, but hopefully I've given you a rough gist of what happens during drama school. I cannot emphasize how intense these courses are, though. That said, the amount of work clearly shows. I have attended many RADA productions and I'm consistently taken back by the standard.


Thank you so much! thats what i wanted to know. Are RADA productions open to the public? I'd really like to go to one, just to see. Could I just find it out on t'internet, or are they open to friends/family of the actors only?
thanks again :smile:
Reply 6
eenie_pod
Thank you so much! thats what i wanted to know. Are RADA productions open to the public? I'd really like to go to one, just to see. Could I just find it out on t'internet, or are they open to friends/family of the actors only?
thanks again :smile:


They're open to the public at £10 a ticket, on average (there's also a private viewing for family and friends). You can find more information on RADA's upcoming productions via their website (www.rada.org). The prices vary depending on the drama school. I know LAMDA is free, except they're sold out very quickly.

Furthermore, be assured to check this performance calender that lists all of the productions performed by the accredited drama schools:

http://www.spotlightcd.com/calendar/calendar.asp
Reply 7
I am currently studying at Rose Bruford Drama College of Theatre Training, and I want to put aside all the myths of drama college...

or a start, it is not a world full of bitching and competition, far from this, everyone there is working towards a similar goal, and whilt you get the odd pretentious person, the majority of people understand and are in the same situation as you, and work with you. Drama colleges HATE people that walk around thinking they are the best... they like people who can work as a team- thats the reason for the audition process, it is more of a test to see who is far too much up their own arse!

The type of things we do vary so so much. On my course, we do a minimum of 3 hours physical class a day, voice training on some evenings, and Yoga for between 6 and 8 hours a week. It is fairly stress free until it comes to wees where you are rehearsing for assessments, and then your week suddenly becomes 60+ hours a week in college, and you dont really have time to do anything else at all, the most i have ever done was 68 hours, where i was in college 9 till 9 mon-fri and 11-4 on saturday. In lessons, we learn everything from mime, to clowning, to mask work, to acrobatics, to dance, to felden kreis, to complicite, you name it we will do it...

It is an amazing experience, and fair enough you may not have as much social time as at a normal uni, but you gt your moneys worth, and it is the best experience for your future that you culd have.

Hope this helps! xx xx
Reply 8
Matisse
I have a close friend of mine who underwent the audition circuit for three years running (I accompanied her for moral support during her third attempt) and she finally managed to gain a place at RADA on the BA (Hons) Acting last year.


Sorry...this is going to be related to the question but i'm obsessed with getting into to RADA (not that I stand a chance) and I was just wondering HOW your friend got in (as in, why she thinks she got in the third time and not others) does she have loads of experience? Sorry for being a pain, but any info i would be grateful.
Reply 9
louise89
Sorry...this is going to be related to the question but i'm obsessed with getting into to RADA (not that I stand a chance) and I was just wondering HOW your friend got in (as in, why she thinks she got in the third time and not others) does she have loads of experience? Sorry for being a pain, but any info i would be grateful.


From what I gathered, once you undergo the 'audition circuit' a few times (i.e. applying for NCDT accredited courses in acting) you acquire a certain understanding of what is expected of you. She also used the opportunity between each year to participate in amateur productions in and out London, undertook a variety of short courses (offered at RADA and the other drama schools) and employed a private drama coach to oversee her chosen speeches. In all honesty, her aim wasn't to attend RADA solely, but to obtain a place at any drama school, if possible. During her first attempt, she applied to nine drama schools and was rejected at every single one, including RADA. She managed to get recalled to the second stage at a few, but didn't obtain acceptance of a place. Before her third attempt, she had carefully chosen her speeches (ensured they were relevant to her age and that they weren't overused by other applicants, etc) and honed her interpretation of each line and its accompanying body movement. I think she spent around four months preparing the speeches before she went for it. In the end, she was accepted at RADA, Guildhall and Bristol Old Vic. She also obtained a recall at the Drama Centre and Mountview. On the other hand, she was rejected by LAMDA and Italia Conti on the first audition. It just goes to show that there's so many variables that can determine your acceptance, ranging from experience to what the drama school is looking for. As you probably know, there are only a small number of places available, of which many thousands apply to. However, my friend felt that many applicants were young (17 or 18) and didn't possess the required experience. Moreover, many who failed the first time either chose to give up trying or didn't constructively use their time in between each year effectively enough. In that sense, she deemed that in reality there are only a few hundred of the thousands that apply that have any real chance. Of course, this is merely from observation. Hope this helps. :smile:
hello i'm at drama school- see sig for where :smile:

in a nutshell it is:
very gay
very fun
hard work
very random
lots of bitching in a friendly way(despite what anyone says, you all graduate wanting the same jobs so are very competitive)
you meet the most amazing people
create some oif the best work of your life
very friendly
10-5 every day
people do tend to wear a lot of black
the actors and the techies do tend to be separatebut mostly everyone is friends with everyone else
the opportunities available to you are outstanding
you feel very special
it can make you quite egotistical and selfish
you are constanhtly pushed to try your best all the time, there is no stopping. it really is work work work.
i love it and cant imagine going anywhere else :smile:
Reply 11
Hello everyone, I'm actually on a gap year (18yrs old), and I was just accepted at the LAMDA acting school (in london), for the single semester course.

I wanted to know: can someone tell me about the lessons there ?? (does someone have a friend studying or having studied there, or know about the univ's reputation, ...?)
If the university is really recognized in artistic sectors, if the lessons are of QUALITY and teach u skills that r really USEFUL for after ?? Cuz given the costs :s-smilie: I really need to be sure I wont be going there on vacation (if u see what i mean), and i ll learn intensively how to act etc !!
Is it really a goood acting school, not just for meeting people and having an occupation ?? (my goal is also to speak ENGLISH so if anyone knows: do a lot of BRITISH students go studying there??)

Well okay i know a lot of questions but I m really desperate, i need to know if this wont be a waste of money and time !!!

PLEASE PLEASE please someone, i need advice, thank you !!!!!!

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