Preparing for
Progression
In this assignment, I will be looking into relevant progression routes within the performing arts industry and preparing myself for any future auditions. I will also be looking at the skills I have developed throughout the course.
Skills Audit:
My objective for this course was to develop a diverse set of skills and
in the time that I have been on this course, one of the skills that I believe
that I have acquired is being good with creative responses. This means that
while on stage or in the rehearsal space I can approach tasks with a different
way of thinking and contribute unique ideas, for example, working on Love and
Information allowed me to do this both through the set design and scenes with
my partners. Another skill that I have developed is spacial awareness, I
am now subconsciously balancing the stage and being aware of my surroundings,
during Macbeth, there was a scene where all of the cast were on stage and you
had to be conscious of not standing in a line and careful of not blocking
another actor. I have also learned how to be natural when acting and move away
from profile acting when on stage and I have understood the importance of
paying attention to detail, while still keeping the focus on the whole scene.
CV
Daniella Obomanu
Location: Greater London, England, United Kingdom
Height: 5’5 (165cm)
Playing Age: 15- 30 Years
Appearance: West African, Caribbean, Black
Nationality: British
Eye Colour: Brown
Hair Colour: Brown
Stage:
2018, Ismene, Antigone, Westminster Kingsway College Theatre
2018, Nina, The Seagull, Westminster Kingsway College Theatre
2019, Macduff, Macbeth, Westminster Kingsway College Theatre
2019, Actor, Ensemble, Love and Information, Westminster Kingsway College Theatre
2020, Jaime, A Questmas Story, Westminster Kingsway College Theatre
Skills:
Accents & Dialects: American/English -Standard, Australian, Heightened RP, London*
Languages: English*
Training: Westminster Kingsway College Theatre
CV
Daniella Obomanu
Location: Greater London, England, United Kingdom
Height: 5’5 (165cm)
Playing Age: 15- 30 Years
Appearance: West African, Caribbean, Black
Nationality: British
Eye Colour: Brown
Hair Colour: Brown
Stage:
2018, Ismene, Antigone, Westminster Kingsway College Theatre
2018, Nina, The Seagull, Westminster Kingsway College Theatre
2019, Macduff, Macbeth, Westminster Kingsway College Theatre
2019, Actor, Ensemble, Love and Information, Westminster Kingsway College Theatre
2020, Jaime, A Questmas Story, Westminster Kingsway College Theatre
Skills:
Accents & Dialects: American/English -Standard, Australian, Heightened RP, London*
Languages: English*
Training: Westminster Kingsway College Theatre
Progression routes of Higher Education
Pros & Cons
There are numerous progression routes of higher education and everybody can find something that suits them, for example, going to a University or Drama School, going on to work with an agency or joining a theatre company. Back in June, we were asked to sit in front of a piece of paper that marks the progression route we would like to take. I sat down in front of "Drama School" and currently speaking, this is the progression route that I will still like to take as Drama Schools are a way for an actor to really concentrate on their craft and a way for them to explore in-depth who they are as an actor. There are a great number of pros that come with going to a Drama School that can help with your future careers. For example, you will have the advantage of being in a facility that will be fully dedicated to the dramatic arts, you will work alongside exceptionally talented peers, with professionals and accredited performers. You will form connections with a range of people from the industry, whether it being from your classes or end of year performances. Drama Schools like Identity School of Acting even have their own acting agency. However, there are also cons in Drama School being your chosen progression route. British acting schools have a 1% acceptance rate, schools like RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Art) only accepts 28 students each year out of the thousands of applicants. Another con could be the cost as schools. LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art) cost £9250 a year for their 3 year BA (Hons) Professional Acting course, some students may not be able to afford this and would have to take out a loan, which would mean being in debt at such a young age. Moreover, as beneficial as being part of a Drama School is, it could also restrict you as an actor. For instance, you may not have the freedom or flexibility to attend school and possible acting opportunities.
An alternative option could then be to attend University.
University is often the first option for many people, it is a place where you find yourself and prepare for your future job with the subject you decide to study. Some of the pros of going to University is that you will get to experience a form of independence and you will get a chance at "adulting", the skills you learn, such as cleaning and cooking, will benefit you when you are ready to truly live on your own. You will also have the chance to subconsciously be informally taught the hidden curriculum. In particular, what society will expect from you. Studying drama at University could also lessen the pressure and competitive nature often found at drama schools, you will be able to view the world of acting in a different light due to the theoretical approach and you will have developed your analytical skills. On the other hand, like drama schools, you may also find yourself £27,750 in debt at a young age. Additionally, the pressure of graduating and the workload may be too much for students to cope mentally as statistics find that almost 38,000 UK students are psychologically distressed with high levels of anxiety. Another con could be that even after students have graduated from University, some are either stuck in a job that has nothing to do with their degree or are struggling to find a job. Universities are often places with diverse courses, all the money, and attention will not go to the drama department. The course may also not be as practical as you may want it to be and you may find difficulty in meeting professionals/accredited performers, there is also the chance that your University does not invite scouts to your performances.
Although higher education often refers to a facility where you can achieve a degree, it can also simply mean being educated in something to a higher level. If universities and drama schools aren't for you then you can always go down the progression route of joining an agency, a pro of joining an agency is that you will have someone help you find auditions, this could then bring you a job or experience for your next audition. Agents can also market you, manage your schedule and can help you prepare for auditions. However, finding an acting agent may be difficult. Another possible con could be if you are with an agency and they're small or new then they may not have as many connections as bigger agencies which may mean they can only get you auditions for minor roles. There is then the chance that they may not be able to get you frequent auditions and you will also have to pay your agent 10-20% of your earnings.
You can have the option of becoming part of a theatre company. A pro of this is that you can immediately start working and learning more about the world of dramatic arts. The second pro of this is that you will have accomplished your initial goal of wanting to be an actor. You will be working alongside passionate, talented actors, that you can learn from. There may also be an opportunity to make connections with professionals and accredited performers from the industry as you never know who could be watching you. On the other hand, depending on what kind of theatre company you work with, there is a chance that the production can be low quality/on a budget and the actors you work with can be at different levels, you may struggle to make a living of this which means you'll have to get another job to support you.
In conclusion, there are many progression routes of higher education and you will just have to find the one that suits you.
Pros & Cons
There are numerous progression routes of higher education and everybody can find something that suits them, for example, going to a University or Drama School, going on to work with an agency or joining a theatre company. Back in June, we were asked to sit in front of a piece of paper that marks the progression route we would like to take. I sat down in front of "Drama School" and currently speaking, this is the progression route that I will still like to take as Drama Schools are a way for an actor to really concentrate on their craft and a way for them to explore in-depth who they are as an actor. There are a great number of pros that come with going to a Drama School that can help with your future careers. For example, you will have the advantage of being in a facility that will be fully dedicated to the dramatic arts, you will work alongside exceptionally talented peers, with professionals and accredited performers. You will form connections with a range of people from the industry, whether it being from your classes or end of year performances. Drama Schools like Identity School of Acting even have their own acting agency. However, there are also cons in Drama School being your chosen progression route. British acting schools have a 1% acceptance rate, schools like RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Art) only accepts 28 students each year out of the thousands of applicants. Another con could be the cost as schools. LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art) cost £9250 a year for their 3 year BA (Hons) Professional Acting course, some students may not be able to afford this and would have to take out a loan, which would mean being in debt at such a young age. Moreover, as beneficial as being part of a Drama School is, it could also restrict you as an actor. For instance, you may not have the freedom or flexibility to attend school and possible acting opportunities.
An alternative option could then be to attend University.
University is often the first option for many people, it is a place where you find yourself and prepare for your future job with the subject you decide to study. Some of the pros of going to University is that you will get to experience a form of independence and you will get a chance at "adulting", the skills you learn, such as cleaning and cooking, will benefit you when you are ready to truly live on your own. You will also have the chance to subconsciously be informally taught the hidden curriculum. In particular, what society will expect from you. Studying drama at University could also lessen the pressure and competitive nature often found at drama schools, you will be able to view the world of acting in a different light due to the theoretical approach and you will have developed your analytical skills. On the other hand, like drama schools, you may also find yourself £27,750 in debt at a young age. Additionally, the pressure of graduating and the workload may be too much for students to cope mentally as statistics find that almost 38,000 UK students are psychologically distressed with high levels of anxiety. Another con could be that even after students have graduated from University, some are either stuck in a job that has nothing to do with their degree or are struggling to find a job. Universities are often places with diverse courses, all the money, and attention will not go to the drama department. The course may also not be as practical as you may want it to be and you may find difficulty in meeting professionals/accredited performers, there is also the chance that your University does not invite scouts to your performances.
Although higher education often refers to a facility where you can achieve a degree, it can also simply mean being educated in something to a higher level. If universities and drama schools aren't for you then you can always go down the progression route of joining an agency, a pro of joining an agency is that you will have someone help you find auditions, this could then bring you a job or experience for your next audition. Agents can also market you, manage your schedule and can help you prepare for auditions. However, finding an acting agent may be difficult. Another possible con could be if you are with an agency and they're small or new then they may not have as many connections as bigger agencies which may mean they can only get you auditions for minor roles. There is then the chance that they may not be able to get you frequent auditions and you will also have to pay your agent 10-20% of your earnings.
You can have the option of becoming part of a theatre company. A pro of this is that you can immediately start working and learning more about the world of dramatic arts. The second pro of this is that you will have accomplished your initial goal of wanting to be an actor. You will be working alongside passionate, talented actors, that you can learn from. There may also be an opportunity to make connections with professionals and accredited performers from the industry as you never know who could be watching you. On the other hand, depending on what kind of theatre company you work with, there is a chance that the production can be low quality/on a budget and the actors you work with can be at different levels, you may struggle to make a living of this which means you'll have to get another job to support you.
In conclusion, there are many progression routes of higher education and you will just have to find the one that suits you.
Monologues
Part of our Unit 10 assessment also involves preparing two monologues to perform. One classical and the other contemporary. These two monologues not only had to be contrasting in nature but to allow you, as an actor, to present your range of skills and flexibility. The monologue that I chose for my classical speech is from "Henry the VI, Part 1". It is by Shakespeare. The play is set during the time of Henry the VI and it somewhat mirrors the war of the roses. The character speaking in the monologue is Joan of Arc, she is on trial and attempting to save herself from death row. Joan of Arc is a bold, strong-willed character. The monologue is serious and has a hint of desperation, as she is begging for her life, but you still see her bravery throughout the speech. I then decided to choose "My Vagina is Angry" for my contemporary speech. This monologue is from an episodic play called "The Vagina Monologues" by Eve Ensler. The monologue is a humorous rant about offenses against the vagina, for example, the tampon. This monologue is blunt and straight to the point and doesn't have complex emotions like "Joan la Pucelle" and it is also quite light-hearted.
On the 15th of November 2019, we then got the opportunity to perform one of our chosen monologues at the Young Actor's Theatre in front of David Schaal. The monologue that I decided to do was Joan la Pucelle as it is a strong piece and everyone in the audience can empathise with the character. The feedback that I received from Schaal was to commit to the character and feel the emotions throughout, he also said to not restrict breathing by putting hands behind the back but to keep the strong stance that I had all through the monologue.
In addition, he said that I had a strong stage presence, voice and that I’m not far from being really good. The feedback was helpful as Joan of Arc is feeling multiple emotions and with every word, I need to be able to convey them all physically not just vocally. Furthermore with Shakespeare, you need to be able to breathe well as his use of iambic pentameter adds rhythm to your speech so some words have more relevance therefore it needs to be stressed more than others.
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