#1: Getting Involved

Life upon the wicked stage may be a dream to many, but weather you dream of acting on the small screen, behind a camera, or on the stage itself there are a number of different ways to get involved.

One of the most important things about being an actor is experience. Every role you play, be it the back line of the chorus in your school play to the principal part in a toothpaste advertisement will teach you something, meaning that you come away with a new experience every time. Getting involved at an early age may indeed set you in good stead for the future, but it is never too late to get involved.

An effective way of gaining experience early on is by joining a performing arts group in your local area. Here you will be able to meet like-minded people and take your first steps in acting within a friendly and encouraging environment. Taking part need not be expensive or time consuming; most performing arts groups run a variety of classes at the weekend and are reasonably priced. Make sure you do your research and find out which one is best for you.

If you are slightly older and are looking for a more advanced level of performance, Youth Theatres are probably the best option. Most local and regional theatres will run their own Youth Theatre group who will help develop your skills and display them in a more mature and focused way. Operatic and Musical Theatre societies exist for people of all ages, often giving you the chance to perform in a professional environment whilst still allowing you to make friends and have fun along the way. Universities and Colleges all have some form of performance group where professional help will be on hand to help you advance, offering constructive criticism and the opportunities to take acting beyond just a hobby.

#2: Choosing Repertoire

As in any type of performance, choosing the right repertoire is crucial in allowing your skills and talent to be displayed effectively and getting the most out of yourself as a performer. One of the golden rules is to only choose things that you feel comfortable with. Being familiar with a text and character as well as being able to explore issues that you find both interesting and relevant to yourself is the best way to progress, be it for a performance or an audition. For auditions, it is worth staying clear of some of the ‘classics’ and time should be spent researching and looking for works that are not perhaps as common. Never choose characters that fall outside of your age ranges, as it is harder to relate to them. Look for someone with enough substance who you can actively imagine being, and always search for the truth within the character.

#3: Developing and maintaining good techniques

To develop certain techniques that suit you, experimentation is the key. Never have a set way of doing things too early on; the best actors are those who are open to change and new ideas. Each director you work with will have a different impact upon you, and you will often take different things from each one to build your own techniques, almost like a jigsaw. Reading and research is vital as theatre practitioners each have various ways of doing the same thing that may seem a little far out at first. By watching live performances you will gain new techniques and see how different actors combat similar problems, which you can then use in your own work. The best techniques are those which are organic and develop over time, so be patient and allow yourself to experiment.

#4: Building Your Character

Acting is about becoming a character who is not yourself. Before you can do this effectively you must build your character from what you are given, it may be text, music or stage direction. As a performer you must be bold with your choices and not be shy about who you are trying to become. Building a biography for your character will make you think about every little detail, from name and age to favourite colour and occupation. It is the same as building a house, you must begin at the bottom with strong foundations and expand upwards and outwards whilst filling in the cracks. The smallest details often make characters stand out, think about every aspect however trivial it may seem and be creative in your choices. If you use this together with details you are given you can build a believable character.