So you want to be an actor?

“I loved it! It was such a good experience, learning so much about the industry from so many perspectives” Moa Taylor Hodin, 15

The Tobacco Factory Theatre’s innovative course for students in years 10 and 11 offers a unique combination of practical skills-based workshops and industry tutorials, providing a down-to-earth insight into an exciting and challenging and career.

Working with professional directors and performers, participants explore the essentials of actor training, with dedicated masterclasses on areas such as voice and movement presenting a chance to develop existing skills and learn new techniques. Workshops on different strategies for how to approach a scene equip participants with new ways of thinking about characterisation, whilst the specially developed programme of tutorials from people at the top of their fields provide an insider’s perspective on the profession, with practical advice on everything from the pros and cons of drama school to working with agents.

The course is led by Bristol-based director and former actress Caroline Hunt. Caroline has taught extensively at East 15 Theatre School in London and as a director has worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre, amongst others. Recent work includes Tobacco Factory Theatre and Tricycle Theatre’s Topless Mum by Ron Hutchinson (2008) and Theatre West’s After the Accident (2009).

Last year’s course included masterclasses from director Andy Burden (A Christmas Carol (2009) for Tobacco Factory Theatre), Gary Owston (voice and speech tutor at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and director of the Bristol Acting Academy), Chris Donnelly (frequent performer with Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory and co-ordinator of their education programme) and puppeteer and designer Cori Bona, who has worked with Green Ginger, Pickled Image and Stuff and Nonsense, to name but a few.

So you want to be an actor? runs in the February half-term. Details of the FEbruary 2011 course can be found at the side of this page.