I’m sometimes approached by young actors about advice for drama school, auditioning etc.

I also get asked ‘if I don’t get a place, can I still have a career as an actor?’

Absolutely.

I’ve worked with many superb actors who haven’t. But here’s 10 bits of advice (a thread)

1) Look out for theatre groups and get yourself on a stage. Do PLAYS! LOTS! Build up your experience. That’s where you really learn your craft. On a stage. In rehearsal. In front of an audience. Nothing beats this.

2) Get involved in as many acting workshops as you can and note down anything you find useful.

3) If you have a chance to meet/work with trained voice teachers, learn as much as you can from them. Note down all the exercises and practice them every day. Voice training is one of the most beneficial things about drama school.

4) Pick up a Shakespeare play and read a section every day. Even for 10 mins. OUT LOUD. Do it in your own private space and go full out with the text. Don’t worry about ‘over acting’ it! You’re in your private space and nobody is watching. Stretch your acting muscles.

5) Read books on acting and keep whatever you find useful. I’d recommend: THE DRAMATIC TEXT WORKBOOK AND VIDEO by David and Rebecca Carey, THE RIGHT TO SPEAK by Patsy Rosenburg, IN-DEPTH ACTING by Dee Cannon, TO THE ACTOR by Michael Chekhov, RESPECT FOR ACTING by Uta Hagen.

6) Read as many plays as you can! But particularly pick one from the following & study it: a play by Shakespeare, Chekhov, Ibsen, a Restoration Comedy, a Jacobean, an Ancient Greek, Arthur Miller, Harold Pinter, Oscar Wilde, Moliere, a play by a living British playwright.

7) Go to Museums, Art Galleries, Exhibitions etc, learn about history and how people lived during different time periods. Documentaries, books, films.

8) Master at least 5 accents. Find samples that are helpful online. Recommended ones: RP, General American, London, Yorkshire, Midlands, an international one which might be particularly useful for the parts you could possibly be cast in. Obviously, embrace your native accent!

9) Watch plays! (Keep an eye out for cheap tickets/discounts!)

10) Look after your body and mind: Yoga, Pilates, The Gym, Meditation, anything you enjoy and benefit from. Your body, together with your voice is your instrument. Look after it.

Hope this is helpful and feel free to add to the list.