![Nicola Redman answers questions about Central School of Speech & Drama [i_517] Nicola Redman answers questions about Central School of Speech & Drama](http://www.actorhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Nicola-Redman-175x175.jpg)
Nicola Redman
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Years attended - 2007-08
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Type of course - MA Music Theatre
find out more about Nicola Redman
Actor Hub 12 Training Questions
We asked drama school alumni from across the years to share their recollections,tips, advice and thoughts from their years spent training. Here are their answers. If you want to share your memories get in touch with us via Facebook or Twitter
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How was your audition?Great fun over all. It was a group audition with about 15 other candidates. We had to prepare a monologue, a song and do a dance work shop with choreographer. It was interesting and a learning experience watching other people audition, how they cope with nerves, how it affects them and the pieces people chose to audition with.
It’s definitely worth doing your research on your pieces and try hard to find something different or interesting, rather than just ‘Juliet’ or ‘Les Mis’.
The best advice I’ve been told about approaching auditions is to remember that the panel don’t want you to fail, they want you to be the person they’re looking for, the next big thing or perfect for the role they’re casting. So see it as another chance to perform for an appreciative crowd, and enjoy yourself, performing is what we do best afterall! -
What were the facilities like at school?Facilities were good. A lot of the school is new, some of it is a little older. I”m usually a fan of ‘old, grotty and interesting’ when if comes to creative spaces, but it’s better to have all the facilities you need! But it was a nice place to be.
They have a great theatre for in house performances which a lot of places do not benefit from and have to go elsewhere so that’s useful. As in most places, rehearsal space a certain times of the year was difficult to come by, but generally it’s got great facilities. -
What 3 items would be your essentials for surviving drama school?We had to wear black in lessons, so lots of black comfy clothes.
Lots of water to keep hydrated.
Good friends! It’s an intense place, you discover alot about yourself, whether you want to or not and the people you meet there will no doubt stay with you forever, no matter how much you try to lose them. -
What were the lessons you learnt most from, and which could you have lived without?For me it was more about professional etiquette. You will constantly improve as an actor during your working life, that never stops, but it’s important to learn what the industry expects from you as a professional. A few key ones are below;
Always be humble and kind. Those you meet on the way up, you will invariably meet on the way down.
Punctuality is THE MOST IMPORTANT THING in the professional world. No matter how good you are, wasting peoples time is disrespectful. Our course leader used to say “To be early is to be on time, to be on time is to be late, to be late is unacceptable” And I stand by that today.
Also, be patient, the quicker you ‘make it’, the quicker your fall back to the bottom will be. The industry is fickle these days so if you’re hard working, dedicated and, I think importantly, realistic about your abilities and skills, you can carve out a good career. -
What lessons did this school offer on surviving in the big bad world?This is probably answered in the above question.
It’s important to think intelligently and carefully about what you can do with your particular set of skills.
Don’t be surprised if you think your best at one thing and someone else things you’re better at another.
Take that advice, even if you don’t like it, don’t work against it, and begin to find out how you can capitalise on what you can do. You are a business afterall and need to being in money to keep training, learning and moving forward.
Find ways to perform between jobs too, be it at open mics, poetry readings, stand up, street performance… keep performing. -
Do you still have a network of friends from the course or school?Yes, and many of us have ended up in different areas than we thought we would! It’s not been an easy road for a lot of us, but really rewarding and fun. We’ve been there for each other to give advice, help with audition pieces, scream at each other with frustration when necessary. But we’re enjoying the life for the most part.
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What was the most inspiring lesson/tip you learnt at drama school?Be generous. As a performer, a practitioner, and friend.
Don’t hide audition details away from friends, or be secretive with your closest mates about what you are doing. Details are out there for everyone to find, and it is not nice to meet a friend at an audition knowing they’ve lied about going there! It’s a competitive industry, but there are enough people out there who will stab you in the back and stamp on you to get to the top, don’t set up that standard in your groups of mates.
You need to be realistic about your cast type physically and work with it, not against it. It can be difficult learning you aren’t pretty enough to play your dream role, but there are so many other parts out there for all shapes and sizes and the quicker you learn where you fit, they quicker you will start to get the parts.
Also, experiment and push your own boundaries, don’t stay safe as you learn so much more from trying new things. Develop all your skills and make your self employable in many different areas. -
What was the most embarassing moment at drama school?They do a lot of ‘breaking you down’ emotional stuff to see how far you can go as and that’s always a tad embarrassing. I had a moment in performance workshop. We had to sing a song, get feedback from classmates and acting tutor and sing it again. But for some reason I just started to cry and couldn’t stop and the tutor was like ‘KEEP GOING KEEP GOING!’ By the end of it I was covered in snot and highly mortified. Apparently pushing the emotional boundaries and then learning how to control it is a very worth while exercise but I felt like a bit of a wally…
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How was your showcase?Showcase didn’t go well for me. I wouldn’t blame the school really, it was just at the wrong time in my development as a singer and I hadn’t quite found out where I belonged in the genres. So ended up singing songs that weren’t really suitable for my cast type by the time I ended the course.
We didn’t get as many agents as we’d like. A few people got picked up, those with very unique looks eg ethnic minorities, red hair and so on. But that’s the way it goes. Agents need to find talent but also tick boxes. -
Which is the local pub where everyone liked to hang out?We were more of a house party year to be honest (cheaper!) But there was a pub across the road from us we would go to, although I can’t recall it’s name…so that’s not much use.
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If you had to describe your whole drama school experience in a tweet what would it be?Friends for life, lessons learned about my performing capabilities, prepared me realistically for the industry (ie it wasn’t a bed of roses!)
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What would your current self tell your younger self before you started your drama school?Have courage. Think about where you really want to be as a performer.
Everything happens for a reason and attending the school was very worthwhile, but on the whole, I’ve ended up in an industry (stand up comedy…) which is far removed from where I dreamed of as a child (West End musicals!) I could have saved a lot of time and money, and maybe be a bit further on, if I’d had the confidence and courage as a younger performer to concentrate on comedy, and let go on my dream to be in musicals.
If you would like to answer the Actor Hub 12 training questions and share your thoughts and recollections from your time at drama school, we would love to hear from you. Get in touch with us via the Contact Page
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