![Anne-Marie Piazza answers questions about Bristol Old Vic Theatre School [i_520] Anne-Marie Piazza answers questions about Bristol Old Vic Theatre School](http://www.actorhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Anne-Marie-Piazza-175x175.jpg)
Anne-Marie Piazza
-
Years attended - 2006-08
find out more about Anne-Marie Piazza or visit her Spotlight page
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
-
How was your audition?Very good, the first round was relaxed and positive and the second round recall was brilliant. I knew from that, that I was meant to train here.
The best tip I have is one that my friend from uni (who was already in his first year at BOVTS when I applied) told me: They want you to succeed, they want you to be good. It’s that simple, they don’t want you to fail because that would waste everyone’s time. They want you to be good so that they can just say simply, yes! -
What were the facilities like at school?A little old school – the building is old. The dance studio was pretty good and access to Christchurch studios meant for TV and radio work we had top of the range equipment.
The name itself brought in experts a the head of their field to teach and offer a range of workshops and skills. And with Jonathan Howell the stage combat training and equipment is probably the best of any drama school in the country. -
What 3 items would be your essentials for surviving drama school?Physical items:
deodorant
a large range in easy-to-move-in clothing
(in Bristol) wet weather gear!
Abstract things:
an open mind
a sense of humour (do not take yourself too seriously)
a good night’s sleep -
What were the lessons you learnt most from, and which could you have lived without?That drama school isn’t where your learning ends, you’re not meant to be ‘finished’ when you come out. This is where the real work begins! Take what you want from the training and leave the rest. Some will suit you, some won’t there’s nothing wrong with that but do TRY everything!
-
What lessons did this school offer on surviving in the big bad world?Not enough in my opinion.
When you train at an excellent drama school you expect to walk straight into work and to go from job to job. This is not the case, on the latest estimate 90% of actors are out of work at any time.
I would have liked some career chat on the ‘other’ job that could run alongside acting – ie what ELSE I was good at. -
Do you still have a network of friends from the course or school?Definitely and it has proved invaluable both for support, hearing what’s out there and helping each other out.
A friend had an audition recently and isn’t a musician so had no idea where to begin learning the show’s song. He came to me and I recorded myself playing it on the piano and singing along so he could learn it at his own speed.
In situations like this trust in karma don’t be selfish with the help you can offer. Help the friends in need and when you need something, karma will deliver. Also when it gets bad (and make no mistake, the industry is suffering at the moment) you know you are not alone in that feeling and can take comfort that it just isn’t your time yet. -
What was the most inspiring lesson/tip you learnt at drama school?Understand the truth that is in the text, the words will do the work for you don’t paste on top with your own inventions. If the writer is good then they’ve already done most of the work for you. Trust that.
-
What was the most embarassing moment at drama school?Oh so many.. the end of each term in first year always culminated in a dance project performed to the whole school.. in your leotard and tights!! Oh the humanity! But once you’ve done that you can do pretty much anything..
-
How was your showcase?Ouch.. that was a painful memory you just jogged.
We had good interest and it was such a good showcase it reinvigorated the industries interest in the school so that many Casting Directors and Agents started coming back to see Bristol shows much earlier in the graduation year.
Yes I signed with my agent through that and so did most of my year. But wow it was stressful.
My tip would be if you go with the rest of your year to the showcase, make your own way home. Don’t re-live it over and over again with everyone else’s successes and failures. Once it’s done capitalize with emails and letters to all the attendees but leave the performance behind you, let go you can’t change anything so don’t bother thinking about it! (she says still thinking four years on “what if I’d done my other speech..”) -
Which is the local pub where everyone liked to hang out?The Alma Tavern which also has a pub theatre where the directing students put on short runs using actors from the graduating year in the final term. And occasionally Channings.
-
If you had to describe your whole drama school experience in a tweet what would it be?Drama School: Somebody Somewhere is crying!.. No seriously not that (though I did think we should have had that put on T-Shirts)
Embrace everything, keep an open mind and it will open a world of possibilities to u. This is only the start so be in it for the long game! -
What would your current self tell your younger self before you started your drama school?Do more research into the people you are writing to numpty!
Learn about the people in the business from day one because you are a business as well as an artist.
And don’t worry so much, you’re going to be fine – here have a tissue you look a state… like everyone else.
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
Drama School Recollections
We asked drama school and university alumni from across the years to share their recollections,tips, advice and thoughts from their years spent training. If you want to share your memories get in touch with us via Facebook or Twitter
-
Central Graduate Antonia Davies answers the Actor Hub 12 training questions
-
A Hull University Graduate answers the Actor Hub 12 training questions
-
Central Graduate Nicola Redman answers the Actor Hub 12 training questions
-
LIPA Graduate Richard Fitch answers the Actor Hub 12 training questions
-
A Birmingham School of Acting Graduate answers the Actor Hub 12 training questions
-
Birmingham School of Acting Graduate Camilla Whitehill answers the Actor Hub 12 training questions
-
A Rose Bruford Graduate answers the Actor Hub 12 training questions
-
LIPA Graduate Erica Ann Deakin answers the Actor Hub 12 training questions
-
LIPA Graduate Adam Ryan answers the Actor Hub 12 training questions