LIPA – Alumni Thoughts – Richard Fitch

Both times the audition at LIPA was unquestionably the funnest.

It was the one I felt less nervous about and the one I walked away from feeling like I’d done my best. It was equally the one I felt that the panel were looking for the best in me.

They really feel OK with you auditioning them at LIPA. They understand that it’s about finding a mutual perfect match to ensure that the students suit the training and vice versa.

What I would say is that the pieces you choose to audition with (be it from a set list or of your own free will) say a lot about your tastes and awareness as an artist. Think about what shows you in the best light as a performer – don’t choose a Sarah Kane character if you naturally suit a Simon Stephens character better, for example.

Go in with an option to show that you’ve prepared beyond the brief and also to give the panel a choice. “Would you like me to do this, or this?” equals to “I’ve covered every base and am prepared to do whichever you want me to do.”

A mix between modern and less modern as the campus is over two buildings.

From my experience, you will struggle to find better facilities than what LIPA can offer. Because of the various courses that LIPA have, the facilities are pretty well-rounded, but they won’t call out to you! So make the most of them while you’re there.

Book rooms outside of your lessons, walk around (you can get lost so get familiar) and discover all the little nooks and crannies that can easily turn into a free rehearsal space outside of class time.

They have filming equipment that you can hire, so hire them and put together a few showreels throughout your time there. Use the recording studios to record voice reels/demos. You’ll then be in a much more prepared position when you leave with a greater understanding of how different mediums work.

There’s also a bar just for LIPA students within the building – It would be rude not to make use of this too!

Pecils.
Notebooks.
Water.

It’s difficult to say, as the feeling was that the course was always evolving at LIPA. It has only been open for about 15 years, so what they’ve settled on has only just started to settle completely.

I personally tried to take at least something from every lesson. If you struggle to do that, look for the tutors you take most from and use them as your mentors during your training. They tend to be as passionate as you will be, so take advantage of this. Don’t ambush them though!

Don’t be on time, be early.

Don’t stay exclusive to your chosen craft. Explore other avenues and gain experience in other roles of the industry – it’s the best way to meet people.

Choose a headshot that looks like you every day, not on your best day.

Stay in touch with your family – it’s easy not to (this wasn’t something LIPA taught me, but something I learnt myself)

Respect the techies – they can make you look and sound awful on stage.

Go and watch stuff. Not being able to afford it isn’t an excuse – Tonnes of stuff is free.

Something I didn’t pick up on is how much you can lose touch with the industry while learning. Keep tabs on what theatres are programming. Read reviews to anticipate which directors/actors/writers you’d like to work with. Keep an eye on who is casting what. And then how much you can lose touch with the bigger world. Read the news, listen to the radio, watch Question Time (best improvised scenes with conflict and tension ever!) etc. DOn’t let the world revolve around your school.

As someone that is now primarily a director, absolutely.

I’ve employed friends, auditioned and rejected them, gone for a drink with them and they’ve also hired me.

An elephant never forgets and neither do the people you meet at drama school!

Two of them:

Dare to fail. (A masterclass with Alan Rickman)

Everything you do should be treated as if you’re playing the best game in the world, with the best people in the world (One of my acting teachers, Max)

Probably being asked to help demonstrate a lift in a dance class by the teacher. She jumped on my back and I wasn’t grounded probably, so we both went down like a sack of potatoes.

Either that, or the one time I was late in my final year – my entire class would never let me forget that and my record was tainted forever!

We did two – an acting one and a musical theatre one. Neither were enjoyable, but they should have been.

I learned a big lesson twice – so much of this industry is out of your control as an actor. Accept that, get on stage and tell the story of whatever you’re doing the best that you can. Everything else is up to other people. The students that knew this walking on to their showcase stage are the people that got the agents.

Never forget that you can get a great start in this industry without agents, though.

The LIPA Bar was always we were started (and sometimes finished!) Such a valuable (and dangerous) post-rehearsal hang-out as it was right next to the rehearsal rooms.

Elsewhere in Liverpool was Magnet, Bumper, Heebie Jeebies, Alma de Cuba, The Font and The Pilgrim (brilliant all day breakfasts). I’ll stop now, but I really could go on!

#whatyoumakeit

Only ever worry about what is in your control and recognise what isn’t.

Listen. Drink more water. Spend part of your loan on a gym and use it.