In which we think about Drama Schools and University Drama Departments and work our way through ‘Falling Off A Wall: Degrees of Change in British Actor Training’ Ben Frankombe's essential paper on the History of Actor Training between the 1970s and the early 2000s.  Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_donations&business=EKHEKXBAZBQG6&currency_code=GBP)

In which we discuss how Philip Hedley came to join the first cohort of East 15 in the autumn of 1961 and examine the complex relationship between the school and the work of Joan Littlewood’s Theatre Workshop.  The cover shows the blue plaque which celebrates the achievements Margaret Bury and Joan Littlewood outside of East 15’s Loughton campus.   Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_donations&business=EKHEKXBAZBQG6&currency_code=GBP)

In which we celebrate the Sixtieth Birthday of East 15 in the first of two special podcasts. The cover shows blossom in the grounds of the Debden campus earlier this year.  Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_donations&business=EKHEKXBAZBQG6&currency_code=GBP)

In which we prepare for a new term by reading Chapter 8 of Nicolai Demidov’s book ‘The Art of Living Onstage From a Theatre Teacher’s Laboratory  Translated by Andrei Malaev-Babel and Alexandra Rojavin.  The studio: www.demidovstudiolondon.uk The association: www.demidovassociation.com Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_donations&business=EKHEKXBAZBQG6&currency_code=GBP)

In which we discuss Nicolai Demidov and his School of Acting with Andrei Biziorek of the Demidov Studio London. Links for the London studio and the Demidov Association can be found here :  The studio: www.demidovstudiolondon.uk The association: www.demidovassociation.com Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_donations&business=EKHEKXBAZBQG6&currency_code=GBP)

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In which we discuss the professional life of Penny Cherns. Penny trained on the Directors’ Course at the Drama Centre after completing a sociology degree at the University of Kent at Canterbury. She worked as Joan Littlewood’s assistant and then continued as a freelance director up to the Millennium in major provincial repertory theatres directing classics, modern plays and musicals. She was also Associate Director at Chester, Watford and Nottingham Playhouse and worked at the RSC, the...

In which we talk about Doreen Cannon. One of the most important figures in the history of British Actor training. With very special guests Annie Tyson and John Bechizza.  Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_donations&business=EKHEKXBAZBQG6&currency_code=GBP)

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In which we compare two experiences of the British Drama School and prepare for conversations about Doreen Cannon.  Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_donations&business=EKHEKXBAZBQG6&currency_code=GBP)

In which we read John Gielgud’s views on Stanislavsky. From January 1937.  Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_donations&business=EKHEKXBAZBQG6&currency_code=GBP)

This episode includes an extract from Vladimir Mirodan’s excellent paper The first class: Harold Lang and the beginnings of Stanislavskian teaching in the British conservatoire.  Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_donations&business=EKHEKXBAZBQG6&currency_code=GBP)

In which we discuss Jean Benedetti; Rose Bruford and Lamda’s recent NSS results and why Stanislavsky really wrote his books.  Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_donations&business=EKHEKXBAZBQG6&currency_code=GBP)

In which we read Saint Denis’ essay on the application of the Stanislavsky approach and it’s American interpretation as the method to the plays of Shakespeare and perhaps understand something about the ideas underpinning the LTS and the Old Vic School. Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_donations&business=EKHEKXBAZBQG6&currency_code=GBP)

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In which a special guest tells us the story of how a young Chinese Couple became amongst the tiny number of people who studied at the London Theatre  Studio in Islington just before the outbreak of the Second World War and of how they brought the ideas and pedagogy of Copeau and Suzanne Bing to the Peoples Republic of China.  Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_donations&business=EKHEKXBAZBQG6&currency_code=GBP)

In which we look to understand something about the nature of the London Theatre Studio the school founded by Michel Saint Denis in a disused Methodist Chapel in Islington in 1936. Cover picture is of a  woolwork by Merula Salaman an actor at the LTS. Sophie Jump's PhD can be found here : https://ualresearchonline.arts.ac.uk/id/eprint/9194/1/Sophie%20Jump%20PhD%20thesis%20FINAL%2027%20Jan%2016.pdf Support the show...

In Memoriam Oliver Neville 1929 - 2021. Rada's Principal from 1984 to 1993.  Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_donations&business=EKHEKXBAZBQG6&currency_code=GBP)

The image is of candidates for the Academy of Dramatic Art auditioning in 1911.  Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_donations&business=EKHEKXBAZBQG6&currency_code=GBP)

Tanmay Dhanania is an actor. He studied Nuclear Engineering at UC Berkeley and then trained as an actor at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. He has acted in UK tv shows like New Tricks for the BBC, Indian Summers for Channel 4 and The Durrells in Corfu...

In this episode we revisit Clive Barker’s essay from 1995: What Training - for What Theatre? And wonder how far we have come in the intervening 27 years. 

A conversation about acting and training, choices and chances with the actor Michael Balogun, who graduated from Rada in 2017.   

Isabella Verrico, King Boateng, Naz Yeni, Che Francis and Robert Price participate in a conversation about the possibilities and risks of training in the Drama School recorded on Saturday 27th April 2021. The discussion was facilitated by Dr. Sarah...