Drama Centre

In the past two months I've been to Drama Centre, London twice. Once for my BA (Acting) audition and then again for the Foundation in Performance course. After going for the BA I wasn't exactly thrilled by the school. It was more of a come-in, go-out sort of thing; a little brutal and with little attention to the school and it's facilities. But of course, not everything can be rainbows and butterfly's can it? That being said, my FdA Performance audition day was a completely different experience altogether.

BA Hons (Acting)

I took my mamma with me to this audition as a continuation of my birthday celebrations, knowing/suspecting that I wouldn't be recalled to the afternoon session– and I wasn't wrong. The morning started off very well, finding that the school was only a 3/4 min walk from King's Cross down a straight path right in between St. Pancreas and KX. The Central St. Martin's building is amazing. It's an old granary done out to an incredible standard; kind of what you expect from an art & design uni building. The reception was located on the right and with over an hour to wait we headed left into The Caravan, an industrial-esque trendy bistro. I advise anyone going to Drama Centre, or anyone looking for something to eat close to KX to go here; the food is lovely and the decor is pretty cool.

I opted for apple&maple porridge and mamma went for poached egg and salmon (or some other fish) on toast, which she still hasn't stopped banging on about. Washed down with a pot of tea, it was a lovely way to start the day after a long train journey. 





On the audition panel were two men, one with white hair, the other with dark who were very polite and asked me a few questions about my age and my pieces and then asked me to take the space to perform, using chairs if necessary. I did use a chair for both speeches and was encouraged to take as much time as I needed between speeches– I seem to recall being praised slightly for my usage of the chair, or for something anyways. When I was done I was asked what I was currently doing and how I found my college course, then I was free to leave. Like I had predicted, my name wasn't on the recall list for the afternoon, but only 4/20 were so I wasn't too disheartened. 
On the audition panel were two men, one with white hair, the other with dark who were very polite and asked me a few questions about my age and my pieces and then asked me to take the space to perform, using chairs if necessary. I did use a chair for both speeches and was encouraged to take as much time as I needed between speeches– I seem to recall being praised slightly for my usage of the chair, or for something anyways. When I was done I was asked what I was currently doing and how I found my college course, then I was free to leave. Like I had predicted, my name wasn't on the recall list for the afternoon, but only 4/20 were so I wasn't too disheartened. 
A few weeks earlier my Dad and some close family friends took me to an incredible little wine bar tucked behind the tube station here called Gordon's and I absolutely fell in love with the place. It's a converted wine cellar that's a few hundred years old, with Rudyard Kipling as one of it's past inhabitants. Managing to keep it a secret until coming back with mum I surprised her with a few of her favourite things: wine, cheese and an "experience".
A few weeks earlier my Dad and some close family friends took me to an incredible little wine bar tucked behind the tube station here called Gordon's and I absolutely fell in love with the place. It's a converted wine cellar that's a few hundred years old, with Rudyard Kipling as one of it's past inhabitants. Managing to keep it a secret until coming back with mum I surprised her with a few of her favourite things: wine, cheese and an "experience".

That last one is very important to us as a family. Experiences are something we search for on a daily basis, trying to limit things of a more material nature (not that we don't ever go clothes shopping, because we most certainly do do that!). This time being taken out of the sun wasn't a problem at all and we enjoyed a rustic platter of 3 chunks of cheese, half a baguette each, lots of chutney, pickle and cranberry accompanied by a glass of red wine and a tumbler of port. Now Gordon's do proper portions. When I say a "chunk" of cheese, I mean it– even if it doesn't look that big on the picture.
That last one is very important to us as a family. Experiences are something we search for on a daily basis, trying to limit things of a more material nature (not that we don't ever go clothes shopping, because we most certainly do do that!). This time being taken out of the sun wasn't a problem at all and we enjoyed a rustic platter of 3 chunks of cheese, half a baguette each, lots of chutney, pickle and cranberry accompanied by a glass of red wine and a tumbler of port. Now Gordon's do proper portions. When I say a "chunk" of cheese, I mean it– even if it doesn't look that big on the picture.
Foundation in Performance
When I first applied for Drama Centre I didn't choose the Foundation in Performance, mainly due to the cost of the course (you can't get any funding for it through student finance). However, two weeks after my BA audition I received an email from the school saying that the panel had been "sufficiently impressed" by my audition and wanted to recommend me to take a foundation course, then going on to invite me back to DC to audition for theirs free of charge. Finally disappointment after disappointment I had some good news!

I left mum to have a glass of wine or two and headed over to reception to be escorted up stairs by a 2nd year Acting student with some other auditionees. The corridor we were taken to was all hustle-and-bustle with students and teachers from all disciplines striding along past us. After taking a seat amongst earlier-morning auditioners I was called in after about 45 mins.

After rescuing mum from having to buy another glass of wine we headed out into London for a sunny afternoon. Until we got on the tube. I then made the terribly bad decision to go to the V&A museum with a mother who can not stand to be indoors when the sun is out. Woopsie. U-turn made and another tube  ride later we had a wander past Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and along the Thames until we reached embankment. 

 

A 3 cheese platter will definitely fill two people, a 2 cheese platter probably would as well. Me and my Dad had the Brie, Smoked Cheddar and Gruyere and I nibbled a bit at our friends' Dolcelatte which is now one of my favourite cheeses ever; Mamma and I went for Brie, Fleur de Maquis (new second favourite) and Camembert. I can't remember the names of our wines/ports but I think Derna had the sweet white port which I could drink far to easily.

We wandered through Soho, stumbled upon Oxford Street, got lost in Aldo (honestly) and made our way merrily back to King's Cross. Then the train journey home was cold, long and uncomfortable followed by a long wait for a taxi in a stupidly cold train station surrounded by drunken fools. There had to be one downside to the day!

I couldn't believe I was auditioning at the same school when I went back on Saturday. There were only three of us auditioning that morning so our lovely student helper showed us through the school and answered loads of our questions. I went in first and was met by Richard and Leanna who were incredibly kind and funny rushing around to get me a chair and close the curtains over the mirrors. Following normal audition etiquette I was asked about my choice of pieces, although in much more detail than usual and then allowed to perform using all the time and space I needed. My classical piece went very well, probably the best I've ever done it. But of course something so good always comes with a compromise. I ruined the second half of my modern piece. Silly old me decided it would be good to show the panel two different monologues from my BA audition, giving myself less than 3 weeks to find and prepare Eve from Apples and to re-aquaint myself with the Princess from Love's labour's Lost. This would have been fine if I hadn't been so busy! The week before my audition went by in such a blur I can barely remember any of it and it didn't help that my best friends birthday was the day before my audition. Hopefully I didn't loose too many brownie points for leaving her birthday party early– but I made the extra effort to get there super early and look after her while she was drunk! She had a really great night though and that's all that matters.

Excuses aside, the interview after my monologues was great, for once giving me the chance to show my maturity and love for the theatre and performing. We talked about everything from the last few shows I had seen to what sports I do and what performances I had done in the past. Richard and Leanna were extremely lovely to talk to and I felt so comfortable because of it. I rejoined Lucy, Max and our tour-guide/student/host Chris and watched as they took it in turns to leave and return.

All of us got a recall!

YESSA. To celebrate me, Lucy and Max went to Nando's for some lunch before heading back to our afternoon workshop. Chris introduced us to three girls from the afternoon round of auditions who also got recalls and then we went back into the studio to do a movement and acting session.

Leanna took us for movement getting us to create letters with our bodies, do lots of swinging and swaying and then several exercises to do with space, physicality and awareness. I got a little confused at one point thinking she had asked us to mirror someone when she might not have at all... Hopefully Max didn't mind too much, or better yet didn't realise what I was doing.

Our "Acting" part of the session was taken by Richard and involved some very simple tablo and still image exercises followed by a few games. At the end of the workshop we were allowed to ask questions to both Richard and Chris (who had taken part in the workshop too).

All in all a great afternoon.

Our little trio headed back to King's Cross, made sure we had each other on Facebook and went our separate ways. Lucy lives in Scotland so we both decided to wait for our trains in Pret with a soda. It was so nice to meet such genuinely lovely people who made the whole day that much better. With an hour or so to spare I rang everyone back home and had a wander into the Harry Potter store– I will NEVER be too old for that– before getting a Chai latte from Nero's to take on the train. The sweetie behind the counter gave me two stamps instead of one as well– bonus!

The Theatre & The Cafe

Two of my favourite places: theatres and cafes. This week I went to see Headlong's production of Chekhov's 'The Seagull' at Northern Stage and I also popped into the brand-spanking-new cafe that has just opened up in Tynemouth.

The Seagull was interesting. I haven't read the play– though I know it's a classic, so that's pretty poor for a young actor– but I thoroughly enjoyed the performance, even if it did take me a while to buy into it. I was expecting the classical-esque musings of Anton Chekhov but was greeted with a culmination of classical and (mostly) modern language; from what I saw, I enjoyed the play and understood it well but I am looking forward to reading the original text.

One of the best things about the production for me was the set. The multi-purpose seesaw was very imaginative and well used, as was the concrete-looking backdrop– especially when water was used to paint scenery on it (after the water had evaporated a new picture would be painted/sprayed on for the next scene).

A little warning to those wanting to see the production though: it contains adult content, bad language, nudity and smoking (with real cigarettes to my surprise). But don't let this put you off! Unless you're under 16, have asthma/other breathing related problem or you have sensitive eyes and ears... It's an unusual performance with a lot of character and a good bunch of actors.

As for this new cafe in Tynemouth, well, I am quite impressed. Dil & the Bear is trendy and modern with that wonderful shabby-chic feel and the food looks great! The berry smoothy I had was nice, but maybe a little over-priced (for a student, anyway) and my pappa's vanilla late was definitely up to our standards. According to him his cake was 'good', but he wolfed it down that quickly I couldn't decide for myself.... Kidding! I had a lick of the icing and it tasted pretty delish.

All in all, friendly staff, great decor and good coffee and cake. I will be trying a more substantial meal when I can afford to fork out £10 for lunch. Oh the joys of being a student.

A classical weekend.

For months I've seen posters all around Newcastle advertising two Shakespeare's being put on at the Theatre Royal by Propeller. I neither knew who Propeller were or what the plays were about, but I was determined to go and see another Shakespeare; seeing The Winter's Tale on my trip to Edinburgh made me realise just how much I love classical plays.

After using all of my persuasive techniques I couldn't get Becky– a friend of mine from college– to come with me and I couldn't ask Jade (she wasn't exactly keen on The Winter's Tale), so I decided it was time to introduce the parents to Shakespeare– risky, I know. Luckily for me, I'd already intrigued them through our little chats about drama school, monologues and plays I'd been reading (Troilus & Cressida, Love's Labour's Lost, Julius Caesar), making my suggestion to go and see one at the theatre quite logical. Just to make sure I wasn't throwing her in at the deep end I recited a monologue to my mum to see if she could understand it– god did I underestimate her. Apparently her addiction to Spartacus: Blood and Sand has made her "totally in tune" with classical language.

Friday night was The Taming of the Shrew, attended by myself, the mamma and the paps. There was a preset of the actors walking through the foyer, around the stalls and on the stage before the performance began but we didn't see much of this due to rushing up to our seats in the gods (the Gallery is the cheapest and the highest) and for being in the gods. Although, sitting in the Gallery is nowhere near as bad as people make out. Yes, you can't see the roof of the stage and you have to lean forward in your seat to see the action, but for £14 a ticket (and sometimes as little as £7) you can't really complain. Ian did find it a bit uncomfortable though, so people with back problems beware.

Propeller are an all-male Shakespeare theatre company, directed by Edward Hall. When talking to someone about the show they were quite against the idea of an 'all-male' theatre company, what with it being so much harder for female actors to get jobs than male actors. But I disagree, I mean yes, it is hard for women in the performing arts industry but that doesn't mean that it's wrong to have an all-male cast. If that were true then it should be wrong to have an all-female task too, if equality is what we're after. Unfortunately for us ladies, Shakespeare was originally performed by men anyway– the performances from Propeller replicated the humour found in many of his plays because of this very well in their interpretation of the texts.

The Taming of the Shrew was witty, fast paced, full of energy, hilarious and oh-so bitter sweet. That overriding moral of how women should and should not be treated just seeps through the whole performance and is encapsulated by the brilliantly added line from Edward Hall and Roger Warren: "Tis' but a play". Go. And. See. It. Even if you don't like Shakespeare, I bet you would enjoy this. It's not what you would expect at all. Aaaand the cast play a short musical set during the interval of all Shrew performances to raise money for ovarian cancer (see there not trying to be sexist after all!).

Saturday night's Twelfth Night was similarly brilliant, just as funny, if not a little more laughing-out-loud, equally energetic, a tad bit more confusing– but what play wouldn't be when you've got a man playing a woman who is pretending to be a man who looks almost identical to their character's brother too. Confusing. I took my dad and step mum to go see this one for their birthdays! They loved it, which made me very very happy. Scenes like the boxing match between Viola and Malvio really demonstrate how much Propeller have adapted these plays as their own, and show us just how pliant classical texts can be. From the sheer contrast of his two performances and his superb characterisation for Olivia and Biondello, Ben Allen stood out in particular for me; Vince Leigh played a much-to-convincing drunk/bad-boy in both and Liam O'Brien's Irish lullaby's were hauntingly good. It also has to be said that Dan Wheeler's Katherine was superb. 

The musical elements and instruments used in both performances boggle my mind. Not because it's amazingly difficult to do or anything, but just for the sheer naturalistic-ness of it– like you couldn't imagine it any other way.

Grey Street is probably the nicest street in Newcastle, the architecture is just amazing.

Our wonderful Theatre Royal.

Isn't she pretty?

Allard's Lounge

You may or may not have heard me bang on about Tynemouth before, but I'm about to do it again so brace yourselves.

Saturday night was a joint-birthday celebration night out with some friends from work and, as always, we decided to go out in Tynemouth for something to eat. We went to the wonderful Allard's Lounge and had lots of cocktails and some fabulous food! Being a bit of an addict to Allard's cocktails I tried out "A day at the races" and a "Tynemouth Breeze"– both very refreshing and far too easy to drink. I would usually always get a "Butterscotch Beach"–like I did on Mother's day with my mamma– and I kind of wish I had, but it's never a bad time for a cocktail anyways, so it wont be long before I go back and get one!

Debra's burger was humongous! 

However, nothing could contend with the sharing paella that me and the mamma got between us. 

Loads of seafood, heaps of chicken and a ton of flavour. We. Were. Stuffed. I think by "sharing" they meant between 4 adults, not between two shorter-than-average ladies.

Holly and Breeze say hello/goodbye! Aren't they lush?!? They're our friends cute-as-can-be puppies and my new best friends.