The Old Vic's A Streetcar Named Desire: The Review.

Hi again,

So yesterday I watched the Old Vic's latest production of A streetcar named desire, directed by Benidict Andrews, via the National Theatre Live scheme at my local cinema.

Having not much knowledge about the play before seeing it, I didn't know what to expect. So I let my Dad tag along and watch it with me.  It was quite ranchy, which made the experiance of watching it with my Dad quite arkward...

But it was brilliant all the same. 

To people who haven't heard of the play, it was written by Tennesse Williams and it was the 1952 movie version of this play that help start Marlon Brando's acting legacy. The play is set in southen america and there are three main characters. Estella, her Husband Stanley and her drunkard sister Miss Dubuoise who has come to stay with them in their tiny place while she gets her life back into order, but its already too late for that.

Gillian Anderson, who play the miserble drunk sister, was good. But I felt that it took her a while to  really get into her role and show us her skills. The real attraction of the play was Stanley himself. As while he didnt have that much to say, he was able to create the tension and the unearthing sense that he was going to snap at any second whenever he came onto the stage.

The play itself was set in the round and the set, ie a see through rectangular apartment, revolved so the audience  members each had a different perspective of the play, an idea which I found unique and interesting to watch.

I would compleatley recomend going to see this play as it was gripping, mesmerising and a utter joy to watch.

In terms of what I'm doing next - in terms of drama school applications -  I've applied for a audition at an agency in manchester and I'm going to be seeing a performance of romeo and juliet at the Victoria Baths in Manchester next week, so I will write a review of that when I have time.

For now though,

Cheerio,

Terri ;D.

The Royal Exchange's Hamlet: A review

Hello again,
So many of you will starting to get yourselves ready for all the drama school audition's coming up. I know that with eleven around the corner I just want to get cracking. But first I want to talk about the production of Hamlet which I saw yesterday. Starring Maxine Peakes as a female Hamlet, the first thing that really stood out to me was the gender split of the cast,  which was pratically 50/50, with a large number of male role's being cast as female. I loved that,  mainly because I a great annoyance about the fact that males get a higher proportion of roles in both TV and screen. I Also loved the way the actors used the stage, with it being in the round, it definitely gave the play the edge over other productions of Hamlet,
However, one thing that I wasn't sure of was the young actors used as the players. Now I know that it was to show the link between old members and the new, but for me... it just felt a bit tacky, and took the point away from the meaning of why the actors were being used.

Anyway tonight I'm seeing A streetcar named desire at the Cinema with the NT live scheme.  I've also booked to go to the Rose Bruford open day on thursday and the Guildhall open day next month so things have started to roll now. Cannot wait to start auditioning again.  I'm so excited!
Hope to write some more soon.
Adios,
Terri ;D xxx

Guildford School of Acting: Open Day

Hi there!

So last Saturday I went to the open day/ tour of the GSA (Guildford School of Acting) facilaties, and to be quite frank. I'm not compleatley sure what my feelings are about the place.

So to give you an overview of the place, I will just tell you the main parts of what I learnt about it.

- The GSA is part of the University of Surrey and is set within its campus. Which is massive.

- GSA is still regarded as a conservatoire however - in being part of the University of Surrey - you do need to get top grades to secure a place (ie AAB/ABB Alevel grades). 

^ This is the part that I don't understand, and what tinges my opinion of the school. As no other drama school, weather associated with a University or not, has such abnormally high academic grade expectations.

- They only offer 36 places and around 1,500 people applied last year

- Has a minimum of 30 contact hours each week and, while it has a core staff unit there teaching full time, they regually have directors come in and give lectures.

-The BA acting course is accedited by Drama UK
- The facilities are fabulous, they even have a Starbucks in the GSA building which is very cool.
- With the audition process they do have regional auditions in some major cities across the UK
-Around 30% of applicants are recalled to the second round.

Overall the day was pretty interesting and I learnt a lot from it. Still uncertain weather I will be applying there but I'll let you know asap.
In terms of the other stuff that I'm up to at the moment,  This is the start of my gap year (which is very terrifying to think about) so I'm in the middle of filling out a vast deal of job applications as well as learning monologues and applying to short acting courses to help boost my drama school applications this year.  Including a drama school audition masterclass week with the National Youth Theatre.
I should be going to a Rose Bruford Open day next week so I will write more about that then.
But until then.
Adios,
Terri ; D