The merits of a formal drama education

Acting is a funny sort of thing, really. Like art, music and dance – a formal education is not always necessary for success. The leggy blonde with absolutely no drama qualifications is often just as likely to be talent spotted as an ambitious young hopeful with three or four years of study behind them. It can be hideously cruel and unfair, but that’s the nature of the acting industry. If you want to be a success, you’ve got to learn how to come to terms with the true reality of the business.

Yet, that doesn’t mean that a formal education isn’t necessary for most actors. This industry is one of the toughest in the world and anything that can help an actor rise above the competition is going to be worthwhile, says Independent journalist Steve Anderson. Plus, when it comes to making a name for yourself, there’s the inherent class divide to think of. Rather remarkably, students who can afford to attend prestigious drama schools are still favored above those who can’t.

Yes, there are scholarships and special bursaries available for especially gifted pupils, but these are few and far between. The fact remains that those who can afford to attend schools like RADA and LAMDA are considered to be of a higher caliber than those don’t have the same opportunities. For this reason alone, it is important for students who are serious about acting to make the very most of their qualifications.

A formal drama education will help them to rise above less committed hopefuls and maybe even earn them a scholarship at a special acting school. You could say that it’s a long shot, but it’s an even longer one for those without A levels. It’s not impossible to get into acting school without a formal drama education, but it might as well be. Thousands of highly educated and very skilled individuals are turned away from schools like LAMDA every single year, says Backstage.com journalist Harvey Young.

It’s not all doom and gloom, though. In recent years, the industry has begun to open up a little. The London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art (LAMDA) now offers students the chance to study oratory courses at various schools and colleges throughout the country. One of the institutions that offers this LAMDA accredited course is Lansdowne College in Notting Hill. For information on the details of this line of study and further advice on how to apply, visit lansdownecollege.com.

Whilst the merits of a formal education are clear when it comes to things like mathematics, science and history – things can a little bit more complicated for those determined to pursue an acting career. If you’re one of these hopefuls, a lot of people are going to try to convince you that an acting degree isn’t worthwhile. They’re absolutely wrong about that. There are a hundred and one different reasons to study drama at college or university – the fact that it’s what you’re interested in is a very good example to start off with.

According to About.com expert Wade Bradford, formal study will teach you how to be a better actor. It will teach you things that you would never have thought to learn on your own – things like how to breathe correctly, how to stand tall and how to project your voice so that it rises to the top of a theater. It will teach you how to be proud of your chosen career and how to deal with anybody who can’t see just how much you have to offer. Of course a formal drama education is worthwhile. Live it, love it and learn to master it.

Taken from: Guest Post (article, By Eva Kempinsky), Google (images).