claytoncast

I never used to find it a problem to learn lines when I was younger. I have memories of rehearsal afternoons on particularly difficult scenes in those high points of my career where I had a lot of dialogue, and then retiring to my digs for a quick read through of the lines we had done that afternoon before preparing supper and repairing to the pub. A quick read through  post pub before I went to bed, and the lines seemed to somehow get into my head.  As I've got older, it hasn't stayed that easy. Now I have to work hard to get the lines in. Having recently finished a stint in a soap, I am in awe of the actors who have managed to learn four or five scenes the night before. I can learn lines quickly, but I really do have to work at it. I used to have a music stand which I would set up in the lounge and onto which I would place my script. I would then stand and recite lines from it only looking down when I needed a prompt. It worked rather well, but of course carrying a m

Having now seen the television footage of our six Alan Bates bursary finalists, I really have absolutely no idea who will win this Friday in the final round. It should be very exciting and, mercifully, that decision is in the hands of our wonderful judges. The casting director Catherine Willis, the agent Kevin Brady, and the actress and national treasure, Anita Dobson. Although it's impossible to predict, I would make one guess. Our six finalists should stand a good chance of working in their first year, and as any actor who starts a new job will tell you, the first thing they will have to get through is the read through. A minefield all of its own, and the place where first impressions are formed by you and about you. Readthroughs used to be de rigeur on the first morning of any theatrical production.. Now they have most likely to have been replaced by a meet and greet, where everyone from the director to the wardrobe mistress and the stage door keeper to the accounts dep

This week we have seen the first two rounds of the Alan Bates bursary 2014. This bursary is something that we are very proud of at The Actors Centre, and my involvement with it over the last three years has been one of the highlights of my period as chairman. It was set up in memory of one of the actors who was a founder of the Actors Centre, Alan Bates. A fabulous English actor, who had a great love of actors and acting. I have very fond memories of seeing him as Petruchio at Stratford on my first ever visit to the Royal Shakespeare Company with my mum way back in 1973 when we spent a whole week seeing all six players in the repertoire. He's very well remembered from the iconic Ken Russell film "Women in love" and there's a huge body of work to his name, so it's an honour for us to have this bursary named after him. It's open to all graduates leaving a Drama UK accredited drama school course this year and we have a 170 applicants who were all seen by

If you were to look among the special skills and abilities section of my CV you would not find 'patience' listed. Actually you won't find a special skills and ability section on my CV any more. Ever since including "fire eating" on it when I left drama school, it's been an area where the items listed have only diminished. As has my patience over the years. Indeed as have my fire eating skills.  Of course, as we are told, Patience is a virtue and it's certainly something that any working actor is going to need. Patience is needed as you hang around for seven hours only to be told that the scene you're there to film has been rescheduled and you'll be doing it on another day. News that has to be greeted with a smile. Patience as you wait for the results of an audition, and then slowly work out that you haven't got the job when you haven't heard anything three weeks later. Gone are the days when people send out a "sorry but no" a