Traitor to the Cause

So on Wednesday evening this week, it might be thought I became a traitor,

As Chairman of the Actors Centre, why on earth was I to be found delivering a workshop for the Actors Guild, our supposed rival. I had a great evening, was well looked after, had a very keen and attentive group and hopefully by the end of the evening, seven people were more clued up on skills to enhance their corporate roleplay than they had been before.

So why on earth wasn’t I on home turf delivering this in the Actors Centre?

Truth of the matter is I have done so and it's always gone down well. However, in a world where one of the choices actors do have is who they pursue their skill refreshing with, I wanted to reach as many people as possible.

The Actors Centre has a pre-set curriculum with workshops advertised up to 3 months in advance and this was one of the very reasons that caused a group of actors to break away and form The Actors Guild. They wanted more control over the workshops that were offered. Founded in December 2010 the Actors Guild, like the Actors Centre became a not-for-profit organisation focused on supporting and empowering actors.

The most significant difference between the two organisations who both seem to have a common purpose in mind, is that the Actors Guild is essentially nomadic. It is not building-based. Members can post on the website and request workshops, and as soon as enough members have requested the workshop, that workshop will be provided. The Actors Guild use a variety of venues from the Spotlight offices in Leicester Square, to rehearsal rooms and facilities around London and the rest of the UK. Editing classes, can be held in editing suites. Horse riding for actors can be held on the gallop in Warwickshire. Given that there is no building to support, the membership fees of the Actors Guild are lower than that of the Actors Centre, but there are fewer free events. Individual workshops can cost more.

Both organisations offer a variety of perks and discounts. Reductions on head shots with several renowned photographers, discounts on show reels, and equipment and clothing. In fact, you can quite often save the price of your subscription just by taking advantage of some of their offers.

You won’t find it hard to find workshops for actors these days. You can enter the details on Google and you’ll be given lots of suggestions. Some of them more worthy than others. Many acting, casting, and directing workshops are run as commercial enterprises. Both the Actors Centre and the Actors Guild are running workshops in an ethical and not-for-profit way. They’re running them for you.

I’m immensely proud of being the chairman of the board of the Actors Centre and I can see, often at close quarters, just how supportive the organisation is. Ben Warren from the Actors Guild, is equally passionate about what his organisation does and rightly so. He does a good job and delivers great workshops for his members. Let's just hope that my crossing the line is part of a healthy cross fertilizsation between the two organisations. After all, we both have the same aim in mind. To keep more people acting for longer and getting more out of their work and their opportunities.


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