1st RULE: You do not talk about RADA CLUB. 2nd RULE: You DO NOT talk about RADA CLUB.

Morning campers (evening/afternoon - whatev's) its been a while since I blogged and I know I promised to keep you all informed about my new adventure. . .

Now here's the thing -

As this title above suggests, I am kind of prohibited from speaking about my new adventure at RADA. I can blog as I normally do about my trials and tribulations as an Actor and I can chat generally about myself, new discoveries and that kind of thing, but I cannot give any specifics about my course/classes or the school. Anything I do want to say about the school must be OK'd by the school's Enterprise team before published either on my blog here or the MA Theatre Lab RADA blog page.

At first glance this all seems very secret society and a bit draconian BUT as it goes, I actually think I agree with the school and here's why:

The school have imposed this rule for a number of reasons. Since the revolution of social media our every waking thought is now out there in the virtual world for all eternity. What you had for lunch, when you went to the loo, what happened in your failed relationship, who you hate, who you love and ERRRRYTHANG!

http://www.google.co.uk/

I have been guilty of putting stupid stuff out there into the big wide virtual world. Stuff I meant 1000% at the time - but after a glass of red or a good sleep I would be embarrassed to repeat. Or WORSE stuff I have put out there AFTER a glass or two of red! Words, pictures and comments that frankly do not become me. We all have, social networks have become our online diary that is accessible to the world.

RADA is one of - if not THE best drama school in the world. Look at the history: Sir Richard Attenborough, Kenneth Branagh, Joan Collins, Anthony Hopkins, Vivien Leigh, Alan Rickman for crying out loud! That's a BIG responsibility for new RADA students to live up to. We are the future and we carry with us the amazing legacy of the past. Then there comes Tanya Vital tired, stressed out, dramatic and drunk on twitter "Oh I f*ck%ng hate such and such a person in such and such a class" - can you even imagine?! *face palm*

The prestigious name of this world renowned school brought to it's knees by little old Tanya Vital in 2.5 seconds on Twitter. That AINT a good look.

Along with that, there is also the safety of my fellow students. Drama school, as some of you will know is a place for experimentation. In the outside world we would call it 'messing about'. Because to the outside world its just a bunch of grown-ups playing around and acting like kids, but now even I understand it's much more than that.

As students we are exposed to so many different kinds of training, physical, mental, emotional and these classes have many different formats. What you or I may think is a load of old twaddle has actually been developed intensely over years/generations/centuries to help the artist give truth in their performance. (NOTE: When I talk of Artist/Actor I DO NOT mean celebrity)

Think of it like this - regardless what your opinion of drama is or regardless of your opinion about drama school. Think of your favourite film/book/poem/song/play. Think of the last film that touched your heart, made you cry or resonated with you. That magical stuff doesn't just happen overnight. Despite what you heard - overnight success does NOT exist. The reason that particular piece of art touched you was down to generations of hard work by artists passing down information and experience to others.

The way RADA sees it is that the school should be a safe place for us to train, to experiment and to try out weird and wonderful things. See what works and what doesn't WITHOUT the added ridicule of the outside world or fellow classmates making the strange experiences even harder. I for one am down with this! I do NOT want pictures/videos of me sweating my ass off in a downward dog Yoga pose, seething words of Shakespeare coming to haunt me when I collect my Oscar - I just do NOT want that, so I have to also respect others who feel the same.

Anyway with that, I hope you understand and don't get too frustrated with me if I can't give the full in's and outs. I will endeavour to blog as much as normal and thank you for your patience.

As a treat I leave you with this - the reason we go to Drama School

So I only got into RADA didn't I?!

http://www.guardian.co.uk

The most amazing, crazy, terrifying, fabulous thing is happening! As of mid September I am embarking on probably the most important, yet nerve wracking adventure of my career. I have been accepted to study a 1 year Masters degree course in Theatre Lab at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Aside from still being in complete shock I am of course ecstatic!

As some of you know I never went to Drama School because I was lucky enough to start professional work straight out of college. I've covered this in previous blog posts and I've explained that not having a 3 year Bachelors degree from an accredited Drama School has definitely affected the way my career has developed. I cannot say it has had a detrimental effect to my career because over the past decade I've had some really great jobs, but I will say that it has possibly affected the type of work I have been offered or am being offered at this point.

http://rowenleaf.blogspot.co.uk

I have attended various short courses over the years both in the UK and America. I have spent a lot of time, money and effort on trying to develop my skills as much as possible so that I could could 'catch up' as it were, to Drama Graduates. I have done - I feel - as much as I can on my own to develop my career. I have taken myself as far as I can go holding my own hand, but now I have definitely hit that pesky glass ceiling. For whatever reason the challenges just aren't coming in anymore. The type of work I feel I should be getting at this stage of my career, just isn't swinging my way. I'm stuck in step 3 when I really should be moving onto step 4,5 and 6. 

Now forgive me - but I didn't come this far to give up at step 3. I have made myself (and my poor mum) penniless by this career (so if you're feeling generous and want to help with my fees feel free to sponsor my blog by pressing the button top right of the page).  I've been eaten alive by bedbugs literally from head to toe from having to stay in vile, grotty places whilst working. I’ve been spat at with real spit (ask Jimmy Akingbola). I've performed with a smile on my face, suffering torn muscles and an injured spine. I've lost both friends and relationships to this career path. I've been discriminated against, bullied (they tried) and treat like scum. I have given this calling everything I have, blood, sweat and tears! I've been to hell and back a million times, knocked down and I STILL keep getting back up for more - because when you have the fire of the storyteller inside your belly you simply have no choice but to pursue it - and 'I'm bout that life', so damn straight! I intend to do whatever I can - to get me where I feel I need to be after this much effort.

http://www.cartoonstock.com

I've always said that you do NOT need to have attended Drama School to work and I've proven that so far. BUT! I am now resigned to that fact that I need an extra bit of oompf! behind me to take me further - you know a bit more ammo! I'm 2 foot tall so unfortunately I can't rely on my good looks and charm alone. There are much more aesthetically pleasing women out there who have taken all of the 'looks' train tickets. I can't rely on my talent alone because although I know I already have something and perhaps to a certain extent I am good enough without the MA - what does it matter how good you are if you cannot be seen or if nobody is willing to give you a chance? So this is why I have decided to do the MA, to see if training is the clincher.

I'm not gonna lie of course I chose RADA for its grandeur and association with being one of the best Drama Schools in the World. Having it on my CV won't look too shabby, but I also chose it because I have always wanted to train there. They have a great reputation and have turned out some really great Actors such as Anthony Hopkins,  Sean Bean, Ashley Madekwe, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, who have all done some truly great work - work that I want to do! I already know and have worked with some of the teachers from RADA on other projects and they are fabulous, their teaching skills are second to none (which you'd expect from such an establishment). I have always respected the school's work ethic and history and to sound cheesy and cliched - this was my destiny.

Now what to expect? (Besides COST! - £10,000)

We've all heard the horror stories of Drama Schools breaking you down to nothing and building you back up again - whatever that means?! How they change you and perhaps mold you into some kind of thespian zombie and release you back into the world ready to mash up some Chekov, but lacking the previous social skills and personality you once possessed. So yeah - I am worried as to what they are actually going to 'do' to me when I get there. I'm a tough northern soul and I'm not ashamed to say I'm stubborn and can be very set in my ways. It's taken a while, but I'm at the stage where I quite like me and I don't actually want to change... but they told me in no uncertain terms in their posh yet terrifying RADA voice "You must be willing to change" - gulp! How much "changing" can one do in a year?! Guess I'm going to find out.

http://www.ideastap.com

I'm scared! But this is definitely going to be an investment and the challenge I was after. I will be in the arms of experts and I am looking forward to the breathing space of education once again. I will be getting top class education and it's going to be tough but I'm ready for it! I'm ready for my floppy Morrissey hair cut. I'm ready for them to dissect every deep dark secret of my life and have me cry in front of complete strangers. I'm ready to roll around on the floor and make animal sounds - my old bones might not be but I am! I'm ready to be told that actually - I'm not as 'ready' as I thought I was! I am ready to be part of the "RADA darling RADA" clique. 

http://www.guardian.co.uk

BRING IT ON!

Just Getting My Act On