Drama queen
Question
I'm 16 years-old, half way through my GCSEs and always thought I'd just go on to A-levels afterwards but recently I've been thinking about going to drama school. It's really become a dream for me but I don't know where to start, how to get into it, or even how to tell my parents it's what I want to do. What would be the best path for me and how to I ease my parents into the idea?
Answer
It sounds like you are keen to follow your passion to go to drama school, but are unsure which path to take and how your parents will react to this news.
According to the National Council of Drama Training, "some drama schools have specific entry requirements (typically five GCSE and two A-level passes or successful completion of a relevant BTEC course) so research into courses at an early stage is important". It sounds as though you are already looking into your options which is great and a positive step towards your goal.
As entry levels may differ from institute to institute, it might be worthwhile contacting the specialist schools you are interested in attending to find out what their entry requirements are. You may find that some of the specialist schools you'd like to attend charge high fees. If this rules these schools out you could consider studying drama at university instead. If you study Theatre Studies A-level it will boost your university application for these courses. You could talk to your careers advisor at school to find out more about the universities offering drama degrees. Then you can compare their syllabuses to see which courses would suit you best.
If you have done your research before approaching your parents, it is much more likely that they will take your seriously and understand that this is the direction you want to take. Perhaps sitting down with them and explaining the options and how much you want to pursue your dream of acting. It may reassure them to know that you are aware of the potential pros and cons of such a profession and that you are aware of the routes into acting.
There are many different skills that you can focus on whilst studying at a drama school, and it's not clear whether there is one particular skill that you wish to develop, but getting some experience before applying, could help you to get a foot in the door. For example, you can get involved with local drama or theatre groups. You can also back up experience with reading plays, film scripts, and books about acting and the theatre.
Updated: 05/09/2012
Question answered by bss
