Getting Prepped for Drama School

Drama School can be a very exciting yet daunting new chapter of people’s lives, but ensuring you’re as prepared as possible is the most important thing. I am here to provide you with a little checklist to guide you through the upcoming months in preparation for the next stage of your training.

Don’t Bury Your Head In The Sand:

There’s no denying that Drama School, or any vocational training for that matter, is an intimidating change, however that doesn’t mean it won’t provide you with the most cherished memories of your life. The easiest way to navigate this journey is to ensure you’re never shying away from any of the ‘adult’ matters. For some, this could be the first time you’re living away from home, the first time you have moved cities or even the first time you’re experiencing full

independence, and with that comes a lot of responsibility. Even though we would all rather bury our head in the sand, stepping into adult life soon shows us that this is no longer an option. You MUST approach all situations head on. Talk to your parents, family members or friends about emotional concerns, openly discuss financial stresses and never avoid the conversation of worry. This is a common feeling young people experience when moving away from home for the

first time and it’s important to know you’re not alone. This fresh phase of your life will throw challenges, hurdles and problems in full force, however it will go hand in hand with the best memories of your life. Just hit the ground running and don’t shy away from ANYTHING.

Buy Your Equipment Before It’s Too Late:

You don’t want to be turning up to your first Acting Through Song lesson without a rep folder and have the teacher question where it is, or equally, enter your first Dance class without a pair of Character Heels. There’s always one… don’t let it be you. You will often receive an equipment checklist in an electronic starter pack during the summer

before starting your training. Here will be a list of all of the supplies your specific school has requested you to maximise your training. Although you may question some of the items on the list, it is important you provide yourself with the correct tools to achieve success. Sometimes, there may be specific brands/versions of an item that a school has advised, however you may be able to find an identical product at a much cheaper price. I advise you to run this by the institution first. Even though they may have no issue at all, you wouldn’t want to get the wrong piece of equipment in the hope of saving money, and end up having to pay double. A short email across to the admin team will save you all the stress of this happening. The combination of all items on the equipment list for schools can end up costing a small

fortune, therefore, being smart with your choices could end up saving you some money before you’ve begun.

Networking - Reach Out To People On Your Course:Making friends can be challenging for many people, therefore, being forced to do that exact thing can be a nerve wracking thought for young people starting their vocational training. For many, moving away from home may also mean that they are alone in this new place without a single familiar face. But guess what… you aren’t alone! Before getting to freshers week at your new University, make the effort to connect with people. Find group chats with your peers in, send that private message, give that girl an instagram follow. You will be making your life so much easier when you get to these group situations with several new faces all at the same time. If you’ve already connected with someone online, you will have a familiar face or a potential companion to attend freshers events with. Once you’ve found your feet, your social circles might adapt and you will find your true friends amongst the crowd, but reaching out to others prematurely will relax those fresher's nerves. P.S. don’t be scared to make the first move, it’s quite likely that the person receiving the message feels exactly the same as you!

Strength & Stamina:

Vocational training is intense mentally, but more so physically. It is important to prepare yourself for the sudden increase of fitness. You will face fitness in many forms everyday, therefore listening to the advise of preparing yourself before hand would be most beneficial. That’s not to say that you need to become a full althete, but minimising the significant change of lifestyle will help you thrive in the new environment. Slowly but surely building up your stamina by increasing

your fitness daily before starting your training will contribute to achieving ultimate success at your institution.

Have Your ‘Go To’ Material:

It’s inevitable, you’re there to perform, so make sure you have the material to do so. In the early stages of your training, there will be opportunities to show off your talent. More often than not, you will be given the chance to pick a song or a monologue of your own choice rather than being given one. Make sure you have served yourself well and picked the best piece to show you off. You’ve earnt your position, but you can continue to showcase yourself at every

opportunity you can. Don’t sell yourself short. Building the knowledge and repertoire before you go to your training will show the tutors the performer you see yourself as. They will then be able to continue shaping in a way that you’re

comfortable with. If you are confident on the style/character you perform, that will benefit you significantly in your classes. Spend the time in the coming weeks to explore new material and work out what truly shows you off best. You will then be given alternative options when you get to your institution, but putting in the effort before hand will demonstrate your motivated work ethic. If they asked you to get up now and perform something would you be able to? Then you know if you’ve got work to do! There’s a lot to think about before your next stage of training, but breaking it down will minimise the overwhelming feeling. Take it one step at a time, you’ve got this!