DMMF Wellington Arts Excellence Award recipient actor James Costello Ladanyi has just completed his first term a the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. He sends an update home.
Merry Christmas from wintery Bristol!
I have just finished my first twelve-week term at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School where, thanks to the support of the Dame Malvina Major Foundation, I am a third of the way through my MA: Acting training course.
It is no exaggeration to say that the last three months has been the most intensive learning period of my life. Bristol Old Vic is truly my second home, where I spend 8.30am-6pm every day, Monday-Friday.
Our days are divided into six, hour-long sessions, with various teachers and tutors across specialist fields. Any single day brings a combination of: Actors Movement, Dance, Period Movement, Group Singing, Solo Singing, Vocal Development, Dialect & Accent Class, Acting Workshops, Text Analysis, Alexander Technique, Text Projects, Reflective Practice and Theatre History.
The training is all encompassing, endeavouring to hone every aspect of our performance abilities – improving our breathing, becoming physically stronger and more flexible, developing methodologies for performance, discovering a sense of play and originality within our work- to name but a few.
Regardless of what class we are in, the learning is always intellectually challenging and very often physically draining. With no spare minutes to waste on a one-year program, our creative & performance development certainly occurs at a rapid pace. Despite the long days and constant challenges, the training is absolutely exhilarating. It is a true privilege to be training at one of the most well-regarded acting conservatoires in the world. Already, after just twelve weeks, I feel like a completely different actor than who I was on September 24th (day one)!
Next term will no doubt bring a whole host of new challenges, working on new skills and continuing to build on this term’s work. Bristol Old Vic Theatre School is a truly brilliant place to train, and I cannot thank the Foundation enough for their help in getting me here.
Merry Christmas to all, see you in 2019!
