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Post by Hamilton Addict on Aug 23, 2016 18:43:17 GMT
I have studied at two London stage schools and they are actually like this. It is really sad, but that's how it is nowadays.  Yikes, really?! I'm only in my early twenties but the phrase 'not like this in my day' is coming to mind. Yep, really. The problem is 'stage parents', parents who force their kids to go to a stage school. From a parent like this, you can have one of two results. You may get a child who is pushed into endless TV shows and adverts from the age of two and who doesn't know any different. They are told they are better than everyone else and the kids really take that onboard. Then you have the kids who hate being an actor, but their parents push them into it. They just want to cause havoc. There are very few stage school people like me who just started learning drama at school, started to love it and decided to give stage school a go. At both schools there were backstabbing, gossiping, whinging and fighting (both verbal and physical). It's not a nice place to be.  |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Aug 23, 2016 18:52:17 GMT
Yikes, really?! I'm only in my early twenties but the phrase 'not like this in my day' is coming to mind. At both schools there were backstabbing, gossiping, whinging and fighting (both verbal and physical). It's not a nice place to be. But great fodder for reality tv. I reckon we are all going to be glued to this. |
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Post by theatremadness on Aug 23, 2016 19:13:59 GMT
Yikes, really?! I'm only in my early twenties but the phrase 'not like this in my day' is coming to mind. Yep, really. The problem is 'stage parents', parents who force their kids to go to a stage school. From a parent like this, you can have one of two results. You may get a child who is pushed into endless TV shows and adverts from the age of two and who doesn't know any different. They are told they are better than everyone else and the kids really take that onboard. Then you have the kids who hate being an actor, but their parents push them into it. They just want to cause havoc. There are very few stage school people like me who just started learning drama at school, started to love it and decided to give stage school a go. At both schools there were backstabbing, gossiping, whinging and fighting (both verbal and physical). It's not a nice place to be. If I may ask, and you of course don't have to answer if you don't want to divulge the information, but is the stage school you attended one that is for 18 years+? One where you would do a 3 year course and graduate with a BA(Hons) in Musical Theatre (or whichever course you were taking)? Like Mountview, Guildford School of Acting, ArtsEd etc...or was it a course for younger years, or some sort of Summer/Easter school or something of that sort? Or a stage school such a Sylvia Young, for UK school years 7-11 (encompassing GCSE's etc)? |
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Post by Hamilton Addict on Aug 23, 2016 19:26:13 GMT
Yep, really. The problem is 'stage parents', parents who force their kids to go to a stage school. From a parent like this, you can have one of two results. You may get a child who is pushed into endless TV shows and adverts from the age of two and who doesn't know any different. They are told they are better than everyone else and the kids really take that onboard. Then you have the kids who hate being an actor, but their parents push them into it. They just want to cause havoc. There are very few stage school people like me who just started learning drama at school, started to love it and decided to give stage school a go. At both schools there were backstabbing, gossiping, whinging and fighting (both verbal and physical). It's not a nice place to be. If I may ask, and you of course don't have to answer if you don't want to divulge the information, but is the stage school you attended one that is for 18 years+? One where you would do a 3 year course and graduate with a BA(Hons) in Musical Theatre (or whichever course you were taking)? Like Mountview, Guildford School of Acting, ArtsEd etc...or was it a course for younger years, or some sort of Summer/Easter school or something of that sort? Or a stage school such a Sylvia Young, for UK school years 7-11 (encompassing GCSE's etc)? Sorry, I can't give that kind of information away, but I can assure you it was a proper stage school and not some sort of summer school.  |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Aug 23, 2016 20:11:15 GMT
I was in Stockport today for work (I know, don't ask. It's the stop before Manc on the train) and saw an advert on a taxi for PQA. BE AMAZING, www.pqacademy.com |
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Post by matt on Aug 23, 2016 20:17:03 GMT
Having worked in the majority of 'stage schools' I absolutely disagree that what has been shown so far is in any way representative of reality. There are always people who don't get on in any training or employment field but the idea that everyone is fighting and being down right unkind all the time is nonsense. The majority of staff and students I know would completely agree.
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Post by theatremadness on Aug 23, 2016 20:42:17 GMT
If I may ask, and you of course don't have to answer if you don't want to divulge the information, but is the stage school you attended one that is for 18 years+? One where you would do a 3 year course and graduate with a BA(Hons) in Musical Theatre (or whichever course you were taking)? Like Mountview, Guildford School of Acting, ArtsEd etc...or was it a course for younger years, or some sort of Summer/Easter school or something of that sort? Or a stage school such a Sylvia Young, for UK school years 7-11 (encompassing GCSE's etc)? Sorry, I can't give that kind of information away, but I can assure you it was a proper stage school and not some sort of summer school. Of course, that is completely fair enough! So just to have another side to that opinion, as I really feel extremely passionately about distancing this series as far as possible from the *actual* reality of drama school, I trained for 3 years at drama school and auditioned for many others. I've many friends who have done multiple foundation courses at various different drama schools before being accepted onto a BA(Hons) course and this really is NOT what drama school is like. Maybe there's a difference between drama school and stage school, but whinging/gossiping is one thing (OK, it is  school, after all!) but back-stabbing and physical/verbal fighting at real-life, accredited drama schools is something that I positively can confirm just doesn't happen. Of course, Hamilton Addict, I'm by no means trying to say you are lying - you have experienced this and it obviously did happen! The reason I asked what I did, is because I don't believe this behaviour to at all correlate with drama schools in the UK, but maybe in places such as the "prestigious D&B Performing Arts Theatre School" (or whatever it is), it does! |
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Post by elsg on Aug 23, 2016 21:49:19 GMT
Maybe reserve judgement before you watch it. Oh and I can assure you it is not scripted, two people extremely close to me are starring in this series. It's an advert, it's supposed to grip people in hence why they've chosen those clips, just wait till you actually watch an episode and not a 40 second advert - haha According to this old casting call notice it's a 'docu-soap' screenterrier.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/looking-for-multi-talented-actors.html and a press release described it as a 'structured reality series' so I think it pobably is scripted, structured, guided etc.. Plus the whole production looks very glossy, with all the stars wearing full face makeup. Not hugely realistic for drama school. It's clearly not aiming to be attractive to those with real life experience with drama school training etc. as 99% of performers commenting on it on twitter are saying it looks awful, it's misrepresenting training, it's not doing to stars any favours in the industry etc. I expect it'll be entertaining, but not aimed at those who it is about. Very odd. Drama school doesn't require full face make up I don't believe. Performing arts school with ballet and commercial classes etc, require you to be fully made up as if you were on stage. In many performing arts schools you get kicked out of ballet class for not looking utterly presentable, pristine with a 'full face of makeup'. Performing arts school are very different to solely acting based 'drama' schools. My family and many many friends have studied and are currently studying at other London performing arts schools and it is an extremely competitive place nowadays. |
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Post by theatremadness on Aug 23, 2016 22:20:26 GMT
I think there's some confusion here. 'Drama school' doesn't mean that the only course offered is acting. From what I can tell by a little research - 'Performing Arts' School/Academies are mostly in reference to schools that offer training to younger members up to 18 years old, and sometimes above. I think a drama school can be identified closer to a university, where they train anyone 18 and above only. Drama UK is a recognised organisation of accredited schools, and this is from their website: "Drama UK Accredited schools represent the highest standards of training within the vocational drama sector. The 18 Accredited Schools provide courses that include Acting, Musical Theatre, Directing, Design and all aspects of Technical Theatre. Graduates are currently working on stage, in front of the camera and behind the scenes in theatre, film and radio in Britain, Europe and worldwide." The list of 18 schools can be found here: www.dramauk.co.uk/drama_uk_accredited_schoolsThis is not to say that any vocational school NOT is this list is not 'prestigious' or not worth going to (a school must pay to be part of Drama UK), but you know that with these drama schools you can expect a certain level of training. Some performing arts schools may indeed implement rules you have described above, elsg, but it's not *really* the exact story of what happens in a drama school like the ones in the list above. I think the school being used for this series quite obviously falls into one of these categories. |
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Post by elsg on Aug 23, 2016 23:34:07 GMT
I think there's some confusion here. 'Drama school' doesn't mean that the only course offered is acting. From what I can tell by a little research - 'Performing Arts' School/Academies are mostly in reference to schools that offer training to younger members up to 18 years old, and sometimes above. I think a drama school can be identified closer to a university, where they train anyone 18 and above only. Drama UK is a recognised organisation of accredited schools, and this is from their website: "Drama UK Accredited schools represent the highest standards of training within the vocational drama sector. The 18 Accredited Schools provide courses that include Acting, Musical Theatre, Directing, Design and all aspects of Technical Theatre. Graduates are currently working on stage, in front of the camera and behind the scenes in theatre, film and radio in Britain, Europe and worldwide." The list of 18 schools can be found here: www.dramauk.co.uk/drama_uk_accredited_schoolsThis is not to say that any vocational school NOT is this list is not 'prestigious' or not worth going to (a school must pay to be part of Drama UK), but you know that with these drama schools you can expect a certain level of training. Some performing arts schools may indeed implement rules you have described above, elsg, but it's not *really* the exact story of what happens in a drama school like the ones in the list above. I think the school being used for this series quite obviously falls into one of these categories. Haha fair play, nice research, I've checked that website out. Nice to know we are on exactly the same page seeing as I was talking about 18+ friends getting diplomas etc, not under 18 schools or academies. But, what I'm saying is schools which provide courses in acting, singing and dance are very different to schools which only provide acting. So, for those who have been to college/university for solely an acting course at a drama school, may forget or may not know that performing arts (acting, singing, dancing) courses also at drama school (university) are / can a very different environment. May I ask what you have studied (course wise)? No worries if you don't want to say, just curious! I am talking about probably at least 3 schools on the list on that website were I know people who have been to those schools, a member of my immediate family is one of them. |
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Post by theatremadness on Aug 24, 2016 0:05:19 GMT
I think there's some confusion here. 'Drama school' doesn't mean that the only course offered is acting. From what I can tell by a little research - 'Performing Arts' School/Academies are mostly in reference to schools that offer training to younger members up to 18 years old, and sometimes above. I think a drama school can be identified closer to a university, where they train anyone 18 and above only. Drama UK is a recognised organisation of accredited schools, and this is from their website: "Drama UK Accredited schools represent the highest standards of training within the vocational drama sector. The 18 Accredited Schools provide courses that include Acting, Musical Theatre, Directing, Design and all aspects of Technical Theatre. Graduates are currently working on stage, in front of the camera and behind the scenes in theatre, film and radio in Britain, Europe and worldwide." The list of 18 schools can be found here: www.dramauk.co.uk/drama_uk_accredited_schoolsThis is not to say that any vocational school NOT is this list is not 'prestigious' or not worth going to (a school must pay to be part of Drama UK), but you know that with these drama schools you can expect a certain level of training. Some performing arts schools may indeed implement rules you have described above, elsg, but it's not *really* the exact story of what happens in a drama school like the ones in the list above. I think the school being used for this series quite obviously falls into one of these categories. Haha fair play, nice research, I've checked that website out. Nice to know we are on exactly the same page seeing as I was talking about 18+ friends getting diplomas etc, not under 18 schools or academies. But, what I'm saying is schools which provide courses in acting, singing and dance are very different to schools which only provide acting. So, for those who have been to college/university for solely an acting course at a drama school, may forget or may not know that performing arts (acting, singing, dancing) courses also at drama school (university) are / can a very different environment. May I ask what you have studied (course wise)? No worries if you don't want to say, just curious! I am talking about probably at least 3 schools on the list on that website were I know people who have been to those schools, a member of my immediate family is one of them. Haha yes good to know indeed! I completely understand what you're saying - maybe I'm coming at it from a different angle. Yeah of course, I trained in musical theatre in an environment that included other courses such as 'straight' acting, technical theatre, Foundation courses and MA's in both MT & Acting and more. We were all in the same building and all aware of each others work and courses and we all regularly had internal (and obviously external for the public) showings of work from *all* courses. Maybe I was lucky. My three years at drama school were tough, of course, but they were *nothing* like what 'Stage School' is depicting. They were brilliant and some of the happiest years of my life. Maybe I was lucky in that the school I was at never felt anything less than a safe and supportive environment. People argued, people got angry and frustrated - we are humans after all - but the back-stabbing and bitchy-ness that 'Stage School' is trying to emulate was just non-existent. Obviously people have different experiences at different (and even the same!) schools. Maybe it also depends on the type of person. But my experience was such the polar opposite to what Stage School would have you believe, that I just feel very strongly about the possible damage this series could do. It seems like there will be no one there to depict the joyful drama school experience and this whole 'structured reality' business only adds to that worry. But hopefully I'm worrying for nothing and the series will not have that big of an impact. |
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Post by Hamilton Addict on Aug 24, 2016 5:53:13 GMT
Sorry, I can't give that kind of information away, but I can assure you it was a proper stage school and not some sort of summer school. Of course, that is completely fair enough! So just to have another side to that opinion, as I really feel extremely passionately about distancing this series as far as possible from the *actual* reality of drama school, I trained for 3 years at drama school and auditioned for many others. I've many friends who have done multiple foundation courses at various different drama schools before being accepted onto a BA(Hons) course and this really is NOT what drama school is like. Maybe there's a difference between drama school and stage school, but whinging/gossiping is one thing (OK, it is school, after all!) but back-stabbing and physical/verbal fighting at real-life, accredited drama schools is something that I positively can confirm just doesn't happen. Of course, Hamilton Addict, I'm by no means trying to say you are lying - you have experienced this and it obviously did happen! The reason I asked what I did, is because I don't believe this behaviour to at all correlate with drama schools in the UK, but maybe in places such as the "prestigious D&B Performing Arts Theatre School" (or whatever it is), it does! Theatremadness, I really enjoyed reading your post as it was nice to hear that someone had a nice experience. It's nice to have a balance of good and bad tales. Sadly it just doesn't seem I was very lucky, I think I was extremely unlucky in the classes I was put into. There are people from the very same schools I went to who loved every second, but sadly some who came away with the impression I did, but that's life! |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2016 7:59:24 GMT
Of course, that is completely fair enough! So just to have another side to that opinion, as I really feel extremely passionately about distancing this series as far as possible from the *actual* reality of drama school, I trained for 3 years at drama school and auditioned for many others. I've many friends who have done multiple foundation courses at various different drama schools before being accepted onto a BA(Hons) course and this really is NOT what drama school is like. Maybe there's a difference between drama school and stage school, but whinging/gossiping is one thing (OK, it is school, after all!) but back-stabbing and physical/verbal fighting at real-life, accredited drama schools is something that I positively can confirm just doesn't happen. Of course, Hamilton Addict, I'm by no means trying to say you are lying - you have experienced this and it obviously did happen! The reason I asked what I did, is because I don't believe this behaviour to at all correlate with drama schools in the UK, but maybe in places such as the "prestigious D&B Performing Arts Theatre School" (or whatever it is), it does! Theatremadness, I really enjoyed reading your post as it was nice to hear that someone had a nice experience. It's nice to have a balance of good and bad tales. Sadly it just doesn't seem I was very lucky, I think I was extremely unlucky in the classes I was put into. There are people from the very same schools I went to who loved every second, but sadly some who came away with the impression I did, but that's life! Hamilton Addict, I'm just wondering how you got into like a proper drama school if you say you are very young too? I didn't think you could go to a full time performing arts school until you had completed your GCSEs? So was it a place you went for full education or just a summer school thing what you do for one or two weeks? I'm not asking as I want to do the same because I HATE performing (there's a much different path I want to go down in the theatre industry), but I don't get how you could go to like a full 3 year course/college and do a performing arts course if you said you are young too. Obviously you don't have to answer, but I am just a bit confused |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2016 8:01:27 GMT
And as for the programme, it looks like TOWIE set in a stage school! I might give it a go and see what it's like
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Post by theatremiss on Aug 24, 2016 9:02:20 GMT
Is there a date & time for when this is on?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2016 9:54:20 GMT
Having done my MA at an accredited drama school, I also say this isn't anything like I ever saw. Admittedly we were a bit 'seperate' to the 3 year pure acting etc course but many of out classes were similar/taught by the same tutors. It was always a professional envirnoment with a lot of people working hard but working together. YES there were drama queens on our course (and dare I say among the tutors!) but a degree of that is to be expected, but it was never in a backstabbing drama for drama's sake manner!
I am forever grateful however that the MA's missed the 'learn to move like animals climb on ropes from the ceiling' class however.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2016 10:22:43 GMT
I am forever grateful however that the MA's missed the 'learn to move like animals climb on ropes from the ceiling' class however. Bet you regretted it after your "Cats" audition, though, emicardiff. It's true, and the world will forever be sad not to see me in whiskers. |
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Post by elsg on Aug 24, 2016 10:29:55 GMT
Haha fair play, nice research, I've checked that website out. Nice to know we are on exactly the same page seeing as I was talking about 18+ friends getting diplomas etc, not under 18 schools or academies. But, what I'm saying is schools which provide courses in acting, singing and dance are very different to schools which only provide acting. So, for those who have been to college/university for solely an acting course at a drama school, may forget or may not know that performing arts (acting, singing, dancing) courses also at drama school (university) are / can a very different environment. May I ask what you have studied (course wise)? No worries if you don't want to say, just curious! I am talking about probably at least 3 schools on the list on that website were I know people who have been to those schools, a member of my immediate family is one of them. Haha yes good to know indeed! I completely understand what you're saying - maybe I'm coming at it from a different angle. Yeah of course, I trained in musical theatre in an environment that included other courses such as 'straight' acting, technical theatre, Foundation courses and MA's in both MT & Acting and more. We were all in the same building and all aware of each others work and courses and we all regularly had internal (and obviously external for the public) showings of work from *all* courses. Maybe I was lucky. My three years at drama school were tough, of course, but they were *nothing* like what 'Stage School' is depicting. They were brilliant and some of the happiest years of my life. Maybe I was lucky in that the school I was at never felt anything less than a safe and supportive environment. People argued, people got angry and frustrated - we are humans after all - but the back-stabbing and bitchy-ness that 'Stage School' is trying to emulate was just non-existent. Obviously people have different experiences at different (and even the same!) schools. Maybe it also depends on the type of person. But my experience was such the polar opposite to what Stage School would have you believe, that I just feel very strongly about the possible damage this series could do. It seems like there will be no one there to depict the joyful drama school experience and this whole 'structured reality' business only adds to that worry. But hopefully I'm worrying for nothing and the series will not have that big of an impact. Yeah totally, fair play! The people know who are in the series and people from other stage schools, likewise, had such enjoyable experiences as your describing, and thats great. I guess I was just trying to point out that it can be a really competitive place, you're in it for the best dance spot and the best solo song etc to be seen by agents etc at the end of the day, and sometimes that can get bitchy or tense. I hope the show isn't just about that side of it also but from what I've heard its not just about that, which is more positive you know:) I think the ad was initially picking out those clips to entice regular people to want to watch it. I mean its got us all talking hasn't it!  Interesting discussion tho! |
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Post by jaqs on Aug 24, 2016 13:36:52 GMT
This is like the kids from the pushy parents programme channel 4 did recently(tiny tots talent agency) a couple of years down the line.
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Post by Hamilton Addict on Aug 24, 2016 13:50:36 GMT
Theatremadness, I really enjoyed reading your post as it was nice to hear that someone had a nice experience. It's nice to have a balance of good and bad tales. Sadly it just doesn't seem I was very lucky, I think I was extremely unlucky in the classes I was put into. There are people from the very same schools I went to who loved every second, but sadly some who came away with the impression I did, but that's life! Hamilton Addict, I'm just wondering how you got into like a proper drama school if you say you are very young too? I didn't think you could go to a full time performing arts school until you had completed your GCSEs? So was it a place you went for full education or just a summer school thing what you do for one or two weeks? I'm not asking as I want to do the same because I HATE performing (there's a much different path I want to go down in the theatre industry), but I don't get how you could go to like a full 3 year course/college and do a performing arts course if you said you are young too. Obviously you don't have to answer, but I am just a bit confused I am happy to answer that question for you! You can go to a full time drama school without having completed your GCSE's. It was a full education (though not a great one) and a normal school (except it specialises in theatrical subjects). As I stated in my post to Theatremadness, it was not a summer school. Maybe do some google-ing and you may be able find schools similar to my description. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2016 13:57:43 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2016 14:07:21 GMT
Hamilton Addict, I'm just wondering how you got into like a proper drama school if you say you are very young too? I didn't think you could go to a full time performing arts school until you had completed your GCSEs? So was it a place you went for full education or just a summer school thing what you do for one or two weeks? I'm not asking as I want to do the same because I HATE performing (there's a much different path I want to go down in the theatre industry), but I don't get how you could go to like a full 3 year course/college and do a performing arts course if you said you are young too. Obviously you don't have to answer, but I am just a bit confused I am happy to answer that question for you! You can go to a full time drama school without having completed your GCSE's. It was a full education (though not a great one) and a normal school (except it specialises in theatrical subjects). As I stated in my post to Theatremadness, it was not a summer school. Maybe do some google-ing and you may be able find schools similar to my description. Ah okay. I only wonder because I thought you said you were young so I presumed you were still at school. Sounds like your older than me. I've heard of a few schools which sound similar to your description |
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Post by Hamilton Addict on Aug 24, 2016 14:34:49 GMT
I am happy to answer that question for you! You can go to a full time drama school without having completed your GCSE's. It was a full education (though not a great one) and a normal school (except it specialises in theatrical subjects). As I stated in my post to Theatremadness, it was not a summer school. Maybe do some google-ing and you may be able find schools similar to my description. Ah okay. I only wonder because I thought you said you were young so I presumed you were still at school. Sounds like your older than me. I've heard of a few schools which sound similar to your description I am still at school, just left drama school and traded it to go to a normal school. I have told you before that I am slightly younger than you. Won't be posting on this thread anymore about this subject, sorry. Will be watching the show when it comes out and will be sure to post my thoughts, it looks like quite an interesting show! |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2016 14:42:06 GMT
It's a wonder you have any time for your GCSE work, george, the amount of time you spend on here... Your teachers have their work cut out for them!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2016 15:28:54 GMT
It's a wonder you have any time for your GCSE work, george, the amount of time you spend on here... Your teachers have their work cut out for them! Excuse me?!?!? What's that supposed to mean?! For your information, it's summer holidays at the moment so I'm not at school. I do well at school so i dont know how You can be saying that. Seriously though..... If you even knew half the things about me and what I do...... Hamilton Addict - just wondering, how do you know your younger than me because you don't even know my age? Just curious. |
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school, after all!) but back-stabbing and physical/verbal fighting at real-life, accredited drama schools is something that I positively can confirm just doesn't happen. 
Interesting discussion tho!