Let’s Start From The Very Beginning…

To paraphrase the classic lyrics from Rogers & Hammerstein’s “The Sound Of Music”:

‘How Do You Solve A Problem Like Working In The Theatre?’

Well Ladies and Gentlemen, that is the million-dollar question we endeavour to answer in the creation of this platform.

It seems as though the vocational training system for Creative Arts can only teaches us so much in the time we are studying… but what really happens in the industry once you step outside the walls of the womb of full-time education?

What are the dos and don’ts in the industry? What do people want to see from a graduate? What are we meant to do once we’re considered ‘a professional’? What do I need to go on tour? I got to the finals for that last year and this year I got cut first round, does that mean I’ve got worse? What roles are we realistically going for? I haven’t got any auditions and I feel I can’t ask my agent, what do I do? I didn’t even get an agent from my showcases, how do I get one now? What is a ‘standard day in the life of an actor’ going to be like? What does one do to stay afloat when not in work?

SO many practical questions left unasked and unanswered and we come out of college without a clue and left to sink or swim for ourselves. So, we, Amy and Celia, are taking it upon ourselves, using our experiences to try to figure out and be able to provide answers for the real question we should all be asking which is:

What is the reality of life working in the Theatre in London today?

In this blog and on our other respective Social Media channels, we will be discussing a wide range of subjects that all come in under the freelance performer bubble: from Budgeting Accounting and other Finance-related issues, to Mental health and how to recognise or cope with the highs and lows that come with working in this profession, to class recommendations to keep your training up outside of college, show reviews to go see to inspire you alongside interviews with cast members and creatives to give you an idea into their journeys and their top tips for success, ideas for jobs to take on when not in performing work, audition tips etc.

Basically, Whatever you want to know, whatever you want to see on here – we will make it happen for you. We will do our research and pool together all our resources and experiences to answer all those questions that are burning inside you that need to be answered.

There is an awful stigma associated with our industry that it’s ‘every man for himself’ or a ‘dog eat dog world’ and it’s really not. It’s not about being bitchy and sassy and intimidating each other by shouldering your leg at an audition or tripping someone down the stairs before opening night. These are all incredibly dated and jaded views of show business. We want to create this online community to actively dispel this myth and invite everyone to be openly supportive, to be generous with their knowledge and to help one another. We all know how tough it can get, we’re all in the same boat and understand how difficult it can be – so we must be there for one another to make the journey a little easier, right?

Welcome to Theatre Life London. If you have any questions you want answering or any topics featured on this blog – please get in contact via our Contact Page.