The Acting Blog

Parents Warned Over Drama Schools

Today on the BBC’s news website, one of the top stories was about drama schools.  A fascinating warning from the NCDT or National Council for Drama Training.  Due to the number of reality tv talent shows, it seems that there has been a rise in ‘unrecognised’ drama schools.  The NCDT are warning that these schools are money-making operations which are tantamount to ‘betting’ on success, rather than ensuring a proper level of professional training.

It’s true that I’ve seen an 1 Year MT (Musical Theatre) course advertised on Facebook for £24,000.  There are some people that are out there to make money.  But the NCDT are scaremongering for their own good too.  In a recession, they don’t want to share their marketplace with others.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I thoroughly believe that if you MUST go to a drama school in the UK, it probably should be an NCDT accredited one.  But as many schools are trying to gain NCDT accreditation and status, it means that there are some schools on the periphery of that status that would offer just as good training and perhaps even at a cheaper price.  Because even the NCDT has schools with incredibly expensive prices. Take Arts Educational School, I had a student who got into that particular full time course and yet she couldn’t afford to go because the fees were exorbitant.  However, that particular school has an excellent reputation for helping students achieve their potential. Still, for all students, it is a gamble.

Only 19 schools are currently accredited and validated by the NCDT, that’s to maintain the level of professional training.  But NCDT needs to keep its status, so by telling everyone that agents only come to NCDT showcases, they’re trying to scare people.  Personally, I think there are far far too many acting schools already.  19 is too many.  Why too many? Because if each of those courses graduates a minimum of 18 undergraduate actors into the market place, that’s over 300 new actors entering an already over-filled market for less and less jobs.

One of my favourite lines in the entire article however, is the BBC’s Brian Milligan offering ‘advice’:

“students who cannot get on an accredited course are being advised to try for university drama courses, or else to consider giving up the idea of acting altogether.”

Give up or go waste three years on a generalist university drama course.  Wow, that’s great advice Brian thanks!  Give up on your dreams (since if you didn’t get into an NCDT course the first time, basically you’re fucked) or attend uni and waste three years.  The UK’s university drama courses are to acting what flower arranging is to becoming a boxer.

Click here to read the original BBC article.

To You, The Best!

Looking for Acting Classes in Glasgow? Mark Westbrook is a Professional Acting Coach and runs Acting Coach Scotland, a private acting studio offering acting classes in Glasgow, masterclasses, workshops and audition coaching for actors at all levels. His acting studio is based in Glasgow, Scotland, although he teaches all across the United Kingdom. All Blog Posts © Mark Westbrook 2010

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