5 REASONS YOU SHOULD JOIN A NON-PROFESSIONAL ACTING COMPANY DURING A PANDEMIC

Over the past few months, the majority of us have experienced stress, anxiety and loss of social contact.

Some of us may have ventured into starting a new hobby or learning a new skill but many simply had to use their energy just for survival; both emotional and physical.

As we creep out of lockdown now is a great time to re-evaluate what we want to change in our lives and how we can improve on them. A bit like a New Year’s resolution but with more determination.

Here Stage & the City shares 5 reasons why this may be the time to join a non-professional acting company:

1. Personal Development – being part of a production and getting out of your comfort zone as a group is great for building confidence, self esteem and transferable life skills. No doubt these particular aspects were hit hard during lockdown.
2. Theatre brings people together and enriches community – now more than ever people are seeing the importance of community and supporting one another. Being part of a non- professional acting company which meets once a week is a great way to develop relationships and meet new friends who you share passions and interests with.
3. Experience the euphoria of impacting an audience – there is nothing more exhilarating than hearing the impact you are having on a live audience as they collectively laugh or cry together. And there is a real buzz in the auditorium afterwards as your friends congratulate you for your bravery and contribution to making them smile.
4. It’s fun – let’s face it. Most of us probably haven’t experienced too much fun over the past few months. Maybe we have to accept that there is a new way of doing things for the foreseeable future. Well if that’s the case, it is even more important that we find ways to enjoy ourselves. Playing characters that may be the complete opposite of who we are in real life and exploring their quirks can certainly create many belly laughs in the rehearsal room. Not to mention the fun that can be had in the bar afterwards as you discuss the rehearsal process with fellow “actors”.
5. Many of our beloved famous actors started off in am-dram before they got their stardom. Dame Judy Dench, Sir Ian McKellen, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Kiera Knightley and Glenda Jackson to name but a few. If it is good enough for them then it is good enough for us!

Stage & the City’s Acting Company is currently recruiting for new students to perform in Nicolai Erdman’s Russian farce The Suicide adapted by Gyllian Raby and Anna MacAlpine. A multitude of fun characters to explore before performing in the Off West End Courtyard Theatre next year. Rehearsals start mid-September. More details on how to apply here.

For those who have no acting experience Stage & the City is delivering a whole range of Acting for Beginners and Acting for Improvers courses.