...The Theatre - A Place for ideas ...

Ian Mcfarlane

Ian Mcfarlane Ian Ian

Last year I graduated from ‘Guildford School of Acting’  in Surrey where I studied Musical Theatre. I am now very lucky to be working with the Kings Head Theatre in London on a musical I have written. Going to full time drama school in London taught me many things but most of them where performance based. During my time at the ‘players drama school’  I learnt a wide variety of skills but not only as a performer. I left ‘the players’ with a sense of belief in my own abilities and with a confidence in what I had to say and the bravery to be able to say it. These life skills have been very important and valuable to me. As I arrived at Drama School I was surrounded by so many very talented people. Many of whom however had never had the luxury of the kind of training I had at  ‘the players’. To be able to enter the school with what I had learnt as a teenager made me feel extremely lucky and less like a tiny terrified fish in the jaws of the big wide world and more like a capable human who wasn’t scared to try new challenges.

During the last year whilst working on my show I have come in contact with many big scary people in the Theatrical Profession. As an actor exposure to these situations seldom come at such an early point in a person’s career but as a writer I suddenly found myself in a world of high flyers and important people. All of whom expect you to be able to champion your own work and tell them what makes your particular script so good. I’m pleased to say  when I open my mouth I don’t palpitate, I don’t sweat, I can look people in the eye and speak like I know what I’m talking about (even if I don’t…but that’s a different skill all together) I can absolutely say that these were things I gained from  the ‘players drama school.’ For any person in any walk who may find themselves in a job interview, boardroom meeting or police questioning after a high speed car chase these kind of communication skills are invaluable.

There where no star pupils at the ‘players’  and no matter who played a lead in a show when it came to Saturday or Wednesdays workshops everybody was the same. And more importantly everybody was part of a team.

.When you leave the school you are always made welcome to share your new experiences whether it be a phone call or a lunch hour visit. For want of a less ‘floaty’ description you are always part of ‘the players’ Family. I met many fantastic, interesting people at The Players most of whom I still speak with and see regularly. And I still regard ‘players’ Principal Deboarh Carter as a teacher and valued friend.