John's postgrad blog: 5
John Watts
- February 2010.
After completing a BA Drama degree at the University of Bristol in 2002, John spent his time working as a university administrator until his interest in acting resurfaced. He is now on the MA Classical Theatre course at Kingston University. Now is the winter of our discontent Well, actually, no it isn’t. Pleasing though it would be - purely from the point of view of being able to force quotable bits of Shakespeare into blog posts - if this winter was proving a bit of a drag, in fact it’s been quite pleasant. We’re currently on an extended Christmas break - until 1st February. Reasons for this are somewhat unclear but I think it’s got something to do with the fact that it’s exam season for the undergraduates, so therefore no lectures. Being postgrads we are thankfully spared all that. I’m particularly grateful as I’m truly dreadful at exams. I partly chose my undergraduate degree because it was all coursework, and that decision surely prevented me getting the Third I would have come away with from any exam-based course. It’s strange that I’m quite happy to ponce about on stage in front of an audience, but can’t handle two hours sat in an exam hall. Such are the contradictions of the human character I guess… Still, there’s plenty to keep busy with. I’m currently grappling with an essay on King Lear, a Shakespeare play I shamefully had very little knowledge of until these last couple of weeks. Our task in the essay is to discuss how we’d prepare to act one of the characters from the play (well, Edmund or Edgar is the choice for the blokes actually – I think they reckon we’re a bit young to tackle Lear himself). Then, a few weeks into term we’ll present a couple of that character’s speeches to show our preparation in action. Again, although I wouldn’t say I’m exactly relaxed about the prospect, these kind of assessments don’t put the fear into me in the same way as written exams. This ‘free’ time is useful in other ways. There’s the chance to do some temping and earn some much needed cash for a start. There’s also the opportunity for a bit of a self-reflection, which, as we approach the half-way point of the course, is no bad thing. With most MAs being one year long, you have to start thinking about ‘the future’ much sooner than you would at undergrad level (though, of course, it’s never too early to start then either!). Careful what you wish for While my broad thoughts on what I might do afterwards remain the same as when I began the course in September - finish course, instant success at RSC/National/Globe, become acclaimed Shakespearean actor, dabble in the films/TV, live happily ever after - the closer you get to the end and having to make that plan a reality, the more you start to examine closely the probability of it all coming true (i.e. pretty remote). You also start to wonder if it’s a case of ‘be careful what you wish for.’ For example, I heard an interview with the brilliant actor Richard Briers (he of The Good Life and Monarch of the Glen) on the radio recently. He’s played King Lear as it turns out, though he didn’t have much to say on that front that I could nick for my essay. What he did keep emphasising though was how poorly paid Shakespeare and other ‘classical’ plays were for the actors. He basically said that he could only afford to do them when he’d just done a big TV job and had a nice payday to tide him over. Very reassuring. Now don’t get me wrong. I know acting is an incredibly hard sector to make a go of it in. I know that the vast majority of actors are out of work at any one time. I also know that the chances are I’ll spend more time waiting tables than appearing on stage. The notion that success and money aren’t guaranteed is NOT news to me. What is tricky to grapple with, is that even if I make what might be considered a success of things, and pick up regular work, it might mean actually earning less than when I’m temping or waiting tables. Still, no one’s forcing me down this path so I’m going to stop there in case I should stray into moaning territory. I mention it purely for the benefit and interest of anyone else who might be thinking of giving the whole acting thing a go. One of the great things about the course is that, being based in an actual theatre, that are lots of real actors about the place all the time. And that means that there is, from time to time, a chance to chat to them and pick their brains. I can have no excuses if, come the end of the course, I don’t go onto whatever I choose to do with my eyes wide open. The chance to pick their brains might become more frequent in the near future, as there’s potentially a very exciting development which might see us involved in the Rose Theatre’s next production. More on that next time I hope, if it happens, when you may find me even more contented… Read my previous blogs
Suggestions to editorial@prospects.ac.uk
| 
