LEEDS ACTORS IN TRAINING
PILOT YEAR
LEEDS GRAND THEATRE STUDIO
OCTOBER 2017 – JULY 2018
WHAT IS LEEDS ACTORS IN TRAINING (LAIT)?
LAIT is a practical skills-building course for 18-23 year olds who are serious about an acting career.
Run by industry professionals, LAIT is designed to develop participating young artists vocally, physically and imaginatively and encourages an independent and in-depth approach to the work.
WHAT DO WE OFFER YOUNG ACTORS IN TRAINING?
LAIT will
· help you develop the skills you need to build your craft as an actor, so that your imagination and creativity can find expression based in solid skills as a performer,
· help you to gain knowledge of the profession through the resident director and freelance visiting professionals,
· help to prepare you for auditions,
· help you find strategies for self-disciplined and stress management as a freelance professional artist,
· promote the honest exchange of thoughts and ideas, the sharing of creative inspiration and the generosity of spirit which characterises a true actor,
· encourage you to challenge your own habits and preconceptions,
· help you develop your artistic courage, curiosity, integrity and originality - all vital in the journey to discovering your strengths and weaknesses as a performer
TERM 1. AUTUMN 2017: OCTOBER - DECEMBER
THE ACTOR
Working on a number of contrasting contemporary and classic texts, we will use practical scene studies to develop your voice, movement, character, stagecraft, ensemble work and improvisation.
TERM 2. SPRING 2017: JANUARY - MARCH
THE ACTOR AND THE PLAY
A rehearsal project contextualising and further developing the skills developed in Term 1 with Masterclasses run by outside artists supporting the rehearsals. This term will culminate in a public sharing event.
TERM 3. SUMMER 2017: APRIL - JULY
THE ACTOR AND THE INDUSTRY
A packed term, working on audition technique, building your audition portfolio and working on monologues and songs. You will have the opportunity to present to both your peer group and a dummy audition panel made up of industry professionals who will be ready with advice and feedback to help you recognise your own strengths and challenges as a performer.
WHO WILL BE TRAINING YOU?
LAIT will be run by Lizi Patch, freelance Director, Writer, Performer and Producer (See below).
In addition, throughout the year visiting artists will support the work and in Term 2 industry professionals will run Masterclasses in their speciality, for example: Voice/Singing, Choreography/Physical Theatre and Stage Fighting. You will have the opportunity to talk to professional actors about their work and in Term 3 the Director will invite a number of industry professionals to sit on the dummy audition panel and give you detailed feedback on your audition.
LIZI PATCH: DIRECTOR OF LAIT
Lizi has been a Director, Writer and Actor for 30 years. She originally studied as an actor at the Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama and since that time she has had a varied professional career in London and Yorkshire.
She is currently the Artistic Director of the City Varieties Youth Theatre where she directs and produces up to 7 shows a year with 60 young people aged 8-17 yrs old.
In 2016 Lizi toured her own Arts Council funded show, Punching The Sky. Collaborating with partners the Lowry, Live Theatre and West Yorkshire Playhouse, ending up at Soho Theatre in London for a week as part of A Nation’s Theatre Festival.
Lizi also writes for Radio 4, most recently as a guest writer on their long running series: Brief Lives, produced by Gary Brown (BBC Radio North).
Lizi has been Script Writer for the Child Friendly Leeds Awards for the past 3 years, creating and writing the scripts for the annual Awards with the young presenters.
She has also been a guest Writer and Director for the Carriageworks Academy in Leeds,
Freelance Animateur for Woldgate College in Pocklington, Founder and Artistic Director of Raised Eyebrow Theatre Company/Raised Eyebrow Youth Theatre, Freelance Project Director/Writer for All Change Arts in London, Education Director for Y Touring Theatre Company in London and Education Officer for Polka Theatre For Children in Wimbledon.
Lizi is also on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Youth Theatre.
PRACTICALITIES
LAIT will be split into 3 x ten week modules per year.
10 sessions per term, 2.5 hours per session (25 hours minimum per term).
£450 per year long course (with bursary places available upon application).
DATES
X 30 training sessions will be delivered on Tuesdays evenings 6-8.30pm from late October 2017 – July 2018. Dates will be circulated following the auditions.
TO APPLY
Please complete the Leeds Actors in Training Expression of Interest Form and return it to by Friday 6th October at the latest. The questions detailed on the expression of interest form are as follows:
1. What is it about the Leeds Actors in Training course that appeals to you? (max up to 150 words)
2. Please tell us about any relevant experience you have - this can include amateur experience/formal training/qualifications/other (max up to 250 words)
3. Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time? (max up to 50 words)
If you would prefer, you can record or film your responses to the questions above and send us a link to your media file via We Transfer https://wetransfer.com/ by Friday 6th October at the latest.
AUDITIONS, INTERVIEW AND GROUP WORKSHOP
Once we have received your expression of interest, you will then be invited to attend an audition, interview and group workshop on the evening of Tuesday 10th October.
For the audition, we ask that you prepare a monologue that’s between 1-3 minutes long. We’d like you to choose something that you’re comfortable with delivering – contemporary or classic - from a play that you like. Please learn your monologue and be prepared to discuss the monologue and your character in the context of the play it comes from.
The short interview will provide us with a chance to discuss your expression of interest further before taking part in a relaxed group workshop.
TESTIMONIALS FOR LIZI’S WORK IN YOUNG PEOPLE’S THEATRE.
REBECCA JENKINS: PROFESSIONAL DIRECTOR/ACTOR/PRODUCER.
Lizi Patch has a unique ability to see the individual in every young person, and to nurture and inspire, whilst consistently advocating for sound technical skills which promote a healthy, ensemble-focused approach to performance. I have worked with Lizi for 15 years and have seen first-hand how she has benefited young performers, not only in their preparation for professional theatre but also in their personal development.
GRACE DEAN: PROFESSIONAL ACTOR.
The knowledge and skills I have gained from working alongside Lizi are immeasurable. From one-to-one audition coaching to creative script-writing, Lizi's experience, support and expertise were fundamental in my journey towards drama school and ultimately a professional career as an actor.
BOBAK WALKER: DANCE ARTIST and Freelance practitioner for CVYT
The work that goes on at CVYT is exceptional. Since I have been able to come to sessions and observe, facilitate as well as to watch shows it has fed in to my practice and been highly valuable. I use Lizi Patch’s style and lead as an important source of learning, which informs the work I do for my own groups at Yorkshire Dance and at the West Yorkshire Playhouse.
MEGAN PARKINSON: Former CVYT: Recent jobs: Holby City, To Walk Invisible, Damilola, Our Loved Boy, Game of Thrones and The Strike Series.
I am very grateful for CVYT. It gave me the confidence to audition for the National Youth Theatre REP company which ended up being the spark to my acting career. Lizi gave me so much encouragement to pursue what I really wanted to do and that's led me to work with incredible professionals.
JAKE GALE: Former CVYT, then Northern School of Contemporary Dance and accepted at Ballet Rambert from Sept 2017.
One of the most pivotal moments of my childhood was when Lizi asked me to mentor some of the younger boys. That respect and trust in me is something that was never really given to me by anyone else at that point, it really stands out as one of the best things that could of happened to me at that point in my life.
ARON KYNE: MUSICIAN and former Assistant Musical Director for CVYT
CVYT is a different breed of youth theatre, chiefly because of director Lizi Patch. She is a centred, level headed, compassionate multitasking genius.
MUIREANN PRICE: Former YT member. Filmmaker and Casting Director
Lizi made you feel like anything you did or any idea you had was brilliant, valid and interesting. And she also knew when she could push you that little bit further to something you didn’t realise you were capable of. Hers is still one of the opinions I value the most.
KYM KYTCHING: Former YT member. Chief Fundraising Officer for a leading national children’s charity.
Every day I execute the skills Lizi helped me develop; communication, empathy, multi-tasking, creative problem solving, commitment, motivation, leadership, initiative, respect, flexibility, self-discipline, concentration and so much more. Lizi Patch is an understanding, empathetic, powerful woman who will do everything she can to make sure you achieve everything you're capable of and more.