Sorry to be a wet blanket Anon 36, but even the Actors Centre is going down the road of auditions...I am from SA , have seven years experience, have been a teacher for two and a half years, have worked with people who are recording in SA, and have done clasical theatre, musicals theatre, corporate, etc..I ahd an agent in London, and was a full Equity memebr...had just finished an opera, and they STILL put me on provisional membership as I wasnt at their standard, just cos I went to a school much like the Fame school in NY, where I ahd more than five years of technique drilled into me as opposed to the three years at a drama school in London.
And I can honestly tell you that most casting directors are deeply difficult about who they choose.Many wont touch people from certain drama schools as the schools have a reputation for breeding bolshy, arrogant actors...and from experience I hink the casting directors are careful...even going to RADA nowadays doesnt guarantee you will be a RSC season company memeber. The ropes are changing every day.
I would go to teh Actors centre, but also join teh Actors Temple (www.actorstemple.com) which is free membership, NO audition and all they ask is taht you are a professional. I teach there, and Mark and Ellie, who run the joint, are lovely and NOT intimidating..they hate the negativity of the business etc and most of the peple who go there get sound advice, auditions, get to work with directors in play readings and are really growing.
My advice is to go to people and teachers who make you leave a class feeling you CAN succeed, rather than..'Its so hard.'
I have had to cut down negative students in my classes i teach cos it simply affects everyone else like a cancer. We all know its tough, but we need to support each other. NEVER continue with a teacher who is negative or who doesnt actually build you up. You may leave a class challenged and knowing you need to improve but its done in a way that inspires you to continie, not to feel hopeless or discouraged.
