Actors Lab Training Programme (with paid rehearsal period and tour)

Main Duties

ACTORS LAB – APPLICATIONS OPEN NOW!

Actor training and professional development for community practitioners

September 2024 – February 2025

20 Stories High’s professional development programme is back.

This year, we’re looking for four exciting actors based in Merseyside to develop themselves as actors making work in community spaces.

The programmes consists of two parts: First, you will receive weekly training sessions from September – December in which you will receive acting training and professional development skill. The second consists of a paid rehearsal period and tour, Jan to March, of a brand-new show Wobble-Bass Frequencies written by our Artistic Director Keith Saha.

About the training you will receive:

Some training workshops will be creative skills focused, whilst others will explore best practise in working in community-based settings, and other sessions will be designated to think about your own professional development. Sessions include:

– How to work safely in secure units

– Vision and values mapping Creative/ performance skills sessions

– Voice work/ text work

– Creative facilitation in community settings –

-Industry knowledge/ career building sessions:

– How to approach agents and how to self-tape

– Mapping of the creative industry, and ecology

Structure of the programme We will offer the opportunity for 4 actors to participate in a two-stage professional development programme. Stage one – training: ● A full-day meet and greet: On Saturday 14th September, which will be a chance for the selected artists to get to know each other, as well as 20 Stories High, TiPP and Unity. The day will include workshops, training and food. ● 10-week weekly workshops and mentoring programme: Held on Monday evenings, starting on Monday 7th October, and running until Monday the 9th December 2024. (Sessions will last up to 3 hours). Workshops will be in person (unless otherwise stated). Stage two – rehearsal and tour: ● 2 weeks intensive rehearsal (Paid – £500 per week): Held over full days, Monday to Friday, on the weeks commencing 20th January, and 27th January 2025. ● 2 weeks of performing the final piece on tour (paid £500 per week): Touring on the weeks commencing 3rd of February and 10th February (performing in community and youth spaces, with one public show taking place at a local theatre).

Skills and Experience Required

Who is the opportunity for?

We are looking for actors who are passionate about taking high quality artistic experiences directly to underrepresented, culturally diverse, working-class young people and communities. We are particularly keen to receive applications from people who are confident musicians and/ or singers, as sound will play a role in the storytelling of the piece. We are looking for actors who can commit to the whole process- including weekly workshops, as well as the full rehearsal process and performance weeks.

We know the theatre landscape isn’t equal. At 20 Stories High we continue to strive to redress the balance. Actors LAB offers formalised training to early career actors, (meaning those who have little to no professional acting experience, or some professional acting experience but no formal training in theatre) who are:

– Aged 18+

– Based in Merseyside

Additionally, preference will be given to artists who have faced barriers when accessing training, for example:

– People from the Global Majority – People with barriers accessing education or training

– LGBTQIA+ people

– People who have faced financial challenges

– Deaf and Disabled people

– Migrant artists

– People who have experienced mental and/ or physical health challenges

– People with extra responsibilities at home (e.g. primary caregiver for a relative or responsible for the care of children)