Simon Dunmore's
suggested websites
I don't see it as the
job of this site to list thousands of confusing links. So I'm
just listing those that I think are of value to aspiring and professional
actors in the U.K. - many of which have further useful links.
For Aspiring actors:
- The National Council for Drama
Training (NCDT) <www.ncdt.co.uk>
monitors the standards of training on those courses who wish
to be "accredited". Their site contains lots of useful
links.
- The Conference of Drama Schools
(CDS) <www.drama.ac.uk>
is the umbrella organisation for most of the U.K. drama schools
that have courses "accredited" by the NCDT.
This site provides links to most
of their member schools' websites.
- The National Association of
Youth Theatres (NAYT) <www.nayt.org.uk>
Bookshops & Scripts:
- Amazon Books (U.K.) <www.amazon.co.uk>
- Samuel French Theatre Bookshop
<www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk>
is one of the U.K's leading bookshops that specialises in everything
to do with actors and acting. They also control the rights of
a lot of plays.
- Project Gutenberg <www.gutenberg.org> has lots of out of
copyright plays.
- The World Wide Web Virtual Library <www.brookes.ac.uk/VL/theatre>
is an amazing collection of listings and links for those in search
of plays and other books on theatre and drama.
- The Internet Theatre Bookshop <www.stageplays.com>
sells new and out of print plays. From the limited searches that
I've done, the range of the latter seems quite extensive.
- Skoob Books <www.skoob.com> has a good collection of
second hand playscripts, however they don't sell online.
- Hooveys Books <www.hooveys.co.uk> will find out of print
books of all kinds.
- Abe Books <www.abebooks.co.uk> also search for second-hand
and out of print books.
- Grant & Cutler <www.grantandcutler.com> sell books (including
plays) in foreign languages - it's often very useful to go back
to the original when working on a translated play or audition
speech.
- The following are very useful if you are
searching for particular plays:
<www.playdatabase.com>
<www.doollee.com>
Organisations:
- Equity <www.equity.org.uk> now has an excellent
website full of useful information - including a page on criteria
for membership.
- The Stage
<www.thestage.co.uk>
is the newspaper of the acting profession. It now has a very
much expanded website.
- The Spotlight <www.spotlight.com> is 'the hub of the
industry' (Clive Swift) - it is where you advertise yourself,
whether you have an agent or not.
- The Actors' Centre (London)
<www.actorscentre.co.uk>
has many excellent classes for Equity members.
- The CityLit <www.citylit.ac.uk>
has lots of very good classes - especially for those who are
thinking of going on to full-time training.
- The National Campaign for the
Arts <www.artscampaign.org.uk>
does exactly as its title suggests. It may seem full of 'boring
politics', but it's very important for all art forms in the U.K.
- The Independent Theatre Council
(ITC) <www.itc-arts.org>
is the first port of call for anyone contemplating forming their
own company.
Other:
- British Theatre Guide <www.britishtheatreguide.info>
is a fascinating collection of links to actors, directors, theatres,
organisations, etc. that are well worth exploring - allow yourself
some time.
- The UK Theatre Web <www.uktw.co.uk> is another interesting
collection of links and discussion groups.
- Tim Bentinck <www.bentinck.net> is an actor and an old
friend with similar passions tor acting and technology to my
own. He was of enormous help to me when I was first writing "An
Actor's Guide to Getting Work" and has a fascinating website
of his own.
- Andrew Piper <www.andrew-piper.com> has insights from
the perspective of an actor in training and advice on auditioning
for drama schools (and fundraising) based on his own experiences.
- Ed Hooks <edhooks.com> is an American actor and
teacher who crusades for actors' rights in the U.S.A. He posts
new articles about acting and the actors' market every month
- many of which are relevant to those in the U.K.
- Angus Deuchar - photographer
<www.actorsphotos.co.uk> has some excellent examples of actor photographs
and some very good advice for those having their photograph taken.
- Steve Walker - writer <www.swalks.com> has some wonderful examples
of his brilliantly imaginative (and funny) plays, stories and
novels.
- John Gillett <www.gillettweb.co.uk> has written an excellent
book entitled "Acting on Impulse: Reclaiming the Stanislavski
Approach" - more details on his website.
- Edda Sharpe & Jan Haydn Rowles <www.howtodoaccents.com>
are voice-coaches who've written an excellent book entitled "How
to Do Accents" - have a look at their website for more details.
- Jennifer Reischel <www.performingarts-auditionguide.com>
has written a book entitled "So you want to tread the boards"
which covers similar grounds to my "An Actor's Guide to
Getting Work", but written from a different perspective
and is a very useful read for aspiring actors.
- Fitzrovia Radio <www.fitzroviaradio.com> is an innovative
group who are reviving classic mystery, science fiction and drama
radio plays of the 40's and 50's - performed and recorded with
style in front of a live studio audience, with live sound effects,
then broadcast on the web.
- The Wireless Theatre Company <www.wirelesstheatrecompany.co.uk> is an
online company producing a great selection of audio productions
- from full length radio plays, to comedy sketch shows, poetry,
short plays and stories and even quirky audio guides.
If you think I should
add other sites I should include or would like to suggest changes
to what I've written about the above sites, please e-mail
me.
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