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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