Performing Arts/Drama– Case Studies

We interviewed four of the students to see how they’ve found the workshops.

Kerry is from Wolverhampton and has acted at college where she was part of a drama club.

Esther is from Surrey and has a GCSE in Drama, Stage and Performance, but since then has not acted. She has always thought about getting into acting.

Michael is from Wolverhampton and the last time he acted was at school.

Sean is from Derby and has never acted before.

Q - Has the workshop lived up to your expectations?

SEAN

“It’s exceeded my expectations. It’s difficult to explain. I thought I would be acting and also playing around, but initially we had questions like “What is acting” but I never thought of all the people involved in the background, so it’s certainly made me think twice. Also, looking at facial expressions and changing from one character to another – that has had a huge impact on me. It’s been a good experience.”

Q - What skills do you think you're gained?

MICHAEL

“I’ve learnt a lot of skills. You can watch someone acting on television or in a film and think, “Oh, they’re just acting”. I don’t think I was aware of all the issues involved and yet being here this weekend, its made me realise there are other things you need to learn, like terminology. I’m really fascinated by what I’ve been taught.”

Q - What did you enjoy the most about it?

KERRY

I really enjoyed the role play. On day 1 we did a short role play which I really enjoyed because I had to take on different characters, linked to emotions – like how I would feel if my son died. Things like that. I really enjoyed that yesterday. It was really good.”

Q - What was the most difficult thing you had to do?

SEAN

“A lot of things have been difficult for me. For example, having to look at someone, staring at them without using facial expressions and laughing. Normally you’d laugh at someone you’re staring at for a long time. Also, your appearance - with one task, someone had to hold a coin and someone else had to guess who was holding it. You had to have no expression so the person couldn’t guess who had got the coin. So it was trying to be serious as well.”

Q - Do you have any advice for others in the deaf community wishing to get into the media industry?

ESTHER

“I’m going to approach deaf people after this workshop and just say that the training session has been fantastic. I’m going to encourage people to apply to training courses and if they’re thinking of working in that environment, they can do it. The opportunity is there.”

Q - What are your next steps, career wise?

ESTHER

“I also did the TV presenting workshop and have really enjoyed both of them. I realised that I’ve got the potential skills to do both. From the TV presenting workshop I didn’t think I had the skills or thought I thought I wasn’t able to do it, purely because I hadn’t done it before. Being there, I realised that I already had these skills and I’ve got a feeling that the opportunities are going to come soon.”