I took the plunge and went to Drama collage with a little encouragement from my good friends in the hope that one day I could find a way that I could take the whole concept of my fashion show “fashion through the ages” to a new level and direction from a group of 20 models to one man play.
Nottinghamshire Next Stage Diploma course at Sandfield Centre, that’s where I studied drama in 1994 – 1996. It was a strange but fascinating place to me, filled with constant on going classes of one art form or another, students coming and going, tutorials discussion, long weekend session and master classes of the finniest art minds from Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. The Tutors would come to put us through our paces, it was a world where anything and everything was possible. I loved every minute every moment of it. That’s the place I discovered the art of freedom and expression.
Confidence, voice and timing were everything in order to survive there. You had to bear all things. ‘No pain no gain!’ We studied plays and learned the art and craft of performance. Your mind, memory and every little thought process were put to the test day and night. It’s not a place for the faint hearted or the meek who are not prepared to do battle on the stage of life to bear all for the world to see and hear. Knowing full well that the master himself, the Director, and your peers were watching every mistake you make, that was every actor’s nightmare, having a mental memory blank which happens to the best of us at least a hundred times in our life time, then the night of the first performance where the audience hang on to every word you say, hold their breath watching, listen for that very nearly mistake or bad timing and perfection, flowing and enjoying the story of the act with interest.
As the performance is coming to an end, we all breath a sigh of relief, then after all the worries and stress of the college term comes to an end, hoping everything goes well on the night, glad that you did not brake a leg or fall over your words too many times. Lights and curtains go down, then up again, we all take our bows. The applause from the audience tells you how much they really appreciate you. You feel the love and support out there. It’s hard to explain that feeling. We leave the stage one last time, then we give each other hugs and kisses, share words of encouragement, have a drink or two, then everyone goes home. With the first performance out of the way, we can all get a good night’s sleep. The next day we wake up feeling good, you get that feeling coming over you. ‘You can’t wait to do it all over again’ the next day. That was my first taste of theatre and still is today.
I met so many wonderful friends, talented students and tutors. It was one of the happiest times and most life-changing periods in my life. The director of Professional Theatre and Training, David Johnston, an associate lecturer Ava Hunt remain friends today. Geoff Bullen, was Course Director of productions and the diploma course inspired my dreams in believing that I could do my first historic one man play ‘Streets Paved with Gold’ not just well, but successfully.
