Surviving RADA: MA Theatre Lab

‘My most honest explanation of the RADA, MA Theatre Lab course yet’

It’s been 8 years since I started my Masters Degree course at RADA; MA Theatre Lab. I’ve written blogs about my time there and given advice to prospective applicants and new students time and time again. Every year a new hopeful, each time thinking I knew exactly what it was, what I did and what it all meant. It wasn’t until today that I truly realised I had no idea what I was talking about and what I thought I knew, whilst true, wasn’t the whole story. I’ve been holding something back from both prospective students and from myself.

I was asked to do a short promotional piece for the course, along with other alumni. We were sent questions that would help us articulate what the course was and what it did for an artist. Something about the way these questions were posed with such a ‘straight to the heart’ earnestness, has completely changed my perspective on what the course is and what it is intended for. I’ve really come away questioning my time there, my art and ultimately myself.

This is probably going to be my most honest explanation of the RADA MA Theatre Lab course yet.

When considering applying for this course and comparing experiences, it is imperative that you know that I had been working professionally as an actor in the industry (mostly in TV) for almost 15 years. I had a number of high profile TV credits on my CV already and some experience of working in theatre. This experience is one of the reasons I was accepted onto the course. Not the credits but, the experience and positioning of where I was on my career path at that time.

I feel I may have been somewhat misleading previously, to people asking me about the course because, I’ve always answered the questions from a position of privilege of having already worked to a specific level in the industry for a very long time. This hugely influential environmental factor will not always be the case for every applicant but, will always be the case for everyone who is accepted onto the course.

I have said in so many ways (and in not so many) what you will learn on the course in terms of course structure but, I’m not sure I have ever publicly declared that THIS IS NOT THE BA ACTING course. The MA Theatre Lab course will not teach you how to be an actor and will not groom you into a product. It will not instantly turn you into a commodity to be bartered within the industry, and do you know what? That’s flipping amazing!

I have always been honest that the course didn’t have the life changing affect on my career that I imagined it might but, it undeniably changed my life. The feats I’ve experienced since graduation, arguably, could have still been achieved because of the career trajectory I was already on. This is important to remember when considering applying and enrolling on the course and comparing our experiences.

I was only 2nd generation, so nobody really knew what the course was or where it was going back then. It’s only now, in hindsight, many generations later, and after doing the interview today, about my time there, that I truly realised what the MA Theatre Lab course is and who, and what it’s for.

The MA Theatre Lab course may not turn you into the next Tom Hiddleston (love ya Tom), however, the course is specifically designed to help an already experienced artist find their unique voice and (as disgustingly wanky as it sounds) their life’s purpose within art. The MA Theatre Lab course is specifically designed to give an already experienced/established artist the space, safety and parameters to experiment with their art, under the watchful eye of experts, with a vision to (and I do not say this lightly) potentially become the next Stanislavski or the next Brecht. No you may not become a rich and famous superstar after this course but, if you go into the course to push your artistry. To test ideas. To be willing to be affected, and in-turn affect others you could potentially be the next mind to spark a revolution.

I’m not sure how this pov sits with the school but, the whole idea of a testing Lab within such a Conservative establishment is completely radical, completely political and completely necessary within the world of art, and for that alone RADA is one of the most progressive Drama Schools in the world.

I’m of the view that all art is political and every artist has something to say and in case you didn’t know me, I have a whole lot to bloody say! The MA Theatre Lab course is categorically to embolden the artist who has something to say and God knows we need that now, more than ever, and I’m so sorry it took me so long to figure all this out. Almost 20 years in the business and I still haven’t yet found my purpose in my artistry. I haven’t fully manifested my unique voice. My aspirations for my work have been pathetically low, especially considering how powerful art can be. It’s so easy to get caught up in the day to day but, I’m mad late and there is still so much work to do.

‘In times of dread, artists must never choose to remain silent’

- Toni Morrison