Actors’ and Performers’ Yearbook 2024

Sam Stevenson is a freelance casting director, based in London, and working in theatre, television and film. Her projects include productions for the BBC, Sky, Amazon, Warner Bros, National Theatre and RSC. For many years she worked in partnership with Gemma Hancock with whom she shares an Emmy nomination for their work on the BBC miniseries Emma.

Foreword - Sam Stevenson

Training

Introduction
Training for the under-18s
Arts Emergency – Julie Hesmondhalgh
Interview: David Mumeni; Levelling the playing-field for actors from working and benefit class backgrounds
Drama schools
Checklist of drama school deadlines, audition requirements, audition fees and funding systems – Lloyd Trott
What are drama schools looking for? – Geoffrey Colman
It’s warm up North: training and opportunities for actors living in North East England – Adelle Hulsmeier
Short-term and part-time courses
Private tutors and coaches
An actor’s toolkit – Simon Dunmore

Agents and casting directors

Introduction
Agents
Being an agent – Howard Roberts
CPMA: the Co-operative Personal Management Association
Voice-over agents
Presenters’ agents
Casting directors
Casting for the stage – Anne McNulty
Casting for musical theatre – David Grindrod
Woman in a brown skirt – Sophie Stanton

Theatre

Introduction
Interview: Cherrelle Skeete; Active Listening in a Community of Nomads
Dramaturg at HOME – Petra Jane Tauscher
Producing theatres
Interview: Tom Ross-Williams Inclusivity and Allyship for the Future of the Industry

Effective audition speeches – Simon Dunmore
Understudying – Andrew Piper
Independent managements/theatre producers
Interview: Hazel Holder; Voicing Kindness

Ignition, inspiration and the imposter – Scott Graham
Middle and smaller-scale companies
Starting your own theatre company – Pilar Orti´
Finding funding for projects – Sinead Mac Manus
The multi-hyphenate comedy actor-performer-writer – Chris Head
Interview: Geoff Whiting; Routes into stand-up comedy
Pantomime
English-language European theatre companies
A touring actor’s survival guide – Maev Alexander
Fringe theatres
Interview: Ned Bennett; The Direction of Collaboration
Edinburgh or bust: is it worth it? – Shane Dempsey
Open Book: fairer finances for fringe theatre – Piers Beckley
Children’s, young people’s and theatre in education – Paul Harman
Shakespeare changes prisoners’ lives – Bruce Wall
Festivals
Role-play companies

Media

Introduction
Television companies
Casting for television – Janie Frazer
Auditioning for camera – Nancy Bishop
Self-taping auditions – Ros Hubbard
Are you ready for Pilot Season? – Brendan Thomas
Independent film, video and TV production companies
Film schools
Actors and video games – Mark Estdale
Radio and audio book companies
Acting for radio – Gordon House
Media festivals

Disabled actors

Introduction
Training
Sources of work
Arts organisations
Rights, advice and support
Opportunities for disabled actors – Jamie Beddard

Resources

Resources
Introduction
Equity
Act For Change – Kobna Holdbrook-Smith
Beyond #metoo – Kelly Burke
Spotlight, casting directories and information services
‘Point me in the right direction’: navigating the casting services – Isabelle Farah
Be prepared for publicity – Jayne Trotman
Photographers and repro companies
Getting the most from your photographs – Angus Deuchar
Making money from your voice – Marina Caldarone
Showreel, voicereel and website services
Showreels: creation and maintenance – Anthony Holmes
Digital wellbeing for actors – Sinead Mac Manus
Interview: Daniel Heale; Building your personal brand on social media
Accountants
Tax and National Insurance for actors – Philippe Carden
Equity Pension Scheme – Andrew Barker @ First Act
Physical and mental fitness for actors – Alex Caan
Interview: Claire Cordeaux; Mental health in the performing arts
Funding bodies
Publications, libraries, references and booksellers
Organisations, associations and societies

Bibliography
Webography
Index