Something has changed within me
Something is not the same
I'm through with playing by the rules
Of someone else's game.
Too late for second-guessing
Too late to go back to sleep
It's time to trust my instincts
Close my eyes: and leap!

The lyrics to this Broadway musical number probably sums up the feelings of those who have dared to follow their dreams. There is the shift growing inside of them, knowing that a change is a-coming, yet uncertain whether to pursue the path or not… and at the end, believing in themselves and taking that leap into the beckoning unknown.

In a similar vein, the participants that attended Yellow Academy’s recent Taster Talk in Manchester would have felt the same calling. Both Jonathan Man (co-creative director of Yellow Earth) and Clive Duncan (co-Director of The Academy of Live and Recorded Arts) found the session “very positive”, where people of different backgrounds (from college students to those working in the finance industry) and of mixed experiences came to find out how to get into this industry.

These Taster Talk sessions have a lot to offer. Apart from hearing the personal stories and professional experiences by the two speakers (which a lot of the participants found to be very illuminating), they also get a chance to ask questions about the industry such as “can I really become a professional actor?”, “what does it take to become a good actor?”, “how does Yellow Earth and ALRA operate?” Moreover, Duncan thinks the main question that all actors ask is “what work is available?”

However Man asserts that, “of course we cannot tell you how to get work today. It will take time to become a trained actor, and to try breaking into the industry. Becoming a working professional in the arts or media will take sustained effort. We can give tips but there are no quick fixes or short cuts.”


Irrespective to whether the individual has any experience or prior knowledge of the industry, Yellow Academy is open to anyone of East Asian descent and aged between 16-30 years old, with the only other requirement being is, of course, to have a strong passion in acting!

Tell us more about the Yellow Academy project?

JM: Yellow Academy is a project aimed at introducing British East Asians to theatre and professional acting, through a series of training activities taking place in four major cities in the UK: Belfast, Birmingham, London, and Manchester. This includes initial taster talks, audition workshops and an intensive one week actors’ summer camp.

CD: The project is aimed at encouraging British East Asians to consider a career in the TV and Theatre industry, especially as actors. Lots of young people, not just British East Asians, are unaware that if you want a sustainable career as an actor you have to train, as opposed to going to University to do a Drama Course there. Elements of training which are crucial to an actor are vocal and physical training, plus approaches to script. These things are not the focus of a University Course, which will be looking at styles of theatre and performance, social influences etc; things you don’t need as an actor.
We are offering a week’s course in the July so people can come and find out what drama training is all about and if it is for them. The course is residential, so apart from lunch and supper, everything else is free.

How would the collaboration work between the two organizations?

JM: Yellow Earth and The Academy of Live and Recorded Arts (ALRA) are working hand in hand to look for the next generation of talented British East Asian actors, by offering introductory actor training connected to East Asian culture to local East Asians, with directors from both companies leading each session.

CD: Yellow Earth is the face of the profession and The Academy of Live and Recorded Arts serves the profession by training actors.
Yellow Earth is a role model for any aspiring East Asian actor, quite rightly so, and ALRA can help student achieve their goals. Yellow Earth is unique in as much it is the only East Asian theatre company in this country. However, we’re not suggesting that having trained, Yellow Earth is the only place an actor can work. There is a world of work out there which is underrepresented by British East Asians, although it is starting to get better.


What skills will the participants gain from being part of Yellow Academy?

JM: Anyone attending the Taster Talks will gain an insight into how the theatre and acting industry operates, and how to gain access to working in this industry. We will also touch on acting for film and television. For those that are invited to the Audition Workshops and then the Summer Camp, they will receive a taste of what actor and drama training is really like.

CD: Basic vocal and physical skills, why and how the body and voice are used in acting. Basic acting skills and a lot of confidence, should the student decide that they want to take things further. But remember, this is a five day course. The skills that an actor needs, take years and years to build. In fact a good actor never stops learning.


What is the desired outcome for those who participate in the entire process (from the Taster talk, Auditions and Acting workshop)?

CD: The desired outcome is that the participants themselves can judge whether they really want to take on such a vocation as being a professional actor. And if they do, they will be in a much better place to audition for drama training; whether at ALRA or any of the other 21 fine drama schools that exist in Britain.

JM: For those that go through the entire process, they will gain an understanding of how the process of auditioning and going to drama school works, and the joys and pitfalls that this career path holds. They will have a chance to see that becoming a working actor is a real possibility, and decide for themselves if acting really is a career for them. For those that wish to continue after Yellow Academy, they should feel empowered to apply to go to drama school with confidence.


Will there be a selection process? What happens to those that miss out?

JM: Yes, there will be an application form to apply for the audition workshops in Spring and from those that audition, we will select those who we feel could most benefit from the Summer Camp. However Yellow Academy is just one of many routes to actor training. We will signpost at all stages, other routes into acting so that anyone can apply themselves to find out more about becoming an actor.

CD: We will choose people from the 2nd workshop. This will be a practical workshop where two of us; one from Yellow Earth and one from ALRA will work with participants in a drama workshop. Those we feel will benefit most from a week in London will be chosen.


After the Yellow Academy training is over, what options do the participants have if they want to pursue this career path or gain more experience in this industry?

CD: Yellow Academy will give participants an insight into what drama training is all about and what a drama school is all about. Those who wish to take it further will be in a strong position to audition for Drama schools. There are 21 drama schools in the Conference of Drama Schools (www.drama.ac.uk); all very different but all training professional actors. Courses are 3 years long, at the end of which, most offer a BA (Hons). Most are based in London, although it is not necessary to train in London.

ALRA is opening a second school in Wigan in September to offer regional training for two reasons; firstly, the North West has a lot of professional theatre and secondly, we can offer the training at a much cheaper rate, both in terms of fees and living expenses. With such a wide choice available many students make the mistake of thinking all schools are the same and therefore do not prepare as they should for that very important audition.
Living in an X-factor culture, there is a general belief that you can be “discovered” and that you can “make it”. Not so. That is just a bit of interesting TV entertainment. All drama schools expect applicants to show a keen interest in the profession they aspire to, in the same way that a theatre company like Yellow Earth, expect their actors to bring with them a high degree of skill and knowledge. The point of Yellow Academy is to introduce people thinking about it to the reality.

JM: We will explain in detail at the Summer Camp the various options that will be open to participants afterwards, and the realities about how competitive this industry is.


To be honest though, how will these new people compete with seasoned East Asian actors? More importantly, do you see any space in the market / media / stage etc for these new faces? Where do you see them fitting in?

JM: There is a place in any profession for newcomers as well as seasoned professionals. I don’t have a crystal ball, but with the rising East Asian population in the West, there will be pressure for corresponding portrayal on our screens and stages. There are no guarantees regarding employment, so newcomers of any background will need to compete and apply themselves.

CD: There are some wonderful East Asian actors in this country, but they had to start somewhere, which was at the beginning. Also, with all respect to them, they are getting older by the second!

The acting industry needs people of all ages in the same way in needs people of all nations, colours, shapes and sizes. It is quite voracious in that aspect. The Casting Directors who visit ALRA always express the need to see “real people” as opposed to the middle class white faces which dominate TV screens and stages. This is changing though and if you look at the USA there has been a fantastic mix of faces on their TV screens for a long time.
There is a circle which needs to be broken which is…. there are very little BEA faces on TV – therefore there will be little work for me – what’s the point? The other part of the circle is from the TV Producers point of view - there are so few, well trained BEA actors around, lets stick with the usual faces.
Yellow Academy is a step towards breaking that circle. Lets be realistic, it is an overcrowded profession. It is impossible to be in full time employment as an actor. That has never been the case nor will it. Actors work project by project – they are freelance; but whether an actor is BEA, Asian, white, black, deaf, partially-sighted or blind or a wheel chair user is neither here nor there – if they are a good actor, they will find work. But to be a good actor, you need to train.


Apart from training, what else needs to be done in order for the East Asian communities to be properly reflected in the mainstream media?

CD: I would say ownership. It’s not just producing East Asian actors. We need to encourage writers, directors, producers, stage managers, designers, lighting designers, sound designers etc. I think there is a healthy population of East Asian practitioners in certain areas of the arts, particularly graphic arts and fashion. More company’s like Yellow Earth would be good. The more visual role models in within the arts world the better.
JM: If you like something you see on your stages or screens that portray our East Asian community, then write in to the companies responsible and say so. If you see something you don’t like, or are unhappy about an absence, then still write in. And with the next national election coming up, do ask your local candidates what their party and their culture ministers will be doing regarding British East Asian representation in the arts & media.
And of course do support your local East Asian film & theatre makers, performance etc.


When do you see that day to be?

CD: With the theatre industry there is a cultural issue as far as young East Asian’s are concerned. Parents want their children to have a proper job! How do you overcome that? Visual role models are good; a parental understanding that a freelance world can be as sustaining and lucrative enough to match other industries. The problem with the creative world is there is always notoriety attached to it – thanks to the tabloid press – although I have to say in over 30 years I have never come across anything myself – the drama is always on the stage! But I can see how that can sit uneasily with certain cultural viewpoints.

With the amount of American Drama on our screens, and with lots of theatre companies, especially ones such as the Globe which uses a wide variety of actors, there is a growing awareness that there is a place for East Asian creative within the Theatre and TV industry.

So, I would say, that day is on its way. It might be more encouraging to say, that day will arrive when the East Asian community want it to – it’s there for the taking.

JM: Hopefully within my lifetime!

Perhaps the significance of having an East Asian representation in the media is more than just a familiar face on television or on stage. It is about true reflection of the British society and thus giving a voice to communities that are often unseen and unheard. We all should be encouraging more actors in taking that leap!

It's time to try
Defying gravity
I think I'll try
Defying gravity
And you can't pull me down!

Kevin Han

The Yellow Academy Taster talks in London and Birmingham will take place on 13th and 20th March respectively. To find out more and register an interest:

Email: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it , T: 0208 870 6475, Facebook: ‘Yellow Academy', Websites: www.yellowearth.org / www.alra.co.uk
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