Sir Patrick Stewart’s acting masterclass
The University of Huddersfield’s Emeritus Chancellor helps second-year drama students perfect their craft
Sir Patrick Stewart delivered an acting masterclass on a recent two-day visit to the University.
As a Visiting Professor of Performing Arts, he spent time with second-year drama students helping them to explore their acting technique and interpretation. Three groups of students performed excerpts from plays they will be presenting in May as part of the Second Year Drama Festival.
Such was Sir Patrick’s enthusiasm and enjoyment that he confessed that he could have easily spent a whole day with the young actors.
The full story behind Sir Patrick’s recent visit can be found online.
The acting masterclass
Three groups of acting students performed excerpts from plays they will be presenting in May as part of the Second Year Drama Festival.
Seated alongside the student directors – Natasha Allen, Samantha Leach and Kerry Chippendale – Sir Patrick, who had studied the scripts beforehand, asked the actors to try subtly different techniques and approaches to their parts, resulting in dramatic differences in interpretation that were immediately apparent.
He stressed how important it is for actors to be able to make changes and to respond to direction.
“We must jump into the deep end of a new idea and inhabit it completely”.
He also imparted some golden rules, such as a prohibition of what he termed “demonstration” when actors flagged up their feeling or thought too hard about their lines.
“Never think about what you are going to say, but think about your feelings and experiences.”
He also stressed the importance of experimentation during rehearsal.
“I wish I could have worked with you for six hours! What I have seen is really good and very encouraging,” he said.
The student actors who performed for Sir Patrick were Dominic Andre, Jacqueline Columbine, Freya Hemsley, Francesca Raine, Tony Slater, Jamie Smith, Jess Thompson, Jessica Truan, Kelsey Weavill and Mollie Wood.