Monkey Meets... Miranda Heath, Actor & Fourth Monkey Patron
As part of our recent Drama School for a Day event in October 2022, we were delighted to welcome Miranda Heath, an actor and Fourth Monkey Patron, to the Monkey House to share a masterclass in Acting for Camera / Self-taping with the young people who joined us for this event as they explored our thematic Act. Make. Move. Collaborate training ethos through a series of interactive workshops for an insight into everything actor training with Fourth Monkey has to offer.
An essential skill for early career and established performers alike, Miranda shared her top tips for creating confident, effective self-tapes that feel polished and professional, and help actors stand out from the crowd. Following her masterclass, we sat down for a quick chat with Miranda to learn a little more about what she explored with the young people who joined us for Drama School for a Day and to get her advice for anyone thinking about applying to drama school…
Miranda, thank you for joining us at Drama School for a Day! Tell us a little about what you explored with the young people who joined us at the Monkey House for the event.
We explored some tips when it comes to self-taping for actors. We delved into framing, finding your light, understanding eye line, and how to do these things without access to a top-notch studio space or extra special lights, rather how you can do these things using just your phone, which I think is really helpful.
What do you hope participants will take away from, or have taken away from, the Drama School for a Day event?
I hope they take away some information and inspiration about self-taping for early career actors, and that I have made enough mistakes so that they don’t have to make the same ones when building their own tapes and portfolios!
More than anything, I want them to feel confident and empowered when it comes to creating self-tapes. I personally feel that my career changed as soon as I became confident self-taping and actually started enjoying the process, and I think anything that can support you in this way and give more power back to the actor is a no-brainer.
What advice would you share with young people thinking about applying to drama school?
It is, quite simply, a wonderful springboard into an acting career – meeting people who are passionate about the same things as you are is priceless. Drama school creates a wonderful discipline that you really need in the industry, meaning this skill is bedded in before you start your career, which is brilliant.
Being part of Fourth Monkey’s Drama School for a Day event has been brilliant. The students who are already here as actors-in-training are so wonderful, vibrant and full of energy – it truly supported the whole day. Plus, the young people who have come to take part and explore what Fourth Monkey’s training has to offer have been so engaging and the atmosphere has been so welcoming. When I think back to when I was younger, the idea of “drama school” was so terrifying – to know that you can walk into a building and it can feel so friendly at an event such as this, no wonder people want to come here!
I think some training establishments or Higher Education institutions can appear so scary and stand-offish and it is the exact opposite at Fourth Monkey – how else can you nurture talent if you’re not relaxed and feeling confident and comfortable? That is exactly what they are doing here and it is wonderful to see.
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Inspired by Miranda Heath’s advice and insights? Direct applications are open for 2023 entry across all undergraduate actor training courses, and aspiring actors and artists can choose from our 3-Year BA (Hons) Acting degree pathway, BA (Hons) Acting Accelerated Degree and CertHE Acting & Theatre Making foundation courses.
Designed to be inclusive, supportive and personable, our undergraduate audition days provide applicants with an opportunity to explore and experience our unique and vibrant drama school training ethos and environment. Plus, we are proud to offer a zero-fee audition process for all applicants as part of our belief that accessibility starts at audition – learn more and submit a direct application via the link below.
(Image credits: Max Curtis)
