#OnceAMonkey - Touring Family-Friendly Theatre
We spoke to Class of 2021 – Two Year Rep (now BA (Hons) Acting) graduate Arthur Thorpe about his experiences of working on a touring theatre production specifically aimed at families and young children, as well as using puppetry as a core performance element within the piece.
Plus, Arthur shares some his experiences and memories of drama school training with Fourth Monkey plus the advice he would give to anyone who is thinking about applying to audition – in short, perfect inspiration for anyone curious to learn more about actor training and where this could take them!
Firstly, introduce yourself! Tell us your name, what you studied at Fourth Monkey plus a little about your background.
Hello! My name is Arthur Thorpe and I’m from Newcastle upon-Tyne and I studied on the Two Year Rep course (now the BA (Hons) Acting Accelerated Degree), graduating in 2021.
I was recommended Fourth Monkey by my agent at the time and once I’d done my reading and attended the audition, I was taken by how different it felt to the other drama school auditions I’d been to. I loved the focus on the various types of “physical theatre” and Clown as core subjects and felt the school’s ethos and attitude really reflected what I wanted to get out of my training.
Similarly, what are your favourite memories of your time at Fourth Monkey? Were there any classes or practitioners who influenced you as an actor and theatre maker?
A memory that will always stick with me is watching and performing in our Solo Story project at the end of our very first term of training. I really think this was the beginning of us being able to take control of our own journeys, to begin to trust ourselves as performers and creators. We also had a day at the end of our second term which was filled with joy as we got to mess about at the end of both our dance and clown modules.
For my own personal development, I think I had two high points; the first being a bit of a breakthrough during our Scene Study project and the second being performing in Welcome to Thebes for our Contemporary Season – it was a big step forward for me in realising my own potential.
When you joined Fourth Monkey, what direction did you imagine your creative career would take? How has this evolved and developed over the last two years?
One thing for sure is I was not expecting a global pandemic to hit less than half a year into my drama school training. Talk about dramatic! I definitely had a very different version of training to what I was expecting, however, I think it gave me a stronger resolve than I would have had otherwise, which I think is in great part due to the emphasis Fourth Monkey puts on working as an ensemble and in supporting each other to reach their potential. I feel I came out a more independent, decisive and driven performer with a clearer vision of my future.
I’m very grateful for the chance to play around and explore so many different aspects of theatre; I’ve realised what I’ve been longing for since graduating and I feel I know where I want to place myself in this industry and the projects I’m going to be chasing or making in the future.
You are currently part of a touring production of Tales from Acorn Wood Live, a show specifically for young children and families – tell us a little about the show and your role.
I am indeed! I’m one of five actor/puppeteers who have been brought together to form the ensemble.
There are four main storylines which correspond with the first four books released in the Tales from Acorn Wood series and we each puppet many of the characters, my main puppet being Pig, and my favourite puppet being Mole. There are lots of chances to get the kids involved too, as most of them know the stories better than we do, so it’s always great when they’re shouting out as we move through each of the stories.
As a team, we collaborated with our directors and we were an integral part of the devising process for this show. We’ll be adding another story to the end of the show, to be performed over the festive period in December.
Tales from Acorn Wood Live uses puppetry as part of the performance – how have you found this experience and how has it helped you develop your skills as a performer?
What I love about puppetry is how focused you need to be in order to keep the characters – and therefore the story – alive on stage.
It’s really given me a greater appreciation for finding the detail in my own performance and I think this will stick with me throughout the rest of my career, puppetry or not. Puppetry also makes you realise how much you need to take care of your own body – there are lots of uncomfortable positions and heavy objects you need to hold, so being mindful of yourself is very important.
How have you found being part of a production specifically aimed at a younger audience? What have you learned from this and what advice would you give to other actors preparing to take part in a family or “children’s” show?
Get comfortable with silence. It’s a blessing when you have a responsive audience and can almost let the story tell itself, but when the audience is shy or not ready to respond to your prompts it may feel like you’re falling flat on your face. I think having a little skill in improvising definitely goes a long way towards encouraging them out of their shells.
It’s heaps of fun and seeing the joy on the children’s faces when we first come on stage and introduce them to the puppets makes all the early mornings and three shows a day worth it!
Looking ahead, do you have any upcoming projects or performances that you are working on and are able to share with us?
At the moment my whole life seems to be living in Acorn Wood, but I’m hoping to get to work on some ideas I’ve had once I have a spare moment!
Finally, what advice would you share with anyone thinking about auditioning for Fourth Monkey?
Do it! What do you have to lose? The audition is free after all. It’s a day of fun and games which will give you a taste of what the official training is like. It’s also a great chance to get to know the school a bit better and to see if it’s a fit for you without feeling like you’ve had to bare your soul or step too far out of your comfort zone. At the end of the day the decision is yours to make.
Inspired by Arthur’s insights into actor training with Fourth Monkey? Applications for 2023 entry to all our accredited Higher Education courses, including BA (Hons) Acting Accelerated and Three Year Degree pathways, are open with all applicants across all courses receiving a NO FEE audition day – learn more about what to expect plus submit an application direct via our website or via UCAS using the button below!
