Teaching & Coaching...
I teach Acting, give individual coaching, conduct master classes and workshops, and direct student productions from time to time. My Teaching CV is downloadable here.
The Two Day Screen Acting School - my crash course in Acting for the camera - was recently hosted by Mark Westbrook's ACS Studio.
Alexa Ispas - one of the actors participating - had this to say:
"The course was immensely helpful - it's been a long time since I've learned so much in only two days. It was so enlightening to
hear about all your personal experiences with the Film/TV industry, and all the stories about other actors you had encountered - it's stuff we'll remember for a long time to come. I always find
that I learn more from an individual's idiosyncratic experiences than a whole host of theoretical books.
"The Actor's Blueprint will also be a useful tool we'll be able to incorporate into our practice. And the audition technique and all the technical stuff you taught us in front of the camera were invaluable, it gave me an initial insight of how much there is to learn and how interesting and precise it all is."
My approach is based on The Actor's Blueprint, an amended Stanislavski system developed & taught by the late Rudy Solari, on my extensive classical work with the late Charles Vernon (who taught Forrest Whittaker, Ally Sheedy & Tate Donovan, among others), my training at UCLA and The Royal Scottish Academy of Music & Drama, and on my own years of experience as a working Actor in all areas of the Business.
I love to play VIOLA SPOLIN THEATER GAMES and the games and exercises of AUGUSTO BOAL.
David Rex - an actor who was one of my students when I taught at the Birmingham School of Speech & Drama - had this to say regarding our work together on MISHA'S PARTY, and in scene study classes:
"I was fortunate enough to be directed by Paul Birchard in a leading role whilst at drama school - among the most insightful and clear direction that I received there - and since.
"Paul was highly instrumental in making me believe in myself.
Re individual coaching, I'm delighted to help you in any way I can:
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Preparing for auditions
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Working with accents & dialects
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Understanding and delivering complicated text (Restoration, Shakespeare, Shaw...)
- Improving your breathing, articulation, vocal range and voice production
I'm not authoritarian - I love actors - I'm not expensive - I am good!