Holding a mirror up to nature

The prestigious Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (RWCMD) saw internationally respected theatre director Jonathan Munby appointed as its new Director of Performance (Drama) earlier this year. Known for the quality and diversity of his creative companies in the UK and overseas, Munby brings the need for collaboration and inclusivity with him to his new Cardiff base.

Expanding upon his recent announcement on the need for ‘a radical and progressive look at actor training in the 21st century,’ Munby says: ‘I want to build upon ex-Director of Performance Dave Bond's excellent legacy, and ensure that the college holds a mirror up to nature, and embraces the complexity of today's society. The industry has changed, so actor training needs to keep up with these changes so that it becomes an extension of the industry.

‘The world, too, keeps changing, with people now more in touch with themselves and their world, so training must respond to this – current trends, contemporary practitioners, writers, values, and thinking: we need to take all of these into account. Diversity and disability also need recognising and celebrating, with rehearsal rooms providing safe, up-to-date spaces for both screen and stage training.’

Diversifying the course

A student on a specialist college actor training course usually follows a three year programme that equips them with the necessary skills for industry survival, including core classes in Acting, Singing, Movement, Voice and Stage Combat. The final year culminates in public performances, with end of year projects performed before agents and casting directors. Such courses are thorough and are proven to work, but they can be a little outdated. Munby points out: ‘The current actor training repertoire is very Eurocentric and very “white” in terms of both performances and teaching.’

With the profession remaining fiercely precarious, over-populated and competitive, graduates leaving Drama school are more likely to secure a small role in a TV drama than in the theatre, with Munby also recognising colleges’ ‘lack of screen work training – this now needs the attention it deserves. In light of this, we have plans to double our Acting for Screen tutors.’

Rehearsal for Ripples – Part of RWCMD's New: 2020 season, rehearsing in March 2020 

Munby is particularly recognised for his direction of Shakespeare and classic texts, and he is keen to enforce their place within contemporary training: ‘Key core performance knowledge must still be there, but it should now merge with progressive knowledge and skills so that graduates leave their training institutions prepared for the challenges the world and the industry throws at them, ready to create their own work.’

Positive thinking

Such a shake-up to the RWCMD's training makes little difference to a student's audition experience, although, in line with all specialist colleges at the moment, first round auditions are to be conducted online. With travel costs and, sometimes, accommodation now not a factor, this can really advantage a student who may also have applied to five or six other specialist colleges.

Munby, too, draws out the positive: ‘While not completely ideal, it does allow us to cast a wider net in reaching out to young people across the nation and beyond. This has also prompted us to question the audition fee, and we are currently looking into reducing this. It is, however, very important that recalls are “live” for the all-important workshopping, where young people can be seen at work as a collective ensemble – crucial in the selection process.’

With a move to Cardiff complete and the new start imminent, Munby is excited about this new adventure: ‘I am most looking forward to getting to know Cardiff through living and working here, and getting to know the college and our students. Dave Bond, a man and practitioner whom I deeply admire, established New, introducing a new season of writing. I am looking forward to embracing and expanding upon this, drawing upon writers from diverse backgrounds, as well as within Wales.

‘Indeed, the announcement of Chinonyerem Odimba, the award-winning Bristol based playwright, screenwriter and poet, as the college's first writer-in-residence for 2020/21, is an exciting development for RWCMD. A brilliant playwright, artist and activist, Chinonyerem's strong voice is a prime example of a partnership that fully supports the way I feel we should be developing as a training institution. I am also really looking forward to collaborating with the college's fantastic staff, for example our Head of Music, Tim Rhys-Evans. The prospect of bringing together Music and Drama is terribly exciting!’

With such great changes afoot, one thing that forever remains constant is the advice Munby offers to prospective actors auditioning at RWCMD: ‘Connect with who you are, and then connect with the truth in your audition piece. Strip away at it to get to its truth.’

The RWCMD is at an exciting time in its development. Munby's understanding of industry expectations is sure to further cement the college as one of the world's top training establishments.