This week we catch up with another former Excel student – Aidan to get the low down on his first year training at college to become an actor and find out exactly what it entails.

1)Which college/university are you training at now?

I am currently training at ‘East 15’ Acting and Drama School in Southend-on-Sea.

2)What course are you doing?

I have just finished a certificate of higher education in acting and theatre studies.

3)How has your first year been?

My first year has been amazing. It has allowed me to grow as a performer much further than I could have ever thought and has given me the skills, understanding and ability to audition for and achieve a place on the BA acting and physical theatre course at East 15. The networking and friend making opportunities I’ve had is incredible and the independence is so much fun, scary at times but still fun.

4)What is a typical day at college?

A typical day is wake up at 7:30am, get ready for school at 9 then it can vary between projects all day, which could be anything from creating our own piece for the end of year show or weekly cabarets, to skills lessons in voice singing and movement helping us understand how to better our skills for our craft.

5)What skills did you learn at Excel that have helped at college?

Excel most importantly gave me a space I could grow and be confident and learn new things in and without that I would not have had the confidence or got as much out of an acting school as I have this year. Excel also taught me so much about dance and that has come so handy in things like teaching a whole class how to swing dance (that I had to teach myself first) and general movement of the body in creating abstract movement pieces to tell narratives.

6)What is your ideal job the future?

My ideal job in the future would be acting in TV, film and theatre and generally getting to do new and exciting styles throughout my career. I’d love to work with puppetry in the West End and do a comedy series like Saturday night live. 

7)What advice could you give our younger Excel students who might also be thinking of a career in the Arts?

My best advice I can give is give it a shot. Give it your best shot if that’s what you want to do, go for it and be yourself doing it, don’t do what others want you to do or what you think they want you to do or be. People love creative individuals so be the most ‘unique you’ you can be as there’s only one of you.

Thank you Aidan for your fascinating answers and brilliant advice. We are so excited to follow where your acting career takes you. Best of luck and keep being unique you!