The course will provide practical introduction to Strasberg’s ideas on actor-training, work on roles and on directing. It would be extremely relevant to any actors or directors at any stage of their training or career.

The course is run by Real Circumstance Associate Artist Suresh Patel, one of the most exciting up-and-coming acting teachers in the country and a leading authority on Lee Strasberg:

“In over 30 years of teaching the work of Lee Strasberg, not to mention the entire American Stanislavsky heritage, I have met few artists who managed to grasp both its theory and practice on the level Suresh has. He is, as they used to say, ‘to the manner born.’ If it is ‘the Method’ you are looking for then Suresh is the place the look. Any student would be lucky to have Suresh as their teacher. He is intelligent, caring, knowledgeable, passionate and committed. He loves what he does.” - Robert Ellermann, Teacher at The Lee Strasberg and Film Institute

Course length: 8 weeks. Every Sunday 2–6pm from 25 October - 13 December.
Course Price: £350 in total.
Venue: London, venue tbc.
Spaces are limited so book early to avoid disappointment. If you would like to book a place or to find out more about the course, please contact Ruth on ruth@realcircumstance.com

About Suresh Patel:
Formerly a member of the NYT and with a degree from Cambridge University, Suresh trained at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York. He is Artistic Director and Founder of Real Circumstance’s Associated Artist Group – a permanent theatre collective of 20 actors. He is also Associate Artist of Real Circumstance Theatre Company, where his main responsibilities include actor training and development. He has lectured on Strasberg and Stanislavski at Birmingham University and at Bruford College’s Stanislavski Centre. He is due to teach a course on Strasberg and Meisner Birmingham University in 2010. He also works as a consultant to Routledge Publishers on upcoming proposals related to the Stanislavskian heritage.

Student Testimonials:

“Suresh ranks among the best acting teachers I’ve worked with. His knowledge of theatrical history and practice is as extensive as it is insightful. He posesses the rare ability to engage equally with both theory and technique. He is able to distill and convey the complexities behind modern theatrical craft so that it invigorates rather than obstructs the work.”

“Suresh’s enthusiasm and knowledge of his subject is second to none and totally infectious! His supportive and nurturing encouragement and approach really gets the best out of actors and without fail he always creates a safe environment ideal for creativity and play. I can’t recommend his classes highly enough and feel sure that everyone will benefit and flourish under his guidance.”

http://realcircumstance.blip.tv/

We hope you enjoy watching the footage and welcome any feedback!

• You can also add “Cleo Sparks” as a friend on Facebook to interact with the main character in Our Share of Tomorrow.

• And if you’re interested in following the company’s blogs about the creation process, please visit these links:

http://reallycircumstantial.blogspot.com http://tamsinshareoftomorrow.blogspot.com http://josomervell.blogspot.com

Thanks as always for your interest and support,

Real Circumstance
—

Our Share of Tomorrow is being created by Real Circumstance over the course of 2009, for production in 2010.

Conceived and Directed by Dan Sherer.
Created by Real Circumstance.
Cast: Jot Davies, Tamsin Kennard, Toby Sawyer, Jo Somervell.
www.realcircumstance.com/osot

“Real Circumstance’s work is becoming an intriguing nugget of profound dramatic quality, intricately detailed until the end.” British Theatre Guide
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Real Circumstance is holding weekend-long workshops throughout July and August to provide actors with the chance to develop and maintain their craft. Actors will be led through exercises that heighten key acting faculties:

·       Awareness and control of muscles

·       Concentration

·       Imagination

·       Response to others

·       Logic of sequence and behaviour

·       Improvisation

·       Fantasy

Dates and times: Workshops will be held over the following weekends:

·       18 - 19 July

·       25 - 26 July

·       1 - 2 August

·       8 - 9 August

·       15 - 16 August

·       22 - 23 August

Please note: each workshop lasts 2 days - Saturday and Sunday. Both days will run 10am - 6pm with an hour’s lunch break.

Cost: Total cost for the weekend is £50.

Location: The workshops will be in London, venues tbc.

Booking: Places are limited to 12 per workshop - so please book early to avoid disappointment. To provisionally book, please email Ruth Brock at ruth@realcircumstance.comwith your preferred weekend.

Workshop leader:

These workshops will be lead by Real Circumstance’s Associate Artist Suresh Patel. Suresh runs Real Circumstance’s Associate Artists Group - a collective of 25 actors committed to functioning as a permanent theatre company (www.realcircumstance.com/aag); and he helps to develop and implement Real Circumstance’s Artist Development and Education programmes. Suresh has lectured at the Stanislavski Centre and Birmingham University on the relationship between Stanislavski and the American Method; and he is currently designing a module for Birmingham University to introduce students practically to the training ideas of both Strasberg and Meisner. He is a consultant to Routledge Publishers on books related to the Stanislavskian heritage.  Suresh trained at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, New York.

Student Testimonials:

“I have no doubt that any actor who works with Suresh will certainly benefit hugely from the experience. I myself have re-discovered what it is to view acting as a craft, and my body as my instrument, and have found myself growing in confidence, enthusiasm and ability as a result.”

“Suresh has a passion for acting which is unrivalled by any teacher I have ever worked with in the past. I feel that, in many ways, I have learned more from working with him for a few short months than I did during my three years at drama school. His enthusiasm and honesty are infectious, and his primary motivation is always to discover the truthfulness in every actor and in the work that they do.”

“Suresh ranks among the best acting teachers I’ve worked with. His knowledge of theatrical history and practice is as extensive as it is insightful. He posesses the rare ability to engage equally with both theory and technique. He is able to distill and convey the complexities behind modern theatrical craft so that it invigorates rather than obstructs the work.”

Real Circumstance is an East of England theatre company dedicated to exploring new ways of playmaking. Real Circumstance is currently creating its next production, Our Share of Tomorrow (www.realcircumstance.com/osot).

Venue: The Junction, Cambridge (www.junction.co.uk)

Tickets: Pay What You Can

Box Office: 01223 511 511

Web: www.menagerietheatre.co.uk/hotbedfest

—

Watch the creation of Our Share of Tomorrow online:

· Live streamed rehearsals at www.realcircumstance.com/osot, where you can watch rehearsals live; find out when the next live stream is; and watch the footage to date.

· Blogs: subscribe to director’s blog here http://reallycircumstantial.blogspot.com/; and Cast blogs here http://tamsinshareoftomorrow.blogspot.com/ and here http://josomervell.blogspot.com/.

· Facebook: befriend Cleo Sparks on Facebook, and interact with the central character of Our Share of Tomorrow.

Conceived and Directed by Dan Sherer.

Created by Real Circumstance.

Cast: Jot Davies, Tamsin Kennard, Toby Sawyer, Jo Somervell.

Our Share of Tomorrow is a love story.

Our Share of Tomorrow is being created by Real Circumstance over the course of 2009, for production in 2010.

Watch the creation of Our Share of Tomorrow online:

• Live streamed rehearsals at www.realcircumstance.com/osot, where you can watch rehearsals live; find out when the next live stream is; and watch the footage to date.

• Blogs: subscribe to director Dan Sherer’s blog here http://reallycircumstantial.blogspot.com/; and Cast blogs here http://tamsinshareoftomorrow.blogspot.com/ and here http://josomervell.blogspot.com/.

• Facebook: the central character of Our Share of Tomorrow will shortly have a Facebook profile, who you can befriend and interact with. Details to follow.

Conceived and Directed by Dan Sherer.
Created by Real Circumstance.
Cast: Jot Davies, Tamsin Kennard, Toby Sawyer, Jo Somervell.

Our Share of Tomorrow is generously supported by Arts Council East. Real Circumstance is an Escalator Performing Arts 2009 company.

“Real Circumstance’s work is becoming an intriguing nugget of profound dramatic quality, intricately detailed until the end.” British Theatre Guide

Real Circumstance’s plans for 2009 include:

*** The development of OUR SHARE OF TOMORROW – Real Circumstance’s first fully self-created piece of theatre and next production.

*** The expansion of our Artist Development Programme, including the beginning of Real Circumstance’s Associated Artists Group (AAG). The AAG will be a group of emergent artists led by Real Circumstance’s Associate Artist Suresh Patel that meet regularly to explore all aspects of the craft of acting.

*** The development of our Education Programme: including the delivery of workshops for children and adults for other charitable organisations; and the development of a series of drama education workshops based upon our creative process.

We will of course keep you posted as all these projects unfold, and we hope to see you in 2009!

With best wishes,

Dan, Anna, Suresh and Ruth

Real Circumstance / www.realcircumstance.com

—

Help make Real Circumstance’s work possible through everyclick.com – a search engine that gives 50% of its revenue to charity. Using everyclick.com as your search engine does not cost you or us anything, but every time you use it, you raise money for Real Circumstance. Just go to www.everyclick.com/real-circumstance-theatre-company - you can then set it as your home page or add it to your favourites. Thank you so much for supporting us in this way!

For other ways of helping Real Circumstance, including secure online donation, please visit www.realcircumstance.com/support.

—

LOUGH/RAIN comes to Cambridge for one night only on 15 October – your last chance to catch this critically-acclaimed and award-nominated production this year!

Double nominated for The Stage Awards for Acting Excellence – Jot Davies for Best Actor and Kate Donmall for Best Actress

“Leaves you truly affected…Real Circumstance’s work is becoming an intriguing nugget of profound dramatic quality, intricately detailed.” British Theatre Guide ****

“A moving, gut-wrenching piece of contemporary theatre.” Metro *****

Real Circumstance with York Theatre Royal / Escalator present:

Two new plays interwoven as one

In the wake of a terrible accident, Michael and Caoimhe rebuild their lives as best they can. But all Michael can remember is the boat out on the lough that never should have been there. The barometer points to rain as the young couple realise they might not grow old together.

A lyrical exploration of loss and love

“An intriguing and deeply poetic study of dreams drowned in domesticity” The Stage

“Acting this intimate, this committed, is rare, raw, riveting.” Yorkshire Evening Post

“One of the most convincing portrayals of love and intimacy I’ve ever seen…essential viewing.” FringeReview ****

“An enigmatic portrait of everyday life…beautifully realised in all its aspects, this gem is captivating.” Whats on Stage ****

Performed by Jot Davies and Kate Donmall
Directed by Dan Sherer
Designed by James Cotterill
Lighting by Michael Nabarro
Sound by Steve Mayo and Thomas WIlson

Venue: The Junction, Clifton Way, Cambridge
Dates: Wed 15 October
Time: 8pm
Tickets: £12 / £6 concessions
To book tickets, please call The Junction Box Office on 01223 511 511, or book securely online at www.junction.co.uk.

For more details and to view the trailer, please visit www.realcircumstance.com/loughrain

The art of a permanent theatre company is a dying one. Much of theatre today is driven by a process whereby theatre artists are brought together for one show, rehearsing for a short period of time and then parting company.

We feel a stronger theatre is possible through establishing a permanent theatre company that possesses a shared outlook on life. By developing a common technique and language for the rehearsal room, and by working over an extended period of time, the group will make theatre that best expresses this outlook.

We are exploring to what extent a permanent theatre company can exist today. At this stage,

• We are seeking actors who are committed to meeting regularly to explore all aspects of the craft of acting, from individual exercises, to group ones, to working on scenes, texts and devised work. We propose 6-9 months of craft exploration and development.
• This will be followed in November 2009 by a performance in a London venue of a play to be decided by the group.
• Other scene work may be presented in front of audiences before that time.

We are holding auditions in London in November 2008. These will consist of a full weekend of workshops (venues to be decided nearer the time). The four available slots are:

• Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th - 10am until 5pm both days
• Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th  - 10am until 5pm both days
• Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd - 10am until 5pm both days
• Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th - 10am until 5pm both days

There is nothing to prepare but you need to attend for the whole weekend. We will be working with you to explore the following:

• Sense of ensemble
• Response to imaginary objects
• Sense of respect towards theatre and each other
• Sense of logic
• Sense of showmanship
• Artistic identity
• A feeling for the life of plays

If you are interested in auditioning please contact Suresh Patel (suresh@realcircumstance.com) with the weekend slot that would suit you best. Please bear in mind this will be a serious commitment, both in terms of time and dedication, so consider genuinely whether it is something that you feel passionate about committing to.

Suresh Patel leads Real Circumstance Theatre Company’s Associated Artist Group. He is an Associate Artist for Real Circumstance, where his main responsibilities include actor training/development and teaching. Real Circumstance’s recent acting accolades include double nominations for The Stage Awards for Acting Excellence at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for LOUGH/RAIN. Suresh has trained actors privately in London and New York. Next month he will give a lecture on Lee Strasberg at the Stanislavski Centre at Rose Bruford College, and he also works as a reader for Routledge’s ‘Performance Practitioner’ series. Suresh studied at the Lee Strasberg Theater and Film Institute in New York.

Lachlan Nieboer is an actor and trainer of actors. Most recently he appeared in the season finale of Torchwood for the BBC and is currently in production for a new film on Vivaldi’s life. He has trained actors privately in London and New York. Lachlan trained at the Lee Strasberg Theater and Film Institute in New York.

www.realcircumstance.com

Double nominated for The Stage Awards for Acting Excellence – Jot Davies for Best Actor and Kate Donmall for Best Actress

“An intriguing and deeply poetic study of dreams drowned in domesticity” The Stage

“A moving, gut-wrenching piece of contemporary theatre” Metro *****

Real Circumstance with York Theatre Royal present:

LOUGH/RAIN
by Declan Feenan and Clara Brennan

Two new plays interwoven as one

In the wake of a terrible accident, Michael and Caoimhe rebuild their lives as best they can. But all Michael can remember is the boat out on the lough that never should have been there. The barometer points to rain as the young couple realise they might not grow old together.

A lyrical exploration of loss and love

“Compelling…incredibly tragic” The Scotsman ***

“This performance will give you spine-tingles from start to finish” ThreeWeeks ****

“Fantastic acting…beautiful illustrative set and excellent direction” British Theatre Guide ****

“One of the most convincing portrayals of love and intimacy I’ve ever seen…A subtle, believable script and genuinely moving performances make this essential viewing” FringeReview.com ****

“An enigmatic portrait of everyday life…beautifully realised in all its aspects, this anachronistic gem is captivating from the first water sound effect to the last” Whatsonstage.com ****

Performed by Jot Davies and Kate Donmall
Directed by Dan Sherer
Designed by James Cotterill
Lighting by Michael Nabarro
Sound by Steve Mayo and Thomas WIlson

Venue: The Studio at York Theatre Royal
Dates: 19 Sep – 4 Oct
Time: 21.30
Tickets: £10 (Tue –Thu) or £12 (Fri & Sat); £5 concessions, students and u25s.
To book tickets, please call York Theatre Royal Box Office on 01904 623 568, or book securely online at www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.

For more details and to view the trailer, please visit www.realcircumstance.com/loughrain