How Anna Scher’s maverick acting school created so many working-class stars | Stage | The Guardian
For 50 years Anna Scher has taught acting to north London children, with many – such as Kathy Burke, Daniel Kaluuya and Adam Deacon – becoming household names. What is … Continue reading
Empire of the Stage | Iconic Photos
Last week, when covering the news of Lord Snowdon’s death, we briefly mentioned the work he did for Vanity Fair, covering British theatre, in November 1995. John Osborne, the playwright … Continue reading
Older actors weigh up their careers: ‘If you’re not obsessed, you’ll never survive’ | Stage | The Guardian
Don’t expect to be in control, never stop looking for the next role: Siân Phillips, Timothy West and Janet Henfrey on how they turned acting into a life’s work. Source: … Continue reading
Quote • OSCAR WILDE • Acting
“I love acting. It is so much more real than life.” – Oscar Wilde
![John Barrymore, Photograph by Arnold Genthe, October 3, 1922 [Wikimedia]](https://roguesandvagabonds.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/john_barrymore.jpg?w=155&h=110&crop=1)
Quote • JOHN BARRYMORE • Famous Last Words
“Die, I should say not, dear fellow. No Barrymore would allow such a conventional thing to happen to him.” These are often incorrectly cited as the last words of the … Continue reading
Archive Interview • Hugh Bonneville • 2004
FROM THE ARCHIVE Hugh Bonneville is not only a sublime actor but a charming and erudite chap with a fine line in drollery. He sounds a little wary at the start … Continue reading
Quote • ROBERT MITCHUM • ‘That bum…’
“You know what the average Robert Mitchum fan is? He’s full of warts and dandruff and he’s probably got a hernia too, But he sees me up there on the … Continue reading
Quote • DAVID NIVEN • Acting
“Can you imagine being wonderfully overpaid for dressing up and playing games?” – David Niven, actor, novelist, English Source: “Can you imagine being wonderfully overpaid for dressing up and playing … Continue reading
My role on Holby City helps change attitudes about autism – Jules | Scope’s Blog
Jules is an actor and a regular on Holby City. He also happens to have Asperger syndrome, which is a form of autism. As part of 30 Under 30, we … Continue reading
“A goal without a plan is just a wish” – Francesca, the theatre star | Scope’s Blog
Francesca Mills is a 20-year-old actor who has achondroplasia, a common form of dwarfism. She is currently on tour with a Ramps on the Moon production,of the Government Inspector where … Continue reading
Quote • FRANCES DE LA TOUR • Acting
“I have an idealistic dream about painters and poets and musicians and what their lives are like. They do what they want to do, and we don’t. We do what … Continue reading
Five Fascinating Facts about David Garrick | Interesting Literature
The life of actor David Garrick (1717-1779), told through five pieces of interesting trivia 1. He helped to bring a new degree of realism to acting. In his An Essay on … Continue reading
Quote • PEGGY ASHCROFT • Much Ado About Nothing
‘[Sir John] Gielgud revived his own colourful, ingeniously designed 1949 production a year later, casting himself as Benedick to Peggy Ashcroft’s Beatrice. On the first night the pair drank a … Continue reading
Quote • ALAN RICKMAN • Susan Sarandon
“Alan Rickman was an actor’s actor; courageous, generous, witty & surprising. When he laughed he lit up a room. A prince. You will be missed.” Susan Sarandon quoted in The … Continue reading
Quote • ALAN RICKMAN • The Profession
“The profession should be and is a kind of relay race – about information, opinions and passions being passed on.” — Alan Rickman, Theatregoer Magazine, November 2001 First quoted on R&V … Continue reading
![Edward Albee photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1961. [Wikimedia]](https://roguesandvagabonds.files.wordpress.com/2015/12/edward_albee_van_vechten.jpg?w=155&h=110&crop=1)
Quote • EDWARD ALBEE • ‘A Terrible Drunk’
‘I used to be a terrible drunk. I insisted on setting everyone straight about what was wrong with them. And I’m told that I’d go to the theatre, and I’d … Continue reading
Quote • NOËL COWARD • Oscar Wilde
“Am reading more of Oscar Wilde. What a tiresome, affected sod” Noël Coward
Quote • ANNA MAXWELL MARTIN • Backstage Jealousy
‘Oh yes, people keep pulling knives on me and threatening me with guns.’ Anna Maxwell Martin when asked if there was jealousy backstage at the National because of the reception … Continue reading
Watch Cate Blanchett and Ian McKellen Discuss Acting | Seroword
With Cate Blanchett’s newly released Carol, the two actors met to discuss topics ranging from faking accents to working with different types of directors. Source: Watch Cate Blanchett and Ian … Continue reading
“He was just beautiful . . . Errol. He himself openly said, “I don’t know really anything about acting,” and I admire his honesty because he’s absolutely right.” Bette Davis
Photo post by @toobeguiling. Source: “He was just beautiful . . . Errol. He himself openly said, “I don’t know really anything about acting,” and I admire his honesty because … Continue reading
Quote • PETER USTINOV • Comedy and Tragedy
“Comedy is simply a funny way of being serious” ― Peter Ustinov
Quote • HENRY IRVING • Faust & Romeo & Juliet
‘I had seen [Henry Irving] in Faust, his blanched face appearing in the unholy light of thirty limes, a long, thin figure in red, heightened by the tall feather in … Continue reading
Quote • RICHARD BEAN
‘If it’s a play about someone’s private experience, or someone’s personal problem or a family that is a bit dysfunctional, I shrug my shoulders and say so what? I’ve got … Continue reading
Quote • KEN DODD • Comedy and Craft
‘There was more art to comedy years ago. Comics were masters of their craft. Today there are precious few places to learn that craft and far too much emphasis on … Continue reading
Quote • MIRIAM MARGOLYES • Being Grand
“I can’t keep my mouth shut – but as long as I get what I want, I’m lovely. You can’t be grand in this business, it’s stupid. I’m genuinely democratic … Continue reading
![Downey at the 2014 San Diego Comic Con International [Wikipedia]](https://roguesandvagabonds.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/robert_downey_jr_2014_comic_con_cropped.jpg?w=155&h=110&crop=1)
Quote • ROBERT DOWNEY JR • Acting
“I know very little about acting. I’m just an incredibly gifted faker.” Robert Downey Jr
Quote • CECIL B DE MILLE • Creation
‘Creation is a drug I can’t do without.’ Cecil B. DeMille The Plainsman [DVD] [1936]
Quote • CORIN REDGRAVE • The Recruiting Officer • 2003
‘And The Recruiting Officer, written shortly after the battle of Blenheim, is a brilliant comedy about the way country people were exploited by members of Marlborough’s army. It’s one of … Continue reading
YouTube Interview • NOEL COWARD • Acting • 1966
Here in full, courtesy of YouTube, is Michael MacOwan’s interview with Noël Coward from 1966. It is chock-full of invaluable advice about acting, whether for stage or screen. The productions referred to … Continue reading
Rogues & Vagabonds 