I’ve done a few shows in Amateur theatre . I have played a couple of lead roles without knowing anyone involved . There is no doubt there is a lot of nepotism though , I’ve done a few shows in the ensemble also , But these days I just don’t bother with the ensemble as it’s not worth my time . And at the end of the day you don’t get paid . So unless it’s fun what’s the point ?
I went to an amateur drama college and if you weren't sleeping/partying hard with the staff as most of the students (16-22) were you wouldn't get a main part, you would be part of an ensemble which had 500 people in total. Most of the staff where the main characters there were no auditions. There were a lot of children and people who had different disabilities so students who were older were made to be caregivers in the show. If you opted out of a show you would get a fail on your final grade. It is a well known college but unfortunately the truth has been covered very well. It's a huge shame so many of the kids had so much talent but were pushed aside so failed actors could shine. It is a story that goes deeper but only the people who studied there or chose to continue on, hoping that some day they are going to get main part know the truth. Telling the story to others outside of the college... nobody believes you because of their "outstanding reputation". Thanks for telling your truth x
Yep performed in amateur dramatics myself yep I'm afraid to say that does tend to happen I'm afraid. Favouritism is a common problem in amateur dramatics and I have myself been in my fair share of cliquey groups I'm afraid to say. They give priority in casting to people that are their mates however untalented they are and have a pecking order and people who they don't know so well they downcast them at the bottom. It's a shame really as some groups have performed good quality shows. There are of course some friendly groups who cast fairly and give everyone an equal chance in terms of casting but in my experience those groups tend to be of lower standard and the quality of their plays dont tend to be as good
Nepotism is not just in amateur theatre....the professional acting, writing and arts world is worse!...as is most things that are run by human beings.....it’s just the way of things....most experiences are about building friendships.....
This isn’t the case. I joined a amateur Dramatics Group and got a principal roll, because I was the right age and I was good. It’s true the established members EARN the right to be considered first. I didn’t get a particular role I wanted, I turned up 8am Sunday morning and the guy who got the role was already there. He’d been there an hour before me painting the set. I thought, oh yes ~ right, I get it. He deserves it because of all the hard work he does behind the scenes. That’s fair. What you need to do is bring something extra, like make sure you’re the one doing the washing up when everyone else is heading home. Be seen to do more.
It can be reasonable to assume what your saying. However from personal experience with am drams, ive found that's not always the case. A few groups I've been with other then acting I've done a lot of backstage work such as building sets, poster designing etc. Some groups I was with for 5 years and I tried and tried to be with the in crowd. I killed myself doing work for them yet I was getting hardly any roles in return and yet others who were newer to the group and didnt do a lot of backstage work and were terrible actors were getting bigger roles then me. In the end I realised that unless you was in their group of inner circle you was nothing when it came to casting. they dont care how much work you've done for them sometimes. There are users in this world. These people only select certain people they want as friends and will take others for granted however nice they are to them.
I’ve done a few shows in Amateur theatre . I have played a couple of lead roles without knowing anyone involved . There is no doubt there is a lot of nepotism though , I’ve done a few shows in the ensemble also , But these days I just don’t bother with the ensemble as it’s not worth my time . And at the end of the day you don’t get paid . So unless it’s fun what’s the point ?
I went to an amateur drama college and if you weren't sleeping/partying hard with the staff as most of the students (16-22) were you wouldn't get a main part, you would be part of an ensemble which had 500 people in total. Most of the staff where the main characters there were no auditions. There were a lot of children and people who had different disabilities so students who were older were made to be caregivers in the show. If you opted out of a show you would get a fail on your final grade. It is a well known college but unfortunately the truth has been covered very well. It's a huge shame so many of the kids had so much talent but were pushed aside so failed actors could shine. It is a story that goes deeper but only the people who studied there or chose to continue on, hoping that some day they are going to get main part know the truth. Telling the story to others outside of the college... nobody believes you because of their "outstanding reputation". Thanks for telling your truth x
SPILL THAT TEA ANNA ☕️
Yep performed in amateur dramatics myself yep I'm afraid to say that does tend to happen I'm afraid. Favouritism is a common problem in amateur dramatics and I have myself been in my fair share of cliquey groups I'm afraid to say.
They give priority in casting to people that are their mates however untalented they are and have a pecking order and people who they don't know so well they downcast them at the bottom.
It's a shame really as some groups have performed good quality shows.
There are of course some friendly groups who cast fairly and give everyone an equal chance in terms of casting but in my experience those groups tend to be of lower standard and the quality of their plays dont tend to be as good
Nepotism is not just in amateur theatre....the professional acting, writing and arts world is worse!...as is most things that are run by human beings.....it’s just the way of things....most experiences are about building friendships.....
This isn’t the case. I joined a amateur Dramatics Group and got a principal roll, because I was the right age and I was good. It’s true the established members EARN the right to be considered first. I didn’t get a particular role I wanted, I turned up 8am Sunday morning and the guy who got the role was already there. He’d been there an hour before me painting the set. I thought, oh yes ~ right, I get it. He deserves it because of all the hard work he does behind the scenes. That’s fair. What you need to do is bring something extra, like make sure you’re the one doing the washing up when everyone else is heading home. Be seen to do more.
It can be reasonable to assume what your saying. However from personal experience with am drams, ive found that's not always the case. A few groups I've been with other then acting I've done a lot of backstage work such as building sets, poster designing etc. Some groups I was with for 5 years and I tried and tried to be with the in crowd. I killed myself doing work for them yet I was getting hardly any roles in return and yet others who were newer to the group and didnt do a lot of backstage work and were terrible actors were getting bigger roles then me. In the end I realised that unless you was in their group of inner circle you was nothing when it came to casting. they dont care how much work you've done for them sometimes. There are users in this world. These people only select certain people they want as friends and will take others for granted however nice they are to them.
Kool