近日，三位戲劇行業的倫敦藝術大學校友接受了學校的采訪。他們畢業于UAL戲劇表演類專業，在戲劇行業耕耘多年並取得了很高的成就。他們很樂意向仍在學習中的未來戲劇屆人士分享自己從業多年的經驗和建議。這幾位校友分別是：

1、Anette Ollerearnshaw

Anette Ollerearnshaw，畢業于倫敦時尚學院表演藝術化妝與發型本科（BA Hair, Make-up & Prosthetics for the Performing Arts）

Anette從2019年起擔任溫布頓藝術學院“産品與數字實驗室”（Production & Digital Lab）的經理，領導著一支制作和技術專家團隊。在2014-2018年，Anette擔任坎伯韋爾藝術學院的技術經理，並于2018年向UAL提出前往荷蘭國家歌劇芭蕾劇院擔任一年的發型與化妝主管。用Anette的話來說，她現在的工作，是“漫長而曲折的職業道路”的結果。

在UAL任職之前，她曾擔任劇院技術和創意部門的主管，她的領導和管理才華也得到了提升。在獲得倫敦伯克貝克大學藝術政策與管理專業的研究生證書後，Anette在2011-2014年擔任英國國家歌劇院的發型和化妝主管。

Anette在本科的最後一個學期已經與專業人士合作參與舞台劇表演，在畢業項目進行時兼顧繁忙的排練。她認爲工作應該是能讓我們從中感受到樂趣的，她給學生們的建議是不要抗拒對自己的審視和反思，以及要做出相應的調整。

2、Stefan McCusker

Stefan McCusker，畢業于中央聖馬丁藝術學院表演碩士（MA Acting）

從UAL畢業至今，Stefan的工作橫跨舞台、電視和電影領域。剛畢業時，他拍攝了一部短片，目前仍在Amazon Prime上有售。他還在舞台劇中扮演了“基爾福四人案”中的成員Paul Hill。這次表演爲Stefan帶來了第一次擔任制作人的機會，他說服該劇的作家創作了同題材的短片《Fifteen》，用15分鍾展現了Paul Hill15年的牢獄生涯。該短片正在電影節上展出，並將很快上映。

除了這些角色，Stefan還曾在RTE的《Fair City》中客串，目前他參加了一個名爲Smashed的反未成年人飲酒的工作室，爲學校表演虛擬劇場的巡回演出。

Stefan認爲在與人接觸交流的過程中要保持開放的心態，無論是行業內還是行業外人士都可能成爲你的人際網絡。

3、Laura Rushton

Laura Rushton，畢業于倫敦時尚學院表演服裝設計本科（BA Costume for Performance）

Laura目前在劇院中擔任服裝主管。她參與的工作大多數是劇場表演，但也有電視節目，比如《Britain's Got Talent》。她最初的工作是表演服裝制作人，然後是化妝實習生和電影的服裝助理，之後才開始擔任現在的職位。她的日常工作包括表演服裝的采購，以及雇傭和管理服裝制作人。

Laura認爲在工作中失誤不可避免，重要的是如何處理自己的失誤並因此而反思。

新聞原文：

We recently spoke to 3 graduates from across University of the Arts London (UAL), who all graduated with a performance-related degree. They share their advice and experiences from their careers, and what they wish they'd know when they graduated.

Anette Ollerearnshaw

BA (Hons) Hair, Make-up & Prosthetics for the Performing Arts, 2004, London College of Fashion (LCF)

Anette's current role is, in her words, the result of a "long and winding career path". Anette is the Production & Digital Lab Manager at Wimbledon College of Arts, a position she's held since 2019. She leads a team of production and technical specialists within the School of Performance at Wimbledon. From 2014-18 Anette was Technical Manager at Camberwell College of Arts, and in 2018 she successfully pitched a proposal to UAL for a 1-year sabbatical as Head of Wigs and Make-up at Dutch National Opera and Ballet.

Before this, she refined her leadership and management skills by working in supervisory roles running technical and creative departments for productions. After gaining a PG Cert in Arts Policy & Management from Birkbeck University of London, Anette became Head of Wigs & Make-up at English National Opera from 2011-14.

Did you know what you wanted to do when you started/finished your degree?

Having connected with a team of talented and established Artists and Designers during the last term of my BA (Hons) Hair, Make-up & Prosthetics for the performing Arts, I was offered an opportunity to work at the Barbican Theatre with director/designer Robert Wilson on a production called 'The Black Rider'. This was an unbelievable opportunity that I could simply not refuse.

So, I was actually working professionally before I graduated. This was a tricky transition, as I was in my final major project and working on an intensive rehearsal schedule meant managing several conflicting demands. It was a balancing act that required careful negotiation and weighing of priorities that set me up perfectly for work in the industry.

How do you manage your work/life balance?

When working as a freelancer, unless you are financially secure, you tend to take every opportunity to learn and earn and this can be exhausting and exhilarating. Theatre can be extremely demanding, and the hours are usually unsociable. Having said that, the fulfilment and pride it gives when the curtain goes up and the show is a successful piece of live art that we have created as a collaborative activity, is powerfully rewarding and life-affirming.

What's the one piece of advice you wish you'd have known when you graduated?

I graduated as a mature student and as a mother of two young children had a real sense that failure was not an option; it instilled in me a drive to always be active, hungry for more and to seek out opportunities.

The most important thing is to remember that what we do should give us joy; if that is not the case something needs to change. Don't be afraid to take stock and make adjustments.

How did you start and grow your network?

Networking is always important and in the performing arts industry is fundamentally part of what we do. Being driven by a curiosity about how others think, work and connect is the core functionality.

I find opportunities to network by talking to people when I am shopping for specialist materials or kit, go to see shows and exhibitions and reflect on them with colleagues and friends. In addition with the vast opportunities that social media offers to connect with like-minded and diverse interest groups has never been easier.

Stefan McCusker

MA Acting, Drama Centre London, Central Saint Martins (CSM)

Since graduating Stefan has done a mixture of theatre and TV/Film. Right after graduating, he shot a short film that is currently available on Amazon Prime. He also took on the role of Paul Hill (a member of the Guildford Four), in a stage play based on the prison letters Paul sent to his family. This also led to Stefan's first Producer role, when he persuaded the play's writer to create a short film out of the play. Titled Fifteen, it's exactly 15 minutes and represents Paul's 15 years of wrongful imprisonment. The short is currently finishing its festival run and will be available soon.

Alongside these roles, Stefan has also had a guest role in RTE's Fair City and is currently in Wakefield performing a virtual theatre tour of schools in an anti-underage drinking show/workshop called Smashed.

Did you know what you wanted to do when you started/finished your degree?

When I started my undergraduate at Queen's University Belfast I hadn't a clue, I studied Drama with Modern History and it wasn't until my second year during a 'Theatre Skills' module, in which we simulated what a professional production would entail, that I decided I wanted to be an actor.  I then did a free professional course for 18-25-year-olds at the Lyric Theatre Belfast and then began auditioning for drama schools, I then was accepted into Drama Centre at CSM.

How do you manage your work/life balance?

Everything in moderation. I had been working too much, especially when starting out on minimum wage. But after a while, you find work that you enjoy outside of your acting career and odd jobs here and there that have a higher rate of pay. I felt I had a good balance before Covid hit. So hopefully when life moves back to normal I can get back to that balance. But it is something you need to keep an eye on.

What's the one piece of advice you wish you'd have known when you graduated?

You are a drop in an ocean of talented actors. Auditions are hard to come by so fight tooth and nail to get in the room. Though a great piece of advice I remember from David Angus (Acting for Radio teacher) was to work on what you can control and have goals that don't require others to complete. So a goal like learning an instrument or a language, run a marathon etc. All of these don't rely on anyone else but you and these goals will increase your skillset and employability in the industry.

How did you start and grow your network?

Everyone you meet whether in the industry or not is potentially part of your network.  The more people you meet, the more open you are to others and helping other people the wider your network will expand.

Laura Rushton

BA (Hons) Costume for Performance, 2004, LCF

Laura works as a Costume Supervisor in theatre productions. Whilst most of her recent work has been for theatre, but she's also worked on TV shows such as Britain's Got Talent. She initially started working as a costume maker, and a dresser as well as a trainee and costume assistant in Film, before settling into her current role. Her day to day job involves shopping for/sourcing costumes and hiring and managing the makers for a production.

Did you know what you wanted to do when you started/finished your degree?

There wasn't a strong focus on the role of Supervisor on the course so I didn't know it was the best role for me until I had spent some time in the industry. I always knew that I would work with clothes, but realised at about 16 that I could do costume and not fashion.

How do you manage your work/life balance?

That's a tricky one!! It is so easy to just work, work, work! I try to use the prep and rehearsal stage of a show to work a 10-6 day, although sometimes the admin does spill into the evenings, and I try to avoid working weekends unless absolutely necessary. This is easier said than done, especially when I have several shows on the go at one time. It's a juggling act, but so, so important to not let the work dominate everything.

What's the one piece of advice you wish you'd have known when you graduated?

That it's ok to make mistakes, it's how you deal with them that matters.

How did you start and grow your network?

Without doing anything intentional really, just by being friendly and open to opportunities. The people on your course may well help you onto your first job, do as much work experience as you can, and always try your best. The industry is very small, everyone knows everyone so it won't be long before you realise you know people by association.

Embroidery detail on costume by Lucy Thorpe © Alys Tomlinson

來源：倫敦藝術大學官網

翻譯：倫敦藝術大學授權香港及澳門招生代表處

原文鏈接：

https://www.arts.ac.uk/alumni-and-friends/stories/performance-graduates-share-their-career-tips-and-experiences

想了解更多倫敦藝術大學戲劇表演類課程的信息，請聯系倫敦藝術大學授權香港及澳門招生代表處。