From Past to Present and the Future: As the conservatoire dies, what should replace it?

Rawlins, Trevor ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-6201-1126 (2023) From Past to Present and the Future: As the conservatoire dies, what should replace it? In: DramaHE conference 2023, 29th - 30th June 2023, University of Stafford. (Unpublished)

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Abstract / Summary

Keywords: Actor-training, agency, student-centred, technology, innovation.

The #metoo movement, the events surrounding the death of George Floyd, and the Covid-19 pandemic have all brought seismic shifts to the processes and structures around actor training. Actors like Michaela Cole, Daisy May Cooper and Aisling Bea have all described poor experiences at leading UK conservatoires that were restrictive and, they felt, did not prepare them for a successful and creative career. All three have been highly successful as actor/creators on screen, pointing the way towards the future of what we still term actor “training” could be. A future that truly puts the student at the centre of pedagogy, lets go of past practices that may be out-moded and now inappropriate and releases the full creative potential of students who can take advantage of a future in which they can employ a much fuller creative agency than traditional actor training approaches ever anticipated.

Drawing on my own creative and pedagogic journey over the last 15 years in particular, this paper proposes new ways of looking at how we teach acting in a truly student-centred way that highlights technological innovations and allows students to re-imagine what the future will be. Highlighting inclusive approaches that fully consider diversity, equality and wellbeing in curriculum development, the paper examines innovations being made at Falmouth and hopes to explore ways we can fully employ our stated values of Creativity, Community and Collaboration.

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