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  1. Changing Lives

    Changing Lives  

    Lou Stein, AD at Chickenshed, chats to Susan Elkin about his achievements and aspirations for this life-changing arts centre Nearly four years ago Lou Stein was appointed artistic director and chief executive at Chickenshed, the famously inclusive, diverse North London producing company which functions as a higher/further education college as well as a youth theatre. […]

  2. Getting Physical

    Getting Physical  

    For over 50 years, East 15 has produced actors, directors, theatre practitioners and technicians. Expanding its range of courses, Susan Elkin looks at the new BA (Hons) in Physical Theatre. East 15 Acting School, founded by Margaret Bury in 1961 grew out of the work of Joan Littlewood’s famous Theatre Workshop based Theatre Royal Stratford. There’s now […]

  3. EXHIBITION: Looking Closely

    EXHIBITION: Looking Closely  

    Two contrasting exhibitions caught the eye of our Graham Hooper He shaves with an old school razor, using a paint brush to apply the soap. The photograph, taken of Lucian Freud, grandson of Sigmund, who did in 2011, accompanies the first information board as you enter the Royal Academy’s exhibition. His long-time assistant David Dawson […]

  4. Drama school advice

    Drama school advice  

    Susan Elkin explores the various options now available to students looking for actor training. It’s always been a minefield. There you are quietly about to mark a pile of essays having dismissed the class and a student sidles up to you. “I want to be an actor. What do I have to do?” Any teacher […]

  5. What makes a good pantomime?

    What makes a good pantomime?  

    An annual tradition or perhaps the first visit to the theatre, going to a Christmas show should be a truly memorable experience. Susan Elkin has some pointers. No. It isn’t behind you. It’s all before you. As Ink Pellet goes to press the Christmas Show season is about to get underway. Teachers, teaching assistants, parents, […]

  6. Theatre Review: The Man in the White Suit – Wyndhams Theatre

    Theatre Review: The Man in the White Suit – Wyndhams Theatre  

    The best thing about this rather disappointing show is Michael Taylor’s imaginative set which makes lovely use of screens and to create a scientific lab (big tubes and vents right to the ceiling) a pub, a stately home and a lot more. Based on the 1951 film of the same name, The Man in the […]

  7. Book Review – A Beginner’s Guide to Devising Theatre

    Book Review – A Beginner’s Guide to Devising Theatre  

    By Jess Thorpe & Tashi GorePublished by Methuen Drama Theatre does not have to start with a script and a story given to the cast by someone else. Watch any group of children in a playground playing a make-believe game. The story is emerging as they play. Well slightly more formal theatre can, of course, […]

  8. Coffee Break – Joel Kern

    Coffee Break – Joel Kern  

    Still only, 31, Joel Kern started Make Believe 16 years ago. The company provides drama, dance and singing training for children and now has 50 franchised branches. He chatted to Susan Elkin. Have you always been interested in drama? Yes. I was born in Leytonstone and did GCSE and A level drama at King Solomon […]

  9. Dear in the spotlight

    Dear in the spotlight  

    Producer, social commentator, author and now performer, Susan Elkin met the West End Producer to chat about his alter ego and recent successful Edinburgh run.

  10. Training Central

    Training Central  

    Royal Central School of Speech and Drama is the UK’s largest drama school and has more than eleven hundred full time students. Susan Elkin provides an insight.