PERFORMANCE YEAR IN ACTING – MY EXPERIENCE AT THE GAIETY SCHOOL OF ACTING (Manuel Pombo)

Monday, July 21st, 2014 at 12:45 pm | News & Events

WE ARE CURRENTLY ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR OUR ONE YEAR PART TIME COURSES!

Our One Year Part Time courses represent our school at it’s more advanced level. They are perfect for ambitious amateurs who are looking to add some creative sparkle to their evenings after a long day in the office and for those who are looking to perfect their craft in acting. Applications are currently being accepted. Find our more about each of our One Year Part Time coursesPerformance Year, Advanced Performance Year & Performance Theatre Company in Dublin & Cork and download an application form now. Closing Date for applciations: August 2014.

Below, Performance Year student, Manuel Pombo, shares his experience of ‘ One Year in Acting’ at The Gaiety School of Acting. 

ONE YEAR IN ACTING – MY EXPERIENCE AT THE GAIETY SCHOOL OF ACTING (Manuel Pombo)

Back in April last year I was searching for a new way to occupy my free time. I think we’ve all felt at one point or another that we get too caught up in our work and I was going through that stage. A friend of mine suggested I create a bucket list to give me ideas on things to do so I went ahead and wrote down the 50 things I wanted to do before I died. Amongst that list was my wish to do a stand-up routine. I’ve always thought I was pretty funny and I wanted to put my beliefs to the test. I however did not think I had the confidence or the skills to get up and perform in front of a live audience. I had done it many times before as part of a music group but never as a solo performer. So I started to look into courses that might help me boost my confidence and I saw that an introduction to drama course was due to start the next week at the Gaiety School of Acting. I signed up immediately. The next week I headed to class, not knowing what to expect and how it would start me down a path that has redefined the way I see the world and what I expect out of my life.

Playboy of the Western World Production

I have now completed 3 courses and 2 workshops at the Gaiety School of Acting and I can honestly say it has changed the person I am. It has awakened a passion for acting that I never knew I had. Going from stumbling through my first monologue tutored by Gene Rooney to working on my first duologue scenes with Niamh Maguire and ending with our showcase of Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” under the direction of Clare Maguire has been one of the best experiences of my life.

Getting ready for the showcase
Getting ready for the showcase

I feel like I have grown as a person. I am happier, more confident, less worried about where my life is heading and more focused on where I want to go. It is a strange feeling to discover something that you love so much in such a short time. I know this could not have been possible without the amazing team at the Gaiety School of Acting. Playboy of the Western World Production

I don’t know if I will ever be able to make a career out of Acting. It’s a hard life out there for any Actor and I do not know if I have the skill or guts to follow this dream. What I do know is that Acting will forever be a part of my life. It has become as much a part of what I want to do as photography. I couldn’t write this post without thanking all the incredible people I have met through these courses. Putting yourself in a position of vulnerability every week in front of your classmates helps you develop a bond that is indescribable to anyone that has not experienced it. I have made some friendships that I know will last me the rest of my life and have a group of friends that I can honestly say I could not live without. I have had a life filled with many friends and have met a lot of very special people but I have never met such an astounding, honest and open group of people before. We wear our emotions on our sleeves every day and that makes them shine all the more.

Performance year enjoying a drink at the pub To anyone thinking of trying acting, I would say go for it! It will change your life so beware of the path you are starting. To quote a much better writer than myself:

“It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.”

Performance year actresses hiding behind a prop

You can learn more about Manuel on his blog “The Photolographer”.

If you are inspired by Manuel why not learn more about our One Year Part Time courses staring in October 2014. Applications are currently being accepted.Learn more about these courses or download an application form here.

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