Why Study MFA Professional Voice Studies?

An interview with an MFA Professional Voice Studies graduate and Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Tutor – Joe Leat

How would you sum up your time on the MFA Professional Voice Studies Course?

My experience on the MFA Professional Voice course was brilliant, as an actor with a strong interest in voice, Bristol Old Vic was the perfect community to pursue my interest. It turned it into a passion and a profession!

What was your background before studying this course?

I trained at East 15 Acting School before starting this course and have worked as an actor since, and continue to do so.  I find that deepening my knowledge through this course has influenced all parts of my life, including performance.

What is one misunderstanding of this course you want people to know?

I think one thing prospective students should know is that this is a course that is incredibly holistic and not bound to any particular methodology. You are exposed to so many different ways of working and teaching that you learn to become your own teacher and not to mimic others.

How did the course prepare you for professional work after graduating?

The school has such a strong ethic of cross-collaboration between courses. As a Voice Studies student, you build relationships with directors as well as actors. You regularly learn the craft of teaching by holding tutorials with the acting students, and as the course continues, you will take on assistant voice coach duties on the graduate shows, working on technical voice work and dialect work. All of this has been extremely useful in preparing me for the industry after graduating.

What have you gone on to do since graduating?

After the course, I began working at drama schools, including Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, as a Voice Tutor. My relationship with the school has grown over the last five years, from taking on acting tutor duties to now being Head of BA Acting. Part of the training on the Voice Studies course was in the Alexander Technique, which I found incredibly exciting. I am currently working towards certification as an Alexander Technique teacher. The interdisciplinary nature of my background, which I owe to my experience training here, has proved really valuable when working with actors and in shaping and guiding their journey through training.

What advice would you give to anyone considering applying for this course?

The advice I would give to anyone thinking of applying for this course is to share your passion and reasons for why you want to train here. Don’t hide your individuality; it is that which will make you an excellent potential teacher of voice. Good luck!

APPLY NOW – MFA PROFESSIONAL VOICE STUDIES