Job Profiles
Stage Actor
An actor is a person who portrays a character in a production. A stage actor must act onstage in front of a live audience. They most commonly perform plays and often work in a group or troupe.
Stage actors must also take part in rehearsals leading up to the performance, which can take several weeks. Because of the live performances, it is essential that the actor is able to memorise all of their lines for the performance. Performances can run anywhere from a week to months.
Skills/qualifications required:
Being a stage actor requires a lot of basic skills, such as:
- Punctuality
- Teamwork
- Staying in character
- Taking direct feedback/orders from directors/choreographers
- Learning lines
- Communication
- Stage presence
- Professionalism
This role can be more challenging than onscreen acting as it requires long periods of being onstage in front of audiences and memorisation of lines. It also requires more creativity, as when you are onstage there is no chance of having "another take" like onscreen, and improvisation is key in case of a mistake. I will need to work on my stage presence, as it is essential for performing in theatre, as well as my memory skills and stamina, which are essential for maintaining energy during long performances and learning lines.
I have some experience in acting onstage, however to go further in the industry I will need to develop my skills and experience. Qualifications are not essential for this role however attending some sort of drama school, university or course would be very beneficial to developing skills in this field, and working with others. College qualifications that would help in this area would be A-Level Drama, RSL Acting Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma in Performing Arts (Musical Theatre) to name a few. There are many courses in universities that would help to build experience in acting onstage, such as Level 4 HNC in Performing Arts (Musical Theatre), Level 4 HNC in Performing Arts (Acting), BA (Hons) in Theatre and Performance, or a BA (Hons) in Acting and Performance to name a few.
Competition/availability:
This role, like many other forms of acting, is highly competitive, often with many actors auditioning for the same role. This means I will have to clearly display my skills during auditions, and make sure to show my potential to casting directors and producers.
Theatres are commonplace across the country, however professional roles are not available everywhere. Often larger theatres are found in larger towns and cities, so I would have to relocate to one in order to be closer to work. If I were to join a touring company I would have to travel a lot, so where I lived would not matter as much.
Salary:
Stage actors are usually paid a weekly rate. Theatres can be found in most places across the country, however the salary depends on how populated the location is. For example, a London theatre would pay more than a smaller theatre in a small town. A stage actor's salary also can vary depending on how long a play runs for and seat numbers in theatres. If it is a smaller production, it is likely the salary will be less than a touring company or popular play.
Equity pay for roles in the West End begin at £712 for performing 8 shows in a 1100-seat theatre. Larger roles often get higher pay. Depending on their pay a lot of actors have to work a side job to enable them to cover the cost of living.
Acceptable routes into the role:
Most stage actors previously go to some form of drama school or university to prepare for their careers. They must also attend auditions to show their skills.
To get involved and prepare for this role, I can partake in smaller local theatre productions, gradually building a name for myself and making connections in the industry. This role is highly competitive, so I must show my skills and potential. I also plan to attend a drama school in the future to help build on my skills in a professional environment, however I could also take smaller courses to be able to get into the industry more quickly.
Further progression in the role:
Future progression of this role could be joining an agency, touring company, or performing in bigger, more popular plays and theatres, such as on the West End. By joining an agency I can progress into bigger roles and make connections in the performing arts industry.
Related jobs:
This role can link to other forms of acting such as voice or screen acting, as well as different roles such as directing, producing or writing. Working closely with directors and writers, even as an actor, can help build skills in those fields and possibly lead to a career in them. Different acting roles have different skills required, however stage acting has the most transferable skills, as it has the physical skills needed for onscreen acting, as well as the vocal skills for voice acting and radio work.
Evaluation of my current skills in relation to the role:
I have spent time working on both my physical skills and vocal skills, such as projecting my voice and orienting myself towards the audience. I am able to learn lines fairly quickly but I think this requires more work, so I will work on this.
As for basic or transferable skills I am punctual, creative and able to act professional in various settings.
Evaluation of my current qualifications in relation to this role:
I currently have a grade 5 in GCSE Drama, and am at a Distinction at RSL Acting. I plan to attend some sort of drama school in the future to get a degree (for example a BA Hons in Acting) and potentially also take shorter courses to build on my qualifications.
Evaluation of my current experience in relation to this role:
I have experience in performing in ensemble roles in stage productions, in both drama clubs and school productions, and practicing performing onstage in lessons, both in high school and college. To gain more experience I can continue attending drama club both inside and outside of school, and try to build connections in the industry in any way I can.
Screen Actor
An actor is a person who portrays a character in a production. A screen actor must act in front of a camera for things such as films, TV shows and adverts.
Skills/qualifications required:
Essential skills required to be a screen actor include:
- Punctuality
- Creativity
- Character development
- Script memorising/analysis
- Teamwork
- Screen presence
Job roles for screen acting can vary in experience needed - most background character roles are entry level but need evidence of acting skills and experience, and auditions must be made for larger roles. Attending some form of drama school or university is not essential to this role, and many people who work in this industry have not done this and been successful, however it is helpful to learn skills in a professional environment. College courses that build skills and qualifications that relate to this role include: RSL Acting and Film Studies.
University courses that would be beneficial include a BA (Hons) in Acting, or a BA (Hons) in Acting for Screen. If I wanted to pursue this further I could do an MA in Screen Acting and Performance, to develop my skills to higher level.
This role requires demonstration of both physical and vocal skills. I will also need to be able to work well with other people and follow instructions closely.
Competition/availability:
Jobs in acting for screen are highly competitive, and depending on the scale of the production there can be anywhere from twenty to a thousand people auditioning for the same role.
Roles also cannot be found everywhere as filming sets are often location-based, and mostly located in or around large cities, meaning it is not accessible or available depending on where you live. In order to pursue a career in screen acting I will have to relocate to a city such as London, as there are more roles available there.
Salary for the role:
The average salary for a screen actor can vary due to the unpredictability of the industry. More experienced actors will often earn more than less experienced actors.
Acting in commercials has generally higher pay than other areas of screen acting, at an average one-off payment of £2000-4000. Acting in advertisements often has a salary that depends on how often the advert is played, and so can fluctuate.
According to Equity, the average daily rate for independent productions is £352.50, with an engagement rate of £557. Rates rise slightly for the BBC with a daily rate of £417 and engagement rate of £640.
Screen actors are often paid a daily or weekly rate. Pay for actors in general can be very unpredictable, as roles and jobs can also fluctuate in availability. Smaller TV shows or films will usually pay less than larger films such as major studios, however these are much less accessible than local or smaller productions and would usually require relocating to a larger town or city.
Acceptable routes into the role:
To get involved in this industry I can begin by looking for background acting jobs for local short films and adverts, as these can lead to larger roles in the industry by showing my skills and making connections with other actors and directors. I have had background roles before in stage productions so am familiar with acting onstage, but I do not have much experience with acting onscreen and so will need to work on that. I will need to learn lines, and although this is not as important as it is for stage acting due to it not being live performance, it is still an essential skill. I can practice my skills for performing on camera by filming myself practicing, and working with other actors on camera.
Further progression into the role:
Ways I could further progress in this role could be joining an agency, or acting in a movie or tv show made by a more major studio. I could also study acting for film at a drama school or university, however this is not essential for my progression in my career.
Related jobs:
Working as a screen actor also means working closely with directors, producers and writers. Due to this actors can learn new skills and experience in these fields, and may eventually lead to a role in one of them. Many actors have progressed from acting to directing or producing their own productions.
Different roles in the acting industry require different skills, however many actors' careers span across different mediums. In order to progress into a different acting role such as voice or stage acting, I would have to build on my current skills such as vocal skills.
Evaluation of my current skills in relation to the role:
I am currently working on my skills in physical and vocal skills, but as screen acting is very different from stage acting which I have more experience in, I must focus on this as well. I am punctual and able to take orders and feedback from directors, which are both useful skills in acting onscreen.
Ways I can develop my skills in screen acting could be auditioning for smaller films in the area or short films, and filming myself acting.
Evaluation of my current qualifications in relation to this role:
I have a grade 5 in GCSE Drama and am currently at a Distinction in RSL Acting. I plan to attend a drama school to get a degree (such as a BA (Hons) in Screen Acting) and take more short courses, specifically in acting for camera, to build my qualifications in acting.
Evaluation of my current experience in relation to this role:
I currently have no experience in acting for film or camera. However, I have experience in filming myself for promotional statements, and I can gain experience by filming myself acting, or auditioning for short films or smaller films, and working my way up from there, as well as trying to establish connections with producers, directors and other members of the industry.
After receiving some feedback from one of my classmates:
References:
- Get Into Theatre, What does an Actor/Performer Do? - https://getintotheatre.org/blog/what-does-an-actor-performer-do-in-theatre/ - published 4th March, 2019, accessed 5th January, 2024
- Backstage, How Much do Actors Make? - https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/how-much-money-do-actors-make-75180/ - published 10th October, 2023, accessed 5th January, 2024
- Backstage, How Much do Actors Get Paid in the UK? - https://www.backstage.com/uk/magazine/article/how-much-do-actors-get-paid-in-the-uk-74998/#section0 - published 16th May, 2022, accessed 5th January, 2024
- Met Film School, BA (Hons) Screen Acting - https://www.metfilmschool.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-screen-acting/#:~:text=BA%20(Hons)%20Screen%20Acting%20is,real%20business%20of%20screen%20acting. - accessed 19th January, 2024
- The Manchester College, Courses - Course Search | tmc.ac.uk - accessed 22nd January, 2024
- Complete University Guide, Undergraduate Performing Arts Courses - Undergraduate Performing Arts Courses (thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk) - accessed 22nd January, 2024
- Central Film School, BA (Hons) Acting for Screen - https://centralfilmschool.com/ba-acting-for-screen/#:~:text=The%20BA%20(Hons)%20Acting%20for,taught%20by%20working%20industry%20professionals. - accessed 23rd January, 2024
- University of Exeter, Screen Acting and Performance MA - https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/courses/drama/screen-acting-performance/ - accessed 23rd January, 2024
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