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MonologueSlam UK interview
Other | Wednesday 3rd April 2013 | Osh
Making contacts and getting yourself seen in the industry is essential for any actor, as is keeping your craft honed. But this also can be tricky, especially if you’re without representation or haven’t landed a role or an audition recently. But two Spotlight members, Jimmy Akingbola and Fraser Ayres from Triforce Promotions, are offering a free platform for actors to showcase their skills to an industry audience and boost their career with their fast-growing Monologue Slam. We caught up with them to find out what’s new with MonologueSlam UK in 2013, before the next event on April 8th.
So for people who don’t know about it, what is MonologueSlamUK?
Jimmy: It is a showcase, but a showcase with a difference! We add in a dash of friendly competition to the mix to spice things up a bit. It’s a great evening out, both to see new talent and network with the industry people in the audience - our ‘industry ninjas!’
Fraser: There is another difference of course – it’s hugely important to us that actors shouldn’t pay to perform – so taking part in MonologueSlamUK is completely free.
We last spoke to you after you had launched your first ‘Graduate Edition’ of MonologueSlam UK in November last year. What’s new for 2013?
Jimmy: 2013 has started with some amazing new developments. The audiences have just got bigger and bigger so we've moved to the main house at Theatre Royal Stratford East. We’re going to be doing the Slam every other month with them. We’ve gone from a 200 seater venue (if everyone was nice and friendly!) to a 460 seater venue, and we completely sold out our very first Slam of the year in February.
Fraser: It’s a big step up for the performers as well – there’s a world of difference between performing in a cabaret style venue to 200 people, to performing in one of the most beautiful theatres in London to a sold out audience. It really does "Raise that Bar"!
And has the format stayed the same?
Fraser: We still have the two rounds – the 1 Minute Smackdown for those who are new to the business, or perhaps even still at drama school, and then the 3 Minute Heavyweight round for those with a bit more experience under their belt. For the Improv Round this year we’ve got a new partner, the improv group ‘Shoot From the Hip’ who first worked with us in December last year – they went down so well we decided to make them a permanent feature!
Jimmy: And of course we still have a professional panel of judges who decide on the winners – and all of them could give the performers a job!
Fraser: That’s really important to us actually – there’s no point working on your speech and smashing it at a showcase if the only people who come to see it are your Nan and your Mum. Because we have the panel, we can guarantee there’s people there who can get your work – and of course we always have other casting directors and producers in the audience! We’ve just confirmed the panel for the next MonologueSlam UK on April 8th – we’ve got Jo Buckingham (Casting Director, BBC), Femi Oguns (Agent, IAG), Jo Hole (Agent, Hole Associates) and Susan Nickson, who created Two Pints of Lager and now has her own production company.
Jimmy: There is one major change though. As part of our partnership with Stratford East, we’ve launched a Youth Round for 11-16 year olds at the start of the show. We’ve always wanted to extend the Slam to younger performers and working with Stratford has meant we’ve been able to do that.
Fraser: And its open to all young people as well – you don’t have to be part of the youth theatre at Stratford East, (although if you get to perform in their theatre, you may well want to join!) It was awesome to see them get up and deliver a speech to a packed auditorium, such a hugely brave thing to do as a teenager!
What do you recommend people do if they want to get involved?
Jimmy: First of all, come and check out the night. You can get a really good idea of what sort of speeches work if you come and see it first – it’s really different to regular showcases so it pays dividends to do your research. And I would recommend booking in advance, it was a roadblock in February!
Fraser: And bring your business cards - you never know who you might get introduced to!
Jimmy: And then you will need to audition. The reason we get such good attendance from industry movers and shakers is because the standard is so high, and we can only maintain that by auditioning. We hold auditions about a month before the Slam (so the next auditions will be in May for the June Slam). We allocate audition slots on a first come, first served basis, so I’d definitely recommend emailing info@triforcepromotions.co.uk and asking to be put on the mailing list so you get the earliest possible notification when the auditions open for booking – they can fill up within a couple of hours.
Fraser: And make sure you really know your speech and bring your ‘A’ game – the competition at auditions is just getting tougher and tougher every time.
So all your performers are already chosen for the April Slam?
Jimmy: Well almost all of them. We always hold back two spots for participants in our Masterclass. The Masterclass is on the 6th April and you will need to come with your speech prepared in case you get chosen to perform on the 8th!
Fraser: The Masterclass is actually a great opportunity to focus on a speech and get one on one direction – so much more helpful than just doing it by yourself in front of the mirror in your bedroom. And if you don’t get picked for one of those two slots, you get a guaranteed audition slot for the June MonologueSlam. And I have to say that most people who have participated in a Masterclass have a really good success rate at the auditions, they’re just really well prepared.
I’m going to ask because I know Spotlight members will want to know – what’s the best success story you’ve got from MonologueSlam UK?
Jimmy: We have success stories from every Slam! Last month, two of our performers, AMina Zia and Meg Travers were seen by Keith Palmer, of the Comedy School and he asked them to perform at a benefit gig for his charity. They ended up performing at the Comedy Store with Phil Jupitus! Last year, Ryan Calais Cameron, who was seen by director Clint Dyer and was cast as the lead at the Royal Court, it was his professional theatre debut. And of course Chizzy Akodolu was seen performing at MonologueSlam by Liz Stoll who casts Holby City.
Fraser: We’ve just had really exciting trip to LA as well with three MonologueSlam UK winners. Our December event was the final of 2012, with all the winners from previous Slams coming back to battle it out and we three of them won a trip to LA with Hey Hollywood; Ben Cawley and Louise Lee as well as two other TriForce actors, Andy Seaman and Miguel Kahn. We went over with them and they had a fantastic time, getting LA style headshots, going to the Stella Adler academy and then a showcase in front of agents, casting directors and managers. We’re going to keep an eye on them over pilot season!
Jimmy: This year is all about making people happen, that’s what TriForce is about.
The next MonologueSlamUK is on April 8th at Theatre Royal Stratford East. You can book tickets online: www.stratfordeast.com/monologueslam-uk-2
If you would like to find out more about the Masterclass or apply to audition for the next MonologueSlam UK in June, email info@triforcepromotions.co.uk
You can follow @MonologueSlamUK and @TriforceEvents on Twitter for the latest news.
