Mark Evans Studio

  The only thing constant is change I understand that for a lot of people, change can be challenging and can feel daunting and cause a lot of anxiety. The phrase ‘The only thing constant is change’  has become very mainstream these days. It can feel clichéd but I personally believe it’s a valuable motto that can remind us to stop resisting change and to consider it an adventure worth exploring. From the age of sixteen when I left home in North Wales to go train as a dancer, change has been a huge part of my life and I chose back then to lean into it as opposed to being afraid of it. To step into the vulnerability of an unexplored path with curiosity and courage as opposed to staying within the ‘perceived’ safety of what is familiar is thrilling to me. I think the global pandemic we all just went through proved that none of us is truly immune from change regardless of how much we try to resist it, so why not choose to love it.   The change of the season is upon us a...

  Get it done I am currently reading a book recommended by a student which is called ‘Unf*ck Yourself’ by Gary John Bishop. I’m only three chapters in but it centers around the way that we talk to ourselves and how productive or (usually) destructive those voices can be.  The types of examples he gives when talking about how we stress ourselves out more than needed are references to simple every days tasks: “I need to empty the dishwasher but I don’t have the motivation” “I need to send that email but I am not sure exactly what to say” “I need to get back to my friend about those dinner plans but I am not sure where to recommend” “I need to rehearse for that self tape but I’m nervous that I’m not good enough” These types of thoughts can loop over countless times. The way we talk to ourselves about these things on our to-do lists can make an individual item MUCH more of a big deal than is necessary. Instead of thinking over and over again about how you need to send that email…....

  You’ll never fully figure it out. A lecture I shared in one of my group classes last week was inspired by an episode of the podcast ‘Craft Sweat & Joy’ by Patsy Rodenburg.  In a conversation with the incredible acting teacher and director Larry Moss, Patsy tells a story about when her late husband was about to act in the final performance of a play he’d been touring with for three years.  He was standing in the wings and asked his co-star “are you relieved to be done after all this time?” and she responded “I feel like I’ve only just begun to understand the first scene” and then she stepped onto the stage.  Isn’t that wild?! But I get it. The reason I mention this to you is because I’ve been noticing for some time now, a general impatience among students to want to crack the code and conquer a scene with perfection in as little time as possible. I recommend a different approach to all of you. Do the work, analyze the script and be as prepared as possible, but, ...

 It Would Be Easier To NOT! Last week I led the first session of the new Mark Evans Studio - Acting Through Song group class which was incredibly inspiring and those in attendance had a great time.  There was an uplifting, supportive energy in the room because every student who was there described, at the top of class, how this was the first time they were going to sing in front of people after a break of a few months, up to a few years depending on the student.  One person said that it took courage to even sign up. Once she had, then in the few weeks leading up to class she was anxious about it and even on the morning of the first session she contemplated not coming. "I could just not go" she thought.  Isn't that so often the case? I have even felt that about auditions for jobs I really would like to book. The anticipation of the audition was so nerve wracking that I scrolled through excuses in my head not to go. Whenever we are faced with challenging, daunting, anx...

    Stop DOING stuff!  You’ve heard it many times, no doubt. “Less  doing , more  being ”. I want to say it again because it’s important to sometimes be reminded of the simple fundamental elements of acting.  I’m also seeing a lot of students recently whose default mode is to  fill  the scene with extra stuff which usually comes from a place of not trusting simplicity and truthfulness.  Let me be clear,  I do not ever tell students to ‘do less’. Just don’t do anything that isn’t honest. If  you’re behaving in an authentic, truthful way, ALL behavior is appropriate and can serve the scene.  What I’m focusing on here, specifically, are the habits that creep in when actors or singers feel the need to DO  something because the vulnerability of stillness is too uncomfortable. Film yourself, whether it’s for a self tape audition or just out of curiosity and you’ll notice what things you’re doing because you feel you  should...

YOU'VE GOT TO GET IT DONE! Earlier this year I accepted a job offer that sounded appealing to me as a way to exercise my inner clown as an actor. The job offer was to play Squidward Q. Tentacles in The SpongeBob Musical at Sacramento Music Circus.  Well, I am currently DOING that job and I want to share a little something with you that I've been reminded of through this experience.  Firstly, this is a summer stock gig. What does that mean? I call it microwave theatre ;-)  You have less than two weeks to put together a FULL scale Broadway/West End caliber production and then perform it for just one week and then, ping, the job is done and its over.  What that means is that there's very little time for discovery or nurturing. You, as an actor or singer or dancer (or all three) are required to fully commit to bold choices in order to see what works and what doesn't in as little time as possible. There is absolutely zero room to be precious about anything. It can be daun...

  You’re Not Being Assessed! I recently was leading auditions for an Off Broadway play that I am on the creative team for.  I am always genuinely ROOTING for every single person who walks into the space.  I always find it so interesting to witness the behavior of all the different actors that walk in. You’re reading this because you're clearly curious and want to continue expanding and growing in your work. What I want to share with you is this:  You are in that room for the creative team to explore your skill set,  not to assess your worthiness of being in the room in the first place.  Multiple people walked in and were clearly SO focussed on making a lasting or good impression that it often got in the way of us getting to truly see their work.  Feeling discomfort standing in front of a panel is a REAL THING. Trust me, I’ve felt it too.  But if you allow the moment to be ABOUT that discomfort by cracking a lot of jokes or commenting too much on...