How to get started in Acting: Advice from a Drama tutor at WM College

Many people say they want to be actors. Far fewer understand the work that sits behind the spotlight. Acting is more than memorising lines or delivering a performance. It’s a craft that requires imagination, resilience, and courage to explore.

Understanding what the profession is really like is the first step to building strong skills and real confidence. We spoke to our Acting and Drama tutor about his experience in the industry and what learners can expect from the course.

Meet WM College tutor, Christopher 

WM College is delighted to welcome Christopher as our new Acting and Drama tutor. With over 14 years of experience as a professional actor, he has performed in Shakespearean productions, on screen, and in the growing world of video games.

Alongside his acting career, Christopher has always been passionate about teaching, delivering guest lectures at universities and coaching aspiring performers in rehearsal rooms.

His approach focuses on helping learners build confidence, develop their skills, find their voice, and understand what it truly means to be a performer.

Catch up below on Christopher’s experience and insights on the craft of acting and drama.

Q: Can you tell us a bit about your journey in acting and drama and teaching?

I’ve been a professional actor for the last 14 years or so. I’ve always taught alongside my time acting and writing – whether that has been guest lecturing on Shakespearean verse at universities or teaching training actors. The majority of my career has been working on stage, mostly in Shakespearean productions, but also in screen work. In the last five years, I have moved into the world of computer games, which has been the most fun I’ve had. 

Q: What drew you to teaching acting and drama?

Having found that teaching creative writing has improved my skills as a playwright, the same is true for teaching acting – I’ve learned more about my craft watching actors develop and hone their skills. 

Q: Who is this course aimed at, and what can learners expect to gain?

The course is aimed at anyone with a creative itch to scratch. We will look at different theorists and practitioners, as well as doing a lot of practical script and text work. But learning about acting is not a one-size-fits-all; we will see where your strengths and weaknesses lie and help develop your own personal toolkit. 

Q: Will there be opportunities for collaborative or performance work during the course?

All acting is reacting, so it will be inherently collaborative – there will be space to learn about monologue and soliloquy too, but 90% of the work we will do will be on our feet exploring performance skills. 

Q: What’s your favourite part about teaching acting or drama?

We call it a ‘play’; that thing on a stage is called a ‘play,’ and that is what we as actors should be focused on doing: learning how to play again. “We don’t stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing”. Seeing performers find a little of their five-year-old selves again and work from a place of spontaneity and without a fear of failure – reaching that point is the most satisfying part. 

Q: Is there a piece of advice you always give to aspiring actors?

Don’t be afraid to be rubbish, don’t be afraid to fail. If you can get over that hurdle, everything is way easier. But I’d also say that if you’re hoping to be an actor just to be famous, then you don’t want to be an actor. This course is about learning to be a storyteller who works from a place of being an authentic human. 

Q: What do you hope learners will take away from your course?

I hope they find confidence, a sense of play, I hope they become more articulate and free in their voice and bodies, but most of all, I hope they are able to see a piece of text and have a better understanding of how to serve the story. 

Enrol on our acting and drama course

If you’d love to build confidence, get creative and learn by doing, our performing arts courses at WM College are the perfect place to start.
Enrol now in WM College’s Acting and Drama course and start your journey as a storyteller.