About the author Foreword Acknowledgements Introduction Who is this book for? Helping others to help you How do you know what it feels like? I''ll be honest How to use this book Other things you could do Terminology and useful language Breaking the rules, exceptions, and other opinions Apologies and compliments Part One - Behaviours and attitudes Chapter 1 : Why do you act? Doing drama outside of formal education Chasing the dream Are you sure? Going for it Chapter 2: You are unique Having a go Talent Technology Social Media Mental Health Looking after yourself Being lucky Chapter 3: What''s stopping you? Finances Education, opportunities and experience (or the lack of them) Disability and difference (including interview with Jenny Sealey, Artistic Director of Graeae Theatre Company) Chapter 4: Desirable attributes Being playful Are you a blank page? Really? What are you looking at? Take note Chapter 5: Don''t be a prat Your reputation is everything - be professional Communication Part Two - Skills and techniques Chapter 6: Starting with you Whatcha got? Chapter 7: The more you can do, the more employable you are Let''s dance Actor musicians Je suis un acteur Accents Chapter 8: Auditions and auditioning Different types of audition Auditioning for college, universities and drama schools Sight reading/cold reading Self-tapes How to be great at auditions Chapter 9: Rehearsals and rehearsing What is a rehearsal? Directors and being directed Be ugly! (Working outside of your comfort zone) What do they mean take risks? Chapter 10: Working with scripts Finding clues Learning lines Chapter 11: Classical texts Suit the action to the word, the word to the action Get on with it Chapter 12: How to be good at acting - the good stuff! Doing the work Authenticity Chapter 13: Preparing to perform Warming up Chapter 14: In performance Communication - tell the story Acting with a sense of ease Part Three - Creativity Chapter 15: Getting on with it You don''t need permission Telling your stories Flying solo Putting what you already have to good use There is no need to start with a blank page Creating for others Let''s make a movie Chapter 16: Sharing your own work Traditional and non-traditional venues Finding an audience Part Four - Knowledge Chapter 17: Knowing stuff Plays Practitioners and companies Venues Chapter 18: Acquiring more knowledge Where to look and what to do Industry insights Learning about all aspects of the industry Chapter 19: The UK education system and actor training Qualifications and courses Considering drama school? Would university be better? Chapter 20: Useful language Chapter 21: The Actor''s Toolbox Part Five - The future Chapter 22: What happens next? Acting in the future The impact of technology Challenges for the next generation of actors Chapter 23: Your Next Steps Are you going to take it seriously? Mind the gap Do you have a side hustle to support yourself? Do you have a Plan B? Break a leg Chapter 24: Finding work and approaching an agent Do you need an agent? When to contact an agent How to contact an agent Using your own work to get more work References Bibliography Index.