Bristol Old Vic graduate helping with drama school auditions and professional auditions. Warm and friendly teaching approach.

Learn more about Ed

• 1) When did you start practicing? How did this passion find you?

  At school, although we all start developing an inner actor much earlier - when we play make believe as children, try to persuade our parents of something, or tell a little white lie. Here we're behaving as if a set of circumstances are true when they're not. This is what acting essentially is and there are ways to get better at it.

• 2) Which artists or works affect you the most?

  On the other hand acting is also about truth. It's about knowing yourself well enough that you know how you'd behave in a given circumstance. Then you need to be able to conjure it on demand. Riz Ahmed is a good example. Whoever he's playing, he's very good at channeling himself - his unique rhythm and temperament - into the character and the results are very convincing.

• 3) What are the qualities and skill required to succeed in this area?

  Self knowledge. Emotional intelligence. A good balance between the head and the heart. Patience.

• 4) What is the most valuable advice you can give to help someone stay focused on creative projects?

  I don't believe in "staying focused" as an effortful thing because if you like doing it you'll want to do it. That said you may need to know when to push yourself - for instance if you haven't learnt your lines you'll let yourself down. For the workaholics out on the other hand it's useful to know when to stop and treat yourself more kindly.

• 5) How would you describe your passion; how does it make you feel?

  Like all parts of me are working together, seamlessly, to do the job. I forget my day to day worries and tap into something deeper. Sometimes after a great night on stage or on set I'm tingling for days after

• 6) What creative achievements are you particularly proud of?

  I've enjoyed playing individual parts but I'm proud of my career as a whole so far. The mere fact of keeping going. Learning to relax and trust that work will come and when it doesn't I know it's okay. I'm enough.

• 7) Have you ever been surprised by a student; by their ability or quick progression?

  Progress is quick in most cases simply because your performance can't help but change when you go from preparing at home to doing it in front of someone else. That's why it's useful to have a lesson: so you're not suddenly blind sided by the changes when you get in front of the audition panel or casting director.
  
  That said I've also seen certain long standing problems with students persist but then slowly start to fade away. Those changes are hard won but can sustain an actor for the rest of their life.

• 8) Being a Superprof is an art! What is your secret?

  I walk my talk. Many of the problems students experience I experienced myself at one stage. Year on year however, I've developed the tools to worked my way through the various blocks that hold an actor back. My aim now is to share those tools with you and get you to the next level in good time.