Suzy Davenport

Hello all!
Another week closer to our performance of Noel Coward's 'Tonight at 8.30' . 
Keep the 19th - 21st July in your diaries.
This week's blog comes from student Suzy Davenport, in her third year of ATS.


SUZY: 

" Hello everyone! My name is Suzy Davenport and this is my third year with ATS having appeared in 'Nell Gwynn' last year and 'Table' back in 2016. This year I am playing two roles: Dolly Messiter in 'Still Life' and Mrs Wadhurst in 'Hands Across the Sea'. 

Dolly in 'Still Life' is a flirty, self absorbed woman who interrupts the final, crucial moment between Laura and Alec. She settles herself at their table and takes quite a shine to Alec, yet is completely oblivious to the secret couples' feeling for one another and just chats away about herself and her home life. In contrast, Mrs Wadhurst ('Hands Across the Sea') is quite naïve, eager to please and just wants to fit in. She is visiting from Malaya with her husband and turns up at Piggie's house, whom she met while Piggie was out travelling. Unfortunately, Piggie forgets about this planned visit and chaos ensues. 
My characters are similar in that they are both busybodies and gossip queens, but Mrs Wadhurst is much more subtle than Dolly. Mrs Wadhurst is much more content to just be an observer, whereas Dolly feels she has to own the space and wants all attention to be on her at all times.

To perform the words of Noel Coward is such a treat for any actor. His wit and intelligence shines through every line he has written making every single one of his characters great to play. There are certainly no small parts in his plays as they're all so fantastically written. Of course with great writing comes great challenges in order to do it the justice it deserves. All the technical stuff needs to be perfect: diction, pace, accent and also the very quick changes in thoughts.

My personal challenge with Coward is the RP (upper class) accent. I'm originally from Warwickshire in the Midlands, so even when I think my RP accent is on point, the 'midlands twang' will come out in some of my vowel sounds so I'm having to do a lot of recording and listening to myself. Last year in 'Nell Gwynn' I was doing a cockney accent so I seem to have gone from one extreme to another! This week Amanda suggested to us to try the characters of Mr and Mrs Wadhurst with a Midlands accent so that could be interesting!

Rehearsals this year are certainly a different format to rehearsals compared to my last two years. I have only ever been part of ATS when we've just done one big play and been one big cast. This year we have three casts and so things are a little different to what I've experienced before. Doing three plays means a lot of people are playing multiple roles so it's great to see people be able to show different skills for different characters. We are also able to focus on one play at a time rather than the big play as a whole which is quite helpful. It's going to be a big production this year - three plays means three different sets, three separate sets of props, three different lots of costumes...it's going to be incredible!

If you're looking to audition for ATS, don't hesitate and apply now...you can apply anytime via our website! I stumbled across ATS three years ago almost by accident and what an amazing accident! But if you're going to audition, be ready for some serious hard work. It's incredible fun, but it's not for the faint hearted as the standards are so high. It's not just a Saturday school, you have to be working all the time outside of the room in order to reach those standards that are expected of you.

Amanda's style of directing is one that really pushes us and brings out the best in all of us. Having done three years at ATS (and definitely with many more to come) I can honestly say that I think it's the best training out there. I have done various training courses and a year of drama school training but I have never learnt as much anywhere as I have at ATS. The self discipline and professionalism that you develop from being here is amazing. Amanda and Freda have created a family by setting up this school, and what an honour to be a member of that family! People move on and do new things but they never lose their place in the ATS family. I sensed when I started three years ago that there was something very special about this place, and I only wish I had discovered it sooner as it's transformed me completely. ATS and the people involved really do hold a very special place in my heart and always will.

You won't find anyone else of Amanda Redman's calibre doing anything like this which is a testament to how much she cares about giving back to this industry. Her passion seeps out of her when directing and what's better than to learn from a successful working actress. I have learnt so much professionally and personally from Amanda and anything that happens in my own career from this point onwards is entirely down to Amanda and ATS. What's so special about the format of ATS is that Amanda isn't just our director, she's a mentor, teacher and friend all rolled into one.

So please come along and see our show, audition to be part of us next year, and continue to support us on social media. We can't wait to see you all in July! "

- Suzy Davenport

ATS' production of 'Tonight at 8.30' directed by Amanda Redman will run from 19th - 21st July at Questors Theatre in Ealing. Tickets will be available soon. 

Join us for our blog next week which will be written by Harry Durcan. 

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