By Emma Pavanello, Y11
Recently I had the chance to sit down and ask Mr. White, a new teacher in our drama department, a few questions. Here’s how it went.
Could you introduce yourself briefly?
Hi, my name is Daffyd White and I’m a theater teacher here at LGB. It’s my first year at this school but I have been a theater teacher for around 10 years.
How did you get started in the arts?
I loved theater at school. I was always the lead role and had a real passion for it so I decided to try and make it a vocation and auditioned for drama schools in London. I ended up gaining a place at Mountview. The fees were a bit of an issue because it’s very expensive but I managed to get a scholarship. I trained for 3 years in London and then I worked mostly in theater for about 7-8 years.
Why did you decide to become a drama teacher?
After my 7-8 years of working in theater, work was a bit sporadic so I started doing bits of teaching and realized that I really loved teaching as much as I did performing so I went back to university and trained as a teacher. I enjoyed seeing the student’s passion for it as much as my own. I quite like putting something together as well as working with the lights and sounds to bring a performance to life.
Is there a most rewarding part in theater for you?
The most rewarding part is seeing a performer’s growth and journey. Seeing how they start off not quite grasping the part but then during the final performance seeing the character and not the actor anymore. Seeing the impact of the play on the audience is also very rewarding.
Do you think theater is essential and everyone should experience at least watching plays?
Yes, absolutely. It’s currently a real loss all over the world. It’s important because theater isn’t censored, so plays can be written dealing with all different impacts of people’s lives. It’s an escape for so many people but it’s also an educational tool. I think it’s very different to television and film because the genres can be so different but also seeing something live is different to watching something that has been pre-recorded.
Who is your favorite actor?
Meryl Streep and Anthony Hopkins. Whenever there’s a new Meryl Streep movie it’s something I always want to see. I used to really like Johnny Depp because I used to think he could play so many different characters. I like actors that are able to not play themselves all the time.
Do you think anyone has the talent to pursue a career in theater?
I think it takes determination and strength more than simply talent to pursue a career. There has to be a want from the person to really want to do it because it’s a tough industry and tough training. If you want to take it seriously it’s 10-6 everyday at a drama school with very strict mouvement, voice because you are training your body. It takes someone with thick skin that wouldn’t let the knockbacks affect them. I’m a firm believer that if you really want something and you fight hard enough for it eventually you’ll get it. You really have to have the ability to stick at it and not give up.
If you had a tip for anyone who wanted to become an actor what would it be?
Prepare to work very hard, accept any job you’re offered and don’t stick to your genre, be able to fit into any genre. Work really hard. In today’s world, on top of acting, it’s an advantage if you can sing or dance. Lastly, you should be prepared to step outside of your comfort zone.
A thank you to Mr White of the drama department.
