Actress Tilly Blackwood has launched Audition Doctor, a new business start-up which provides coaching and tuition for drama school applicants, professional actors, corporate clients and individuals whose job requires effective communication.
Tilly took the pragmatic step to set up, Audition Doctor when she found herself struggling with a sudden lack of work. Having attended one of Britain’s best drama schools – The Guildhall School of Music and Drama – coupled with having worked with actors and directors who have exerted influence on not only the British but international stage, she was equipped with a body of knowledge few could boast of.
As an actress she has worked with the theatrical industry’s elite, from Sir Peter Hall and Max Stafford-Clark to Lindsay Posner and Simon Curtis. Her achingly funny performance as Helena in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ with Dawn French, prompted Jennifer Saunders to write her into ‘Absolutely Fabulous.’
Tilly’s current pool of clients are professionals from a range of spheres that includes journalists, architects and development directors from charitable organisations.
Audition Doctor – Coaching
Public Speaking for Business
Coaching sessions are tailored to the client’s exact needs. Held at either the client’s home or offices, sessions focus on overcoming any fear of public speaking, conveying the message and engaging audiences in order to deliver a knockout presentation.
Professional Actors
Coaching is focused on re-acquainting professional actors with their strengths and working on their weaknesses. The text based sessions and participants bring their own material for the impending audition. Sessions are focused solely on igniting confidence, but never losing sight of the main prize: securing the job. Coaching sessions can be given on a one to one basis or in groups of four to five people and last approximately three hours.
Drama School applicants
One to one coaching consists of an introductory meeting to discuss the student’s needs and requirements and work out a plan and strategy up until drama school. All work is tailor made to suit each student individual needs, so they can represent themselves at their very best in front of an audition panel.
The aim is to give each student, not only their best fighting chance to secure tenure, but to begin a better understanding of their own strengths and weaknesses and how to work with them.
Courses
Tilly continues to hold coaching and tuition sessions for actors from the world renowned Actors Centre in Central London where she runs weekly Audition Masterclasses for professional actors, drama students and Acting Classes for beginners either on a one-to-one basis or in small groups.
1.) Introduction to Acting – The Essential Tools
2.) 121 Groups – Bespoke Acting Classes
3.) Introduction to Acting – An in-depth approach
For further information and prices please go to www.auditiondoctor.co.uk
Testimonials:
“Tilly is a brilliant teacher if you want to lift any kind of public performance to the highest level. She is a serious motivator who is obsessed with detail and will not rest until she has squeezed the absolute best out of you. I couldn’t recommend her more highly for anyone working on their presenting technique.”
Viv Groskop, Literary events host and BBC Radio 4 broadcaster (Any Questions, Woman’s Hour, Today).
“At the centre of any modern business is communication. From experience, many failures occur when strategy and detail haven’t been communicated effectively. To be a key person of influence- both within the office and the wider industry- you need to be able to sell your ideas, both one to one and to larger audiences. I went to Tilly to work on the latter: how to argue in debates; make speeches in big venues; give lectures at academic institutions. The experience has been very valuable. As a writer, i am used to constructing long sentences on the page, which people get lost in when spoken. We made snappier lines, and evolved a delivery of varied (rather than flat) intonation and as an expression of personality- rhetoric in the old sense. I recommend Tilly to anyone who wants to develop the communication skills required for success in the complex and competitive, contemporary world.”
Will Hunter, Deputy Editor, The Architectural Review
The first job that Tilly helped me with was for a series for Canal + called BORGIA. Tilly changed my performance to match what television directors on a major international series would look for. This worked and I was cast by the Emmy award winning director, Dearbhla Walsh. Dearbhla was very impressed with my audition. However, this audition was all the work that Tilly had put into it with me and her technique helped me land the role. I would not of been able to do this without her.
The second job, was the Ridley Scott series, WORLD WITHOUT END. I landed the part a second time in a row. Again, only with Tilly’s help and technique.
Dan Cade, Actor
