English-language theatre is thriving in Denmark at the moment. As more and more internationals move here, the talent pool widens: both among the new arrivals and the children of the more established expats.
The country’s biggest amateur group, the Copenhagen Theatre Circle, has increased its output by 200 percent since 2010. And the pros are also busier than ever. June’s Cph Stage festival included 81 performances in English – up 225 percent on 2013.
Waking up dormant dreams
For some of the performers, it is their first ever taste of standing on stage – or at least since they left school – and it can be a powerful emotion, awakening passions, possibilities and even dreams of a new profession.
Nevertheless, taking the next step, from amateur to professional acting, can be a daunting one. Raw talent can only get you so far.
So it will be good news for many that one of the country’s most respected acting schools is launching an acting diploma course in English.
Insisting on the best
Now in its 20th year, Københavns Film & Teaterskole (KFTS) is launching the year-long, full-time international course on September 15. Consisting of voice, acting and movement classes, it is aimed at those looking for a serious and professional approach to acting in English.
“Our course builds on 20 years of experience combined with the newest teaching techniques,” promised Malene Beltoft, the manager of KFTS.
“We insist that our teachers work in the industry with a proven track record in teaching – having the best helps.”
Anna Pihl’s onboard
True to its word, KFTS has already assembled an impressive line-up of visiting teachers.
Among them are two internationals familiar to readers of the Weekly Post: Jeremy Thomas-Poulsen, an acclaimed American director who took charge of the well-received CTC play ‘The Dining Room’ last April, and actor and writer Ian Burns, the driving force behind That Theatre Company.
And it has also recruited a handful of international Danish actors, including Charlotte Munck, who many will recognise as the title character in ‘Anna Pihl’, Andrea Vagn Jensen (‘Strisser paa Samsoe’) and Lars Bom (‘Pusher’ and ‘Skyggen’).
It’s in the method
The school teaches a distinct type of contemporary method acting that addresses the different needs required for both acting for camera and acting for stage.
“Different modules of teaching allow the students to discover their own relations with the different techniques and methods necessary to operate within both the worlds of film and theatre,” explained Katherine Voigt, the main acting teacher at KFTS.
Improvisation also plays a large part in the course.
“The ability to improvise and be creative on an intuitive level is at the very root of a lot of contemporary film and theatre acting,” explained KFTS staff member Marie Hauge.
“We emphasise this ability greatly in order for the students to ground themselves in their individual art and their work within the group.”
No shortage of shows
With its emphasis on employing working professionals, it’s no surprise to note that the year-long course will include a number of performances: a cabaret show, a six-hour ‘non-stop’ performance, and two graduation shows.
And with the camera in mind, the students will have the chance to make films as part of the KFTS ‘s Rotator Film Festival and participate in CPH PIX in April.
Not for the faint-hearted
The course is the brainchild of the British headteacher Stuart Lynch, a proven theatre director, performer and coach who has been in charge since 2013.
“We are currently the only acting school that offers professional life coaching as part of the course,” he enthused.
“We do this to ensure the atmosphere of the school as the most creative, professional and intensive. The course is a jam-packed acting rollercoaster and is certainly not for the faint-hearted!”
KFTS welcomes those interested to audition for the course in March and May. Additionally, it will be holding auditions overseas in Berlin, Amsterdam Paris, Barcelona and London in June. Find out more at teaterskolen.com or on the school’s Facebook page.
