Hi Marina! My dear baby doll Alexis has become enamored with British Theatre. Her current love is musicals and Six:The Musical is her current favorite everything. She watches it and Dreamgirls every day. And although she still wants to be a veterinarian, she now wants to study theatre in London at some point either during her undergraduate or post-graduate years. I told her what you said about theatre not being for money there and she simply responded by reminding me that this is why she wants to be a vet. And that she can do both. That's mighty ambitious of her but I'd never place a limit on my child's hopes and dreams. If she wants to be a neurosurgeon, theatre actress, and the Ambassador to the UN, I believe she has the power to do it all, so long as she does.
My question to you is are there still drama schools in London like there were when you attended? Are there programs for students who want to study abroad anywhere there? She will graduate high school in 5 years, and I appreciate her planning now. If you would like an understudy for anything, she's available 😉. Or if Gates is still doing theater in the US, we can send her to Auntie Gates ☺️😊. I just want her to nurture every part of her that will help her reach her full potential.
...and Alexis is also an incredibly talented artist. When she was seven years old, one of her portraits was featured in an exhibit in the Baltimore Museum of Art. She was one of EIGHT students chosen in a school system of 85,000 students. I know all parents think their children are special, but I'm sure Alexis is extraordinary. And I want to give her every opportunity to display that.
When people tell me they want to do two things in their lives and one of them is acting, I tell them to do the other thing because if you're not 100% devoted to being an actor, then you shouldn't do it. The rejection that you meet every single day is demoralizing and heartbreaking. So if you don't have a very thick skin and are not prepared for the anguish, then you really shouldn't do it.
There are drama schools all over the UK, but they are degree courses and you have to pay the same as you would if you went to university. However, there are some excellent Theatre courses at American universities.
If it were my daughter, I would encourage her to pick one career and follow that through.