Spotlight on Foundation scholars Alex Gavin and Calum Isaacs

May 2024

Alex Gavin

Calum Isaacs

The Foundation has been excited to have followed the careers of two young men - Alex Gavin and Calum Isaacs - who are now coming to the conclusion of their time studying for their BA degrees and are about to embark on the next chapter in their young lives - Alex will complete his BA (Hons) Musical Theatre Course at ArtsEd while Calum will complete his BA (Hons) Acting: Musical Theatre Course at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.

We asked both Foundation scholars to give us some background on themselves, their love of acting and performing and the theatre world, and their recent time studying at ArtsEd and the Royal Central School. It was fascinating to see their responses which can be seen below, and we hope it may be interesting to other young fans of musical theatre who might also be considering a similar path.

We congratulate both Alex and Calum in graduating from ArtsEd and Central with BA degrees and wish them every success in the future.

Q&A with Alex and Calum

Please tell us a little about your background?

ALEX
I was brought up in a small town near Edinburgh in Scotland. None of my family performed - however my mum loves musical theatre and took me to shows at the Edinburgh playhouse as a child including Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Watching these shows was a big inspiration to me as I loved the magic that theatre brought me. A big goal of mine would be to hopefully return one day on that stage as a performer.

CALUM
I grew up in Portishead just outside of Bristol with my family, where I was surrounded with a love for music and theatre. After secondary school and sixth form I ended up having three years out whilst I applied to drama schools. During this time I worked as a teaching assistant for my past A-Level Drama teacher at her kids drama club whilst also at a local supermarket. Alongside this, I also had the opportunity to study every Sunday at the ‘Young Actors Studio’ at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama which was really beneficial to me as I applied to drama school. Despite these years being a challenge, with drama school rejections to working and helping at home, looking back I learnt a lot about myself and am proud of my resilience and determination which led me to finally be offered a place on the BA Acting (Musical Theatre) Course at Central.

What got you into the performing arts? Have you always wanted to perform?

ALEX
Performing arts was never something that I thought I’d go into until one of my good friends’ brother was on the CBBC show M.I.HIGH and I thought it was the coolest thing ever and he went to my local theatre group LAMP (Linlithgow Amateur Musical Productions) so I thought well if I want to be like him I better go there.

CALUM
My Dad, who is also an actor, has been a huge influence for my love of theatre. Having had the opportunity to see both the highs and lows of the industry, growing up sitting in green rooms and watching him in wings, it seemed inevitable that I would eventually catch the acting bug myself. Once I decided I definitely wanted to pursue acting too, it was only when I received my recall for the Acting Musical Theatre course at Central, that I started to properly consider a career in Musical Theatre. I always loved singing around the house and was very musical inside and outside of school - Orchestra, Concert Band and Choir, I also started to learn tap dancing whilst in Sixth Form. I’m surprised I never saw it coming, but I started to realise this course was probably the perfect fit for me.

Which aspect of musical theatre do you enjoy the most?

ALEX
For me acting is what brings me the most joy. I believe it’s the core discipline of all performance but especially in musical theatre where it can often be overlooked. Getting to delve into a character and a show to find the purpose of the piece is what I love doing.

CALUM
Before Central, I used to think of acting as being a very separate entity to song and dance. However, the last three years have taught me that they are both simply an extension of acting. I have fallen in love with the way they can both move a story forward in a way that dialogue necessarily can’t. When I now go to the theatre, I love when I’m able to notice the small details within the choreography or an actors ability to act through song which help convey the story underneath. It’s these moments in musical theatre that help elevate a show to the next level.

What is the best thing you’ve ever seen at the theatre?

ALEX
I saw Jamie Lloyd’s production of Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre in January this year and I was blown away. For me it epitomised how all disciplines can be brought together to create one cohesive piece. Reinventing iconic musicals such as that can be so difficult but it was outstanding how they managed to reimagine it but also still do it justice.

CALUM
Two pieces of theatre which have recently stuck with me are ‘Standing At The Sky’s Edge’ and ‘The Motive and The Cue’. Both pieces of theatre felt like a true master class in acting. Both productions told their stories with such care and authenticity whilst also being visually epic and grand in scale. Both shows reminded me of why I love theatre and the hopes I have of performing in a show like them one day.

How have you found the last three years of training - what have been the challenges? And what have been the high points?

ALEX

I always think it’s hard to really reflect on how something was until it is over. I only think now that my training is done that I can look back and reminisce about just how great this period was.

Being surrounded by like-minded people all striving for the same goals is so refreshing and such an enjoyable atmosphere to be around.

With any degree course the level that is required of you is extremely high however, our days were from 8.30am until 6pm Monday to Friday which made organising my time very challenging. But this is also a positive as it teaches you how to manage your time and schedule which can be challenging being self employed.

A real high point for me was my final third year show ‘The Drowsy Chaperone’. Getting to use all of the skills I had gained over the last 3 years and putting them into the show was such a rewarding experience. Being able to share the stage with my friends for the week was such a nice way to end our time at drama school.

CALUM
The last three years at Central have been both the most rewarding and challenging for me as an actor. From Shakespeare to Sondheim, Restoration, Acting for Camera, Animal Studies, Clowning etc, every project I have worked on has fulfilled me with so much curiosity and love for different types of theatre. Sondheim has been a big influence during my training, getting the chance to play ‘Jack’ from ‘Into The Woods’ as well as ‘Charley Kringas’ in our 3rd Year public production of ‘Merrily We Roll Along’ were two high points for me.

*Calum as Charley Kringas in Merrily We Roll Along at Royal Central’s Embassy Theatre Photo: Patrick Baldwin*

To have the opportunity to perform my interpretation of ‘Franklin Shepard, Inc.’ in our Embassy Theatre was a lot of hard work but an absolute dream; it will be hard to match that feeling onstage again. Our production of ‘Hamlet’ where I played ‘Laertes’ was a big challenge for me, but it was the moment where all my training from our first two years clicked into place. Work from my Voice, Laban and Animal Studies lessons were the key to helping me connect to the emotional shifts that Laertes is attempting to navigate as the story progresses. It was a really challenging but rewarding turning point for me as actor.

Expanding my dance ability at Central has also been a real high point for me, particularly with my tap. Before Central, I had the opportunity to take a few tap lessons but I learnt the majority of my Knowledge and skills through YouTube. So to get to train in tap with my dance teacher Lynne has been really exciting for me and reminded me of how much I love dance.

As important as the work is, I have also learnt a lot about myself outside of the classroom. Taking care of both my mental and physical health have been two big pillars for me in order to make sure I maintain a healthy work life balance. Taking time to stop and breath was extremely vital for me to keep on top of my rehearsals, practice, commitments and overall wellbeing.

At the end of the day, my absolute rock over these last three years are the 15 other people in my class that I have had the pleasure to perform and grow with. I have so much love and respect for my classmates and I am very proud of the work we have produced. I fell in love with acting because of the energy a strong ensemble is able to create; to have also found that connection outside the classroom through the highs and lows has been amazing. I feel incredibly lucky to have shared these years with them.

Role models/ people who have influenced your career to date?

ALEX
When you’re on a journey like this there are countless people that have informed and helped you on your way. However, I think most notably and recently my acting tutor Dan Okello Bird has nurtured and guided me so well towards the path I want to take. It is so important to have tutors that care so much about your individual training and willing to put the time in to help you. Without him I don’t think I’d be so confident in my work and believe in myself to take on anything that comes to me.

My parents have always been extremely supportive to me in pursuing this career which can be so time consuming and but they have never batted and eyelid about helping me along the way. I know they will always be there for me and I’ll always be grateful for that.

CALUM
Being an actor himself my Dad was a big role model for me growing up. From seeing his resilience and love for the industry, I started to become interested in theatre myself. I very quickly became aware of the emotional strength and courage you have to have as an actor - especially in the face of rejection. But his love and creativity was always a guiding light for me. I’m very lucky to have that support from my parents at home. My course leader Wendy Gadian is also a true legend! Her musical knowledge, hard-work and care for us has always been consistent and I couldn’t have imagined anyone better to guide us through these last 3 years and out into the Industry.

From your experiences so far, what advice would you give to young students contemplating the theatre/acting pathway?

ALEX
Work hard. Hard work can never be faulted. No matter how the work you have produced may be perceived, if you have put in the graft you can take all criticism without feeling guilty about it. Also it’s your passion - however you need to make sure you continue to fulfil yourself outside of the creative industries. Having alternate hobbies allows you to disengage with it on your time off which subsequently allows you to perform better within your creative role.

CALUM
One thing I have leant a lot in the past three years is that you’ll never know what you’re capable of unless you try. I have learnt the most about myself as an actor and as a person when I was out of my comfort zone or trying something new. No matter what I was doing, it didn’t matter if I ‘succeeded’ or ‘failed’, because I learnt more about myself that way, than if I didn’t try at all. If someone has a passion for acting and theatre, I would encourage them to follow that feeling and be as curious inside and outside of the work as you can possibly be - you never know what could happen.

What are your short-term goals?

ALEX
I want to continue learning. Although this is the end of my comprehensive training, I now have the responsibility of up-keeping all the skills I’ve learnt and continue to learn more. As well as that I want to put these skills I’ve learnt into practice. Continuing to audition for projects is great because it keeps up my skills and improves my audition technique. I also aim to book some sort of project in the next year so I can start my journey into performing.

CALUM
My short term goals upon graduating are to continue living in London and securing myself with work that is able to support me outside of acting. In my spare time I love drawing and writing and so I hope to continue developing my work. Within acting, I hope to start building a CV which is as diverse and exciting as possible in all mediums, and for me there isn’t a course that could have set me up better