And this, too, shall pass away.

Today I left University.

Yesterday I was an Acting student, tomorrow I don't know what I'll be - unemployed I suppose... And I have to say I'm really rather happy about it all!

If I were asked whether or not I'd enjoyed University, I have to pause, think, and then quietly answer; "It was the single worst experience of my life -- and I would start it all over again tomorrow, and not change a second of it. I have loved my time at University."

Which University I attended is besides the point, but as I said, I was an Acting student. This means that I of course had one final performance. That performance was last week - and was to a sold out theatre - the finest professional theatre I have ever performed in might I add.

I feel the rest of this blog will be a hopelessly 'deep' review of my student life. It's probably best if no-one reads on.

Our final show was 'Road', by Jim Cartwright. Perhaps an aged play now, but none-the-less, a play I recommend (When it's not taken too seriesly by it's director...!). I was entrusted with the role of 'Scullery' - the 'narrator' for lack of a better term. A role which mean't I had great freedom with the script, the character, and -- most importantly -- the audience. Our show was masterfully directed by a young, director whom I feel has a great future ahead of him, and was well recieved by our audience. And for me, this was the perfect role to finish University with - A role in which I was able to do just about anything I liked, and get away with it. A memory I will look back upon with great fondness.

Don't get me wrong - There have been BAD performances during my time at University -- and when I say 'BAD', I mean: Aweful, terrible, unbelievably cringworthily 'wish-I-could-erase-them-from-my-memory-bad' - for myself no more especially than for all of us. But there have also been moments, and whole performances infact, that were just sheer brilliance - and these are the reasons I recommend University life to all young actors.

Drama Schools for me are dated - and no, I am not writing this as a student that didn't 'get into one', I am writing this as a student that rejected four in favour of University just over three years ago. The life of a student at University is one of great freedom outside of rehearsals, lectures, and classes, as well as the decipline, knowledge, and guidance passed on by the wonderfully experienced lecturors.

Sadly, I fear a campaign for University's to userp Drama Schools as an Actors best source of learning would be hard fought, and lost.

But the future. Well, this blog is actually a part of it. I am to take a year to work a normal job, and then form a theatre company with two of the closest friends I have. And in a years time, I will reveal the name of this blog to them both, as will they with theirs to me. A small piece of fun before the turmoil of setting up a theatre company, planing and executing a tour, writting a new play, planning and executing another tour, and so on and so forth untill we are so broke we are forced into another job.

Fun times ahead. :-)

And what of today? What does an Acting student do on the day he learns he is no longer an acting student? He goes to see the funniest show ever written - Noises Off, by Micheal Frayn, at the Birmingham Rep.

A wonderful play, fantastically written, that I fell head over heels in love with the first time I saw it - and I promise you that if you have not seen it, you will too!

This version, directed by Ian Talbot, did not dissapoint. It had all the class, timing, and the beautifully crafted set that the script deserves. A fantastically crafted piece of theatre, that seen at the perfect time, in the evening when it most matters, reminds a young actor just why he wanted to be in this industry in the first place.

Almost perfect. The only thing missing was the freedom David Gilmore gave his cast in the Milton Keynes version in 2008 - where the cast geniunly looked like they were enjoying the 'middle-of-the-run' show just as much as we were on the first time we saw it. As funny as the 2010 cast were, they just didn't seem to have the same jovial-ness about their performance - an example being: The phone fell of the table. Both actors looked down. The audience waited with bated breath to hear what witty comment, or hysterical look of disbelief we might be treated to - and then... They carried on as if nothing had happened.

I am no critic, and I'm sure they are all better performers than me - but comedies are fun for the cast as well as the audience!

So, back to the point of this blog. I have left University. I feel there is only one quote apt to sum up why I am indifferent about finishing this life-changing experience, and to finish this blog with, and I shall sign off with that.

"It is said that King Solomon once charged his wise men to invent him a sentence, to be ever in view, and which should be true and appropriate in all times and situations. They presented him the words: "And this, too, shall pass away." How much it expresses! How humbling in the hour of pride! How consoling in the depths of affliction!" - Abraham Lincoln

"This too shall pass"

Brilliant. Enjoy it or endure it. Nothing lasts forever.