JJes is currently studying an MA in Professional Acting at ALRA (The Academy of Live and Recorded Arts) North in Wigan, Greater Manchester, and will graduate in December 2020.

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The course offers a wide and varied syllabus that does not focus on a single practitioner or methodology, and includes public performances and project work.  Assessments are carried out continuously, made up of practical, essays, vlogs and blogs.

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Acting is made up of various modules and projects, carried out with internal and external directors.  Acting Technique is taught, and practiced within Acting for Camera, Acting for Radio, Scene Studies, Research Projects, Heightened Text, and Storytelling.  Jes has worked with directors including Karen Henshaw, Dermot Daly, Helen Parry, Peter Machen, Lucy Curtis, Chris Cronin and Graeme Hawley, and as part of his training performed as Kolia in Longing by William Boyd, as Gavin, Sgt Adams and Bradley in The Radicalisation of Bradley Manning by Tim Price, and as Ray in Blackbird by David Harrower.  He will also be playing Malvolio in Twelfth Night.

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Actor Voice is made up of Technical Voice which focuses on the techniques of Linklater, and is utilised in classes for Articulation and Accents, which has focussed on RP, General American, and Southern and Northern Irish (adding to Jes' already wide repertoire of accents), and Voice into Text and Musicianship (which has been a revelation to Jes, allowing him to find his singing voice).

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Actor Movement takes the actor through various methodologies including Lecoq, Laban and Chekov, with solo and group assessments.  Two terms are spent on animal studies (Jes being a flamingo and a rhino) and training stage combat is also provided.

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Performance is made up of three areas, Acting for Camera, Acting for Stage and Showcase where the actor will work with professional directors and produce films and performances for industry assessment in London and Manchester.

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Finally a Personal Research Project is undertaken which is a 30 minute film or performance which ties in everything that has been learned over the course.  Jes is making a film that utilises film, light and sound techniques to introduce atmosphere and tension into a vocally silent movie.

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