In this Masterclass on her career as an actor Golda John relates her experience of working in university touring companies in Nigeria and abroad. She has worked on stage, in film, radio and television. She has appeared in many of the classics of African drama, including Death and the King’s Horseman and The Gods Are Not to Blame. For Golda John her advice to upcoming actors is ‘if the talent is there, why not flow with the talent’. But she cautions, ‘talent is not enough – commitment and training are also important’. Even with talent and good training you will not be successful in the field if you do not possess the commitment to persist.
Golda John gives us tips on auditions. ‘Make sure you eat something before you go for your audition!’ Most important, Golda John stresses the need for actors to enrich their craft. ‘It’s important to update yourself and to work, not sit and wait for work to come to you. It may be that you will need to collaborate with others to create something. Sometimes you will volunteer.’ This is crucial for your practice as an actor to be fit in mind and body for the next opportunity that comes along. Golda John is a warm, humble, and highly skilled actor. Listen to her discussion on learning lines and the importance of actors understanding the emotional journey of the character you are embodying.
- 1. What is the emotional journey and how does this relate to memorising lines?
- 2. What does Golda John mean when she says that African theatre is total theatre?
- 3. In what way is theatre in the round more inclusive than conventional proscenium productions?