Wantage

Tom

Ambassador
(6 reviews)

Julie

« Perfect! Tom is a delight and I cannot recommend him highly enough. He is... More »

Julie

« Perfect! Tom is a delight and I cannot recommend him highly enough. He is working with my son towards his LAMDA examinations. He is highly professional, engaging and knowledgeable. My son enjoys working with Tom enormously. His confidence and grasp of acting concepts is growing with every lesson and it is so lovely to witness him flourish under his tutelage. »

£25^/h

1^st lesson free!

Superprof Private lessons Acting lessons improvisational theatre lessons musical theatre lessons drama school entrance lessons lamda exams preparation lessons stand up comedy lessons

Profile and degree verified

Response Time 4h

Lessons offered by Tom

Individual

The lessons will be held

at his home
at your home
By webcam

Taught subjects

Acting
Improvisational theatre
Musical theatre
Drama School Entrance
LAMDA Exams Preparation
Stand up comedy

Levels

All Levels

Acting Coach & LAMDA Exam Preparation by professionally-trained Working Actor Thomas J. Baker

Methodology

Getting started is always the hardest part. Without someone to guide you on this journey of learning a new skill or pursue a career, it can be easy to get stuck and take no action at all. The first thing to do is find the right coach.
Welcome.
There’s the hardest part done.
What’s next?

Quality coaching.
Affordable price.
Proven results.

It’s that simple.

In an industry as competitive and unconventional as acting, progress and movement are the surest way to mark success. Students of my classes have:

Achieved talent agency representation and are now being considered for professional jobs

Have been accepted into prolific acting programs at notorious schools such as Guildhall School of Acting

Were awarded Distinction-level qualifications in acting as part of their first ever LAMDA Exams

Ambassador

One of our best tutors! High-quality profile, qualifications verified and response guaranteed. Tom will plan your first lesson with care.

Experience

I am a professionally trained, working actor and drama facilitator represented by BMA. My conservatoire training at the School of the Arts - Northampton has given me a kaleidoscope of skills including: acting for stage and screen, movement on stage, vocal technique, Shakespeare, and improvisation. I received my training from industry professional Christopher Simpson (The Good Karma Hospital; ITV 2017) as well as the founder of Trestle Theatre Company (est. 1981) Dr. Sally Cook. I have played in multiple roles, including Ben in 5-star reviewed comedy ‘O,FFS’ which debuted at the Actors Centre in London and later played at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2018. I have had multiple roles in award-winning short films, as well as feature film appearances. My objective as an acting and drama coach is to give high quality drama coaching to young people is to not only provide industry-level preparation and professional practice, but also to improve confidence, positive character building, and improved speaking and listening skills. I am also on the official Directory of Teachers for LAMDA.

Rates

Rate for online lessons : £25/h

Rate for 5 hours of lessons : £120

Rate for 10 hours of lessons : £230

Details

Under 10s LAMDA Exam Preparation - £10 for half an hour

Lessons offered by Tom

Individual

The lessons will be held

at his home

at your home

webcam

Taught subjects

Acting
Improvisational theatre
Musical theatre
Drama School Entrance
LAMDA Exams Preparation
Stand up comedy

Levels

All Levels

Tom's CV

Achievements of Enrolled Students:

- First-ever private student achieving 84/100 Distinction in his first Acting LAMDA exam

- Student enrolled into Guildhall Acting School program

- Student represented by professional talent agency Eaglestone Management

Drama Facilitator & LAMDA Coach @ Berzerk Productions, Reading
Drama Coach @ Razzamataz, Newbury
Drama Tutor @ Smile Days Theatre, Italy
Physical & Vocal Warm-up Coach @ University of Northampton, Northampton

BA (Hons) Acting - University of Northampton (2017)

6 reviews on Tom

5/5

All our ratings are collected by us and are given in confidence, they correspond to a real experience.

Julie

Perfect! Tom is a delight and I cannot recommend him highly enough.

He is working with my son towards his LAMDA examinations. He is highly professional, engaging and knowledgeable.

My son enjoys working with Tom enormously. His confidence and grasp of acting concepts is growing with every lesson and it is so lovely to witness him flourish under his tutelage.

Tom's response

Julie enquired into LAMDA tuition for her son Will. I have been seeing Will for a number of weeks now and I am impressed with his commitment and dedication to improving his craft. He has a light-hearted, curious manner that is perfectly suited to acting and I look forward to training with him in the weeks to come.

Flora

Perfect! I have just started using Tom as my acting tutor- he is helping with my drama school entrance auditions. So far he has been excellent! he has provided me with a structured and detailed plan of the training he plans to give me over the next few months and really listened to what I want to achieve and incorporated it in to his training plan! I have really enjoyed Tom's teaching so far and I am really looking forward to what's to come!

Tom's response

Flora has a great touch for comedic role and a resonant voice. It would be good to work on professional vocal technique to better hone your instrument and learn to use it professionally so that you become more adaptable and can apply it successfully and healthy to a variety of roles. You have a great attitude for learning new things and I can’t wait to delve deeper into the acting world with you. T

4 recommendations

Daniel

Tom is a conscientious acting coach with a unique approach and insight that offers drama school level teaching on a 1:1 basis. Highly recommended

Karen

Tom has been my son’s coach for almost 6 months and the progress he has made on my boy’s confidence and diction is staggering. Tom gives young people drama school standard skills in a way that is fun, approachable and provides results! Thank you Tom!

Tom

Tom is a credible LAMDA coach that has provided Distinction grades for every student he has coached. Not only is a versatile and knowledgable coach with an array of skills, he is also a working actor and so has been able to put these into practice! His tireless and unrelenting dedication to his students makes him a reliable and unique coach that will provide quality results.

Rich

Having witnessed his acting and teaching methods first hand I'd highly recommend Tom as an acting coach and mentor. He's helpful and really wants his pupils to succeed in what they want to achieve.

Interview with Tom

QUESTION 01 | 08

When did you start practicing? How did this passion find you?

Tom — I have been an actor since I was 7 years old. My brother had his own amateur dramatics theatre company and we would perform musicals in the back garden of our home. I have always been fascinated by storytelling and its forms, and have always had a passion for the imagination. I worked in my Drama classes at school and found that I wanted to train in actor to become a better storyteller. I am very grateful and lucky to have had such a rigorous and comprehensive training at the University of Northampton in Acting; which differs somewhat from studying drama as professional training seeks to build the mindset needed to create authentic and organic characters. I've come along way since playing in Wicked in my back garden with friends and family!

QUESTION 02 | 08

Which artists or works affect you the most?

Tom — I am particularly drawn to the works of Laban as his study of movement has had a huge influence on my method for acting. I think if the actor can define for himself the physiological movements of characters, then he can play any role. That kind of versatility and adaptability is essential for the actor. I am a huge fan of actors such as Bryan Cranston whose performances mesmerise me. Those are true transformations. I also admire actors who can also direct and write, I think as storytellers this almost chameleon quality is what makes the craft so unique and rewarding.

QUESTION 03 | 08

What are the qualities and skill required to succeed in this area?

Tom — Persistence, curiosity and openness. One must remain persistent in their pursuit of the craft, curious to new knowledge and experiences, and open to allow and accept these experiences into their hearts. Tension and judgement will act as a constant set back if you cannot get out of your own way and embrace the mad, wonderful craft!

QUESTION 04 | 08

What is the most valuable advice you can give to help someone stay focused on creative projects?

Tom — I have two. They are the mantras that have stuck with me so vividly in my training. "Know thyself" is the first, and I think it is such a key pearl of wisdom. How can you play a character if you do not know yourself truly and entirely? Be curious about your mind and emotions. Discover all the dark and hidden secrets you yourself did not know. Accept them. Find the stories you hid from yourself. Next is, "The work is the work is the work..." that phrase could continue forever. And I think that advice is important because it reminds the artist that the work of the craft never stops. There is always something new to discover and learn. It is not finite. There are limitless possibilities. I think good advice should be short, simple and easy to apply in daily life.

QUESTION 05 | 08

How would you describe your passion; how does it make you feel?

Tom — I can remember a lecturer from the Central School of Speech and Drama told me to never use the word 'passion'. "You can be passionate about ice cream, it does not necessarily mean you would make a good choc ice." When the craft ignites in my head and in my heart, it feels like a fire that will never burn out. It fuels everything I do. It is an unimaginable power, a state of free flow where everything just clicks and comes together. Having that feeling is all about trusting yourself as an actor, and having faith in the teachings you've been trained in. Trust yourself and let the work do the talking.

QUESTION 06 | 08

What creative achievements are you particularly proud of?

Tom — I am very proud of my upcoming short film "Cold Coffee". It was a musing that came to me and I had the script written within 20 minutes of the conception. I knew that it was something special but that it was one of those pieces of art that would either be an incredible success or a colossal failure. That is why I am so fond of it. Art that does not take risks is not art. I can't wait to show it to the world.

QUESTION 07 | 08

Have you ever been surprised by a student; by their ability or quick progression?

Tom — I had one student who drew together a rich and in depth character analysis. He was just ten years old but the emotional complexity and depth to his answers made me so happy. It is so important for actors to focus on the quality of construction immersion when creating character. Your construction is the playground. So I was very proud to see this student take my advice and run with it to fully create the character for himself emotionally and intellectually.

QUESTION 08 | 08

Being a Superprof is an art! What is your secret?

Tom — You need to learn the rhythm of the student in front of you. There are countless techniques and methods for becoming an actor, but no 1 quick-fix hack to creating authentic performances. Empower the student to find their own flow and rhythm and encourage them to celebrate and accept every aspect of themselves. Once you are completely comfortable in your own skin, then you can start to tune the instrument. Find your rhythm.

Superprof Private lessons Acting lessons improvisational theatre lessons musical theatre lessons drama school entrance lessons lamda exams preparation lessons stand up comedy lessons

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