What’s a typical day like at Peer?
Team Peer 2022/24
To some extent, there is no typical day as it depends on which projects are live at the time. There are two different teams of actors training at Peer. The Peer Actor Development (PAD) actors are usually on a gap year and spend their year with Peer gaining performance experience and getting one-to-one support with drama school applications. PAD actors train with Peer five days a week. Meanwhile, the Peer Employment Pathway (PEP) actors, who all have learning disabilities, work with Peer three to four days a week for up to two years. During their programme, PEP actors take part in projects, gain work experience, learn life skills, and performance skills. This post focuses on what life is like for PAD actors. We’ll be making another post for prospective PEP actors soon.
PAD actors usually spend the first half of each term in rehearsal and the second half out in the community touring a play. During their year at Peer, many PAD actors deliver over 100 performances, reaching up to 15,000 young audience members.
If we are in rehearsal mode, then the PAD actors' week is split with one or two days spent developing skills and material for drama school, developing new work, and working on our Level 4 Creative Practitioner qualification. The other three or four days are spent rehearsing for one of our touring plays. New plays are developed in-house, working directly with playwrights and theatre makers, and all plays are directed and produced to a high standard by our professional team.
Peer Place is always open by 9:30 am, and actors from both teams start arriving at our central Woking building, which is only two minutes' walk from Woking train station. Everyone signs in and gets ready for the day. Staff and students chat together while we make much-needed tea and coffee to wake us up for the day. By 10 am, everyone has grabbed a yoga mat and is ready to start the day with Actor's Practice. This 30 to 40-minute session involves a physical and vocal warm-up, usually led by our Leader of Learning and resident voice expert, Suzanne Park. Three days a week, PAD and PEP warm up together, and two days a week, PAD has their practice without PEP, which allows for some deeper and more reflective practice. Practice is an important part of the Peer day. If actors are delayed, they are expected to call in, and the expectation is that everyone is mat-ready at 10 am. This means every day starts in a focused and communal session that brings the whole company together.
After practice, PAD and PEP go their separate ways, and PAD learners might spend the rest of the day in rehearsal. Each rehearsal process is different depending on the nature of the project and the creative team involved. For example, last year in the Autumn half-term, half the term worked with one director on "As I See It" - a hard-hitting play using a blend of spoken word and naturalism designed to educate young people about radicalization and knife crime. Meanwhile, the rest of the team worked with a different director on a fun-filled space adventure using puppets and music to help younger children understand mental health. In the spring, both teams worked together on a new play by our Artistic Director Nina Lemon called "Masking," which was inspired by workshops with the young company. Rehearsals for "Masking" involved working with the writer to hone the final text and also working with a movement director to devise dynamic physical sequences, which were a key part of this multimedia drama. Finally, this term, PAD actors are joined by three visiting actors from Guildford School of Acting to work on our sex education musical "Losing It."
We have regular short breaks, but at around 1 pm, the whole company breaks for lunch, and PAD and PEP actors eat packed lunches or pop into town to grab some food for lunch. We encourage everyone to take a break, but it's not uncommon to hear actors discussing creative ideas or making music and theatre together. It's also not uncommon for team PEP to start their own party or impromptu karaoke session, which PAD learners are welcome to join in with.
Our afternoons run from 2 pm to 5 pm, with everyone usually off-site by 5:30 pm, making it possible for our actors to sustain evening jobs. If it's not a rehearsal day, then the afternoon could be spent in a range of different ways. For example, during the Autumn term, PAD learners work with staff and visiting artists to develop their solo performance, exploring who they are as an artist and theatre maker, whereas during the summer term, the team works together to create and film a digital showcase of their work. Sessions are also run to help PAD actors choose monologues and develop their offer for drama school auditions. Our success rate is high, with actors going on to a range of top drama schools.
At 5 pm, we wind down for the day, clear the space, and load the dishwasher ready to do it all again tomorrow. Peer Place is a very welcoming and nurturing space where everyone is encouraged to make mistakes, take creative risks, and grow into the artist they want to be. All actors are treated with respect by a creative team who commit to two key principles - radical honesty and radical kindness. We understand that starting a new programme with new people can be daunting, so every PAD learner has a monthly one-to-one check-in with a dedicated staff member, which helps track their progress and supports them to achieve their ambitions.
In summary, a typical day at Peer Productions is full of creativity, learning, and joy. From Actor's Practice in the morning to rehearsals and workshops in the afternoon, our actors are constantly developing their skills and exploring new ideas. With a supportive and nurturing environment, Peer Productions is the perfect place to gain performance experience, develop life skills, and prepare for drama school.
Actors on a shoot day capturing filmed content for our touring play Masking for actors’ showreels and promotion materials.
