My NewVIc story: Joseph Adelakun
Former NewVIc student Joseph Adelakun is a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company and performed in the new RSC productions of Julius Caesar, Titus Andronicus and Antony and Cleopatra. At NewVIc, Joseph studied A-level Drama, A-level English Literature, A-level Music, AS-level Philosophy, AS – level Film Studies and a BTEC National Award in Music Composing.
I’ve lived in Newham for most of my life. I went to primary school in the borough and then to Kingsford Community School before enrolling at NewVIc and I still live in Newham now.
I don’t remember a concrete moment when I decided to become an actor, I just remember enjoying performing and wanting to do more of it. By the end of primary school I knew the performing arts were my favourite subjects and in secondary school I remember thinking acting was incredible because it allowed me to be other people and do and say the things that normally I wouldn’t or couldn’t say.
Whilst I was at NewVIc, I also attended the Weekend Arts College on Sundays and there I found out more about drama schools. They provide full-time practical courses, and they have a large number of industry professionals visit their final year performances. From NewVIc I went on to study drama at Rose Bruford College and since graduating I’ve had plenty of work as an actor. I suppose the more shows I’ve been in, the more people in the industry have seen my work and called me in for auditions, and eventually I got an audition for the Royal Shakespeare Company!
Sometimes there are gaps where I’ve not done an acting job, so I’ve done non-acting jobs to keep busy. I’ve even worked with Solid Harmony Choir at NewVIc which was fun because I used to be a member of the choir when I was at college.
My first paid theatre job, before I went to drama school, was with the people behind Ramira Arts who I met through going to an extra-curricular drama club at NewVIc. When I was with Ramira Arts I actually performed at NewVIc a number of times so you never know where your next job is going to come from or where it will take you.
I’m a great music lover and I had heard that NewVIc was one of the best places for music; so actually, it was the music department that brought me to NewVIc. The performance opportunities at NewVIc were the highlights of my time at college, it was always great to have a performance to work towards and it felt like there was a real performing arts community within the college and we’d all support each other. I also remember having a good time at NewVIc because the people in your classes were like-minded, they really wanted to be there and they’d picked the subjects they wanted.The teachers at NewVIc were very supportive and it was the performance opportunities and practical elements they provided that were most useful when it came to progressing onto drama school, as I did such a practical course. Before I came to NewVIc I was enthusiastic and confident and very excited about going to sixth form, When I left, I was even more confident and ready for new challenges.
My advice to anyone who wants to go in to acting is firstly to really ask yourself why and what you hope to achieve. It’s not an easy industry to get into and sustain yourself in, so you really need something to hold onto during the hard times. It also might be that you want to learn skills from acting to help you do something else that isn’t acting, like being more confident in interviews or having better social skills when meeting new people. Or you could use acting skills as a platform to lead you to working within the arts in a different capacity, maybe as a writer, director, producer, cinematographer, movement director or dramaturge for instance. I’d then say go to as many acting/drama clubs and classes as you possibly can, and once you’ve found out about different places, get picky and go where you feel comfortable to challenge yourself the most. I’d say you want to concentrate on becoming the best actor you can be – this is a life-long-journey by the way – and connecting with as many organisations. I did projects at Stratford Circus, Theatre Royal Stratford East, WAC – but there are also places like the National Youth Theatre and NYMT. This helps you to learn more and also to meet more people in the industry.
I’d also say; talk to as many people as you can for advice, particularly people who have more experience, like other young people who may have been doing it for longer than you.
Something I like to keep reminding myself is that human beings have an amazing capacity to learn. No matter how bad I am at something, whether it’s an artistic skill or a social skill, I can always get better. I think what motivates me is the wonder and beauty of love and life.
Joseph Adelakun – NewVIc class of 2007
Other NewVIc stories:
My NewVIc story: Kabir Jagwani
My NewVIc story: Raymond Fernandez.
My NewVIc Story: Amritpal Gill.
My NewVIc story: Nazia Sultana
My NewVIc story: Joseph Toonga
My NewVIc story: Zakiyah Qureshi
Eddie Playfair 