Actor and director, founder of London Acting Studio, tutor at City Academy London and Spotlight

Find out more about Adam

• 1) When did you develop an interest in your chosen field and in private tutoring?

  My love for teaching acting comes from my early years as my mother worked as a teacher and private tutor and both my uncle and aunt were actors, so I grew up in the artistic and academic environment. I have been teaching various subjects since I was a student: private tuition to children of English as a foreign language, Polish as a foreign language to English natives, graphic design (which is my other area of expertise) as adult learning both private and in a classroom environment. I designed my own methodology and syllabus while teaching acting at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance to opera singers, musical theatre students, dancers, musicians and choreographers. Since then I have taught acting at London's City Academy, the Spotlight, City Lit, the Cockpit Theatre Maker and founded London Acting Studio over two years ago where I teach my classes at Tramshed Theatre in Woolwich and soon also at Greenwich Theatre.

• 2) Tell us more about the subject you teach, the topics you like to discuss with students (and possibly those you like a little less). Acting

  In 1-2-1 sessions it's most useful to help actors with their audition prep. I look at their audition speeches or scenes and help them prepare in terms of the character's objectives, what drives their actions and what's the context of the piece. I look at clarity of performance, blocking the scene and apply variety of methods depending on the student, their level and appropriately to the text.
  
  I also coach actors to help them with gaining a wider range of techniques and consequently perform with greater confidence.
  
  I specialise in Stanislavsky, Meisner, Adler, Improv, Comedy, Physical Theatre (Lecoq's 7 States of Tension), Devising techniques

• 2) Did you have any role models; a teacher that inspired you?

  My Mum! I have been inspired by many teachers throughout my life: my wonderful biology teacher at primary school who made me fall in love with science, my Polish teacher at secondary school who supported my acting training, Helena Kaut-Howson - a legendary Polish theatre director who taught me the craft directing me in several plays, Craig Snelling - my extraordinary Stanislavsky teacher, Wendy Metcalf who taught me physical theatre and Chekhov, John Wright of Trestle Theatre Company who taught me comedy, Katie Mitchell and Guy Cools who taught me theatre Steve Ditmayer, who was a student of Meisner, and taught me his approach.

• 4) What do you think are the qualities required to be a good tutor?

  Clarity - a teacher has to have a precise and clear way of sharing their knowledge
  Listening - a good teacher is not a talker, he/she has to listen actively and respond to individual needs of the student or the cohort, as each group as well as an individual are different. I always, always begin my course by listening to the student/s and their needs and expectations
  
  Knowledge - a good teacher leads by example and gains respect by sharing their expertise

• 5) Provide a valuable anecdote related to your subject or your days at school.

  A very famous Polish character actor Jan Kobuszewski was one of the professors in the audition panel at the National Drama School in Warsaw. An auditionee walks in and one of the panellists asks him to make Kobuszewski laugh. The student, taken aback by this surprise task, looks at the panel, baffled, and says: 'Which one is that?'

• 6) What were the difficulties or challenges you faced or still facing in your subject?

  Some students might not respond to my particular approach and of course that's frustrating because I tend to take it personally as I'm passionate about it. However, it's only human and realistic to find the right teacher for you. It has to be a good match and I've learnt to let go and I have even recommended other teachers who I believe might be better suited for some students.

• 7) Do you have a particular passion? Is it teaching in general or an element of the subject or something completely different?

  I have a few passions, most of them related to my teaching subjects, because my subjects are artistic they are not just subjects, they are lifestyles. I love directing and working on the scene with my students and actors and I know it's mutual, we all get very excited and immerse ourselves in the subject. Design is also my passion, it's equally exciting and engaging, it gives me a lot of satisfaction creating something beautiful and at the same time making change the way something looks.

• 8) What makes you a Superprof (besides answering this interview questions :-P)?

  My students grow in front of my eyes and it gives me a great sense of satisfaction but also provides a real feedback to my approach. It's also expressed in my students' praise and testimonials. I can see I touch people's lives, it's transformative and there's nothing more rewarding than seeing this transformation.