Alma Studios Theatre School
Trace Linegar
About Alma Studios
Why did you start Alma Studios?
I wanted to create a school that at its core was a loving environment, in which creative individuals could thrive. We are a classical acting school but if the 5-year-old has the best idea in the room when we undertake a big project that 5 year old gets a say. If you want to write, write we will give you a platform, if you wish to sing, sing we will find you a podium or a setting and if you long to dance, dance we will source one of our gorgeous alumni no one needs me teaching dance! I also wanted to create a space in which anyone who felt like they did not fit somewhere could find a place where they belonged. Academically brilliant, afraid, bursting potential, a sweet soul in search of a tribe. If you are kind and creative at alma, you belong.
2. What is so special about Alma Studios?
We are a School where there are no milk bottles, we encourage each and every student to find their unique stance, voice and story telling ability in which ever ways naturally appeals to them. Helping you to find you within your creative work. We as a studio are an inclusive community, if you stammer, no problem, if you lisp, no problem, ADD trace is worse! Joking apart, Trace has had massive success over the last 30 years working with many beautiful people dealing with life on the spectrum, we are yet to find something that phases her.
3. What are your fondest memories of Alma?
Where do any of us start? Alma is a hub of activity it attracts extraordinary creative people and sometimes their parents to who wish to support and help in some way either by chaperoning offering work or even participating themselves. My favourite memory speaking as Trace are as follows my sister finding her voice in a beautiful reading, Henrietta Ashworth delivering a piece of Anne gables that transported me to the wagon with uncle Mathew, Catherine in the cart in Jane Austen’s pride and prejudice talking about her hat box! Our Livi Owen, delivering Beatrice with all the finesse of an actress 30 years her senior and Ben Kerfoot and Katie knight, creating Victoria and Albert mimetically in the middle of an assassination attempt. My lovely Lucy becoming a professional producer in her own right, Jess and Hen who have written Tell it the bees, getting their old teacher a gig as acting tutor to Gregor Selkirk.
Alma Studios Theatre School
Class times and prices
Friday night classes: 5.30pm-7.30pm
Alma Studios Address:
Heath Ln, Godalming GU7 1XA
Future Plans:
October Half Term Course
Christmas Party
Poem: Owls
Once a child asked
Why does the sky change its mind?
Rainy or windy sometimes it’s shimmery
Red pink orange and grey,
Is it thinking?
Of course it is Dear Darling
Why do the stars shine so brightly?
Then you can’t see them at all.
I expect they are at a meeting,
Or perhaps they maybe sleeping.
Why do the birds fly up for no reason?
As if they are suddenly scared?
Well being scared,is sometimes fun,
Imagine that I said.. BOO!!!
There is so much to learn.
I know my own Dear Darling,
But how dull would life be,
With nothing left to learn?
Then there is the matter of Enchantment.
You mean magic?
Yes, I do,
The things that make you stop and stare
The things that hold you captive,
The colours in a butterfly’s wings
Warm food that you’re enjoying
The sun when Dawn wakes yawning
The child shouts snow on Christmas morning!
The architecture of a tree.
A bubble floating through the air
A serenade from nightingales.
You feel especially for you.
All such things can be explained.
The feelings they evoke ,
Is the enchantment.
But why do we have enchantment?
Heaven knows that children
Would never pay attention
Without the gift of sweet enchantment.
Some that never own a toy will find a way to play
With what is there,
Children have the sharpest eyes.
As strong as any owls,
Even some who cannot see ,
They feel enchantment just the same.
Am I an owl yet?
There is so much that I don’t know,
Knowing that much, makes you wise!
Now tell me what is it that you do know?
Er.. Watch my feathers, you must be gentle
And don’t tell me lies
I will know.
You are an Owl.
Don’t stay upset, it already happened,
Allow yourself…?
A time of sadness,
Yes.
Allow yourself…?
Some pain!
Together: because sometimes in it there is gain.
Yes.
Don’t look back though,
Because?
Opportunity lies in front of you.
Flying is important but?
I should feel that specialness
When I simply perch.
Anything else? The parent said.
Food takes time to nurture
Eat it with respect,
Always behave kindly
Do not be proud of being scary,
See yourself in other feathers
They are just as scared as you.
Be sure to feed your children,
Teach them how to love the silence
Watch the wind the weather,
Hear the Suns address,
Feel it’s soft caress,
The trees don’t speak in syllables
They feel you as you pass
Sending tender insights,
From the roots
Beneath the grass
That whispers soft their ancient songs,
That’s right and they will help if you will listen.
Their eyes were clouding over they nudged thier little one.
You have caught your lessons well,
Now gently spread those wings
You are an Owl.
The Owl was all amazement and suddenly took flight,
The child turned to see who raised them
They blinked two saucepan eyes
The child soared, into starlight,
Two saucepan eyes, revolved thier head away,
To the days of awful fear and dread,
That they would fall and hit their head.
They felt a loved one suddenly
A beak was at their shoulder.
Two Owls cried as they gently smiled.
Knowing that it is never over,
But oh... that child... that child was born to fly.
“We know who we are, but know not what we may be”
William Shakespeare
Contact
Check out our Facebook (where we are most active) @almastudiosactingschool
Heath Ln, Godalming GU7 1XA, UK
