Episode 21: Evie Coles - Part 1

Evie Coles, TTW alumni, joins us in this episode. She shares her love for acting and her journey to becoming a successful actress starring as a leading lady in a brand new CBBC show 'The Lady Grace Mysteries'. Listen to hear how Evie worked hard to achieve this amazing accomplishment. 

This podcast is a 2 part episode and Part 2 will be uploaded next week!

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:01

Hello and welcome to Theatre Workshop Talks. My name is Alice and I'm a teacher here at the Theatre Workshop. We have a theatre school based in Birmingham, Bart Green, Blackwell, and Bromsgrove. Here you will gain an insight to what it's like being a part of the theatre workshop. Along the way, we will be talking to TTW students, parents, teachers, and also some very special guests. Make sure you hit that subscribe button so you know when a brand new episode drops. Hi everyone, welcome back to another episode of our podcast. Today I'm joined by someone really special. They used to be a theatre workshop student and they have gone on to do such amazing things. She's gonna talk to us about something that she's been a part of recently, which we're really excited for. It's a really amazing thing for her. She's done so, so well, and we are super, super proud of her. So today we are joined by Evie Calls! Hi Evie! Hello! So Evie used to be a part of the theatre workshop. You were a student, weren't you?

SPEAKER_02 1:10

Yeah, I think I started when I was I must have been 11. 10 or 11, I think. Way back when we were at like the Priory, which was I think ten years ago now. So I've been a I've been a student for a pretty long time.

SPEAKER_00 1:29

Did you do was the theatre workshop the first place that you trained at?

SPEAKER_02 1:33

Yeah. It was the first ever place I did anything. Because I did I did like dance growing up, but like just like baby ballet and tap and a bit of that. But I never did acting or singing. And then I was kind of like, I saw the advertisement in um like a I think it was a shop, and I saw it and I literally picked it up and I went, I'm going there, mum. Like you don't have a choice. But I actually I started, I got it wrong, I started with West End Experience.

SPEAKER_00 2:00

I see.

SPEAKER_02 2:01

That's the first thing I did. I did, I think the summer of 2016, I did West End Experience, and then I loved it. And I was like, I have to do this every week now. I have to, like, I you have no choice about it. Like it was the best thing ever. Because I'd never been that immersed in like performing arts before. It was an entire like, I mean, you guys still do it now, like it's an entire week where all you do is that, and I loved it. I loved it, and I was like, I need to, like, I feel like this is my thing now.

SPEAKER_00 2:33

So after Western Experience Eevee, you then joined us for our Saturday classes. Mm-hmm. Um I did, yeah. Who were your teachers when you were at theatre workshop then?

SPEAKER_02 2:45

I had Rich for acting. Um, I had I think it was Lara for singing.

SPEAKER_00 2:52

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 2:52

I'm pretty sure. And then I think I had one dance teacher for a little bit and then DJ for like the majority of my time at um theatre workshop. But I think I joined like so long ago that it's quite hard to like figure out when I had which teachers. Do you know what I mean? Yeah, doesn't it? Yeah, that sounds about right. Yeah, I feel yeah, I think I I think that is right.

SPEAKER_00 3:19

That sounds like the same teachers that I had, so I think that would be the sort of the same timeline.

SPEAKER_02 3:27

Yes, yeah. Were you two in classes? Were you two in classes together? No, I think you were afternoon, weren't you, and I was morning.

SPEAKER_00 3:33

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 3:35

Yeah. Oh, I see. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 3:39

Oh crazy. So after theatre workshop, what what happened? Where did you go?

SPEAKER_02 3:46

Um, so in lockdown, when everything was online, I was kind of like I feel like for a while I thought this is more than just a hobby for me at this point. Like I I actually love this and I want to like pursue this, like like kind of try and pursue this as a career. And I loved all of my theatre workshop classes, like every single one. My I feel like I think I had pretty good attendance. Um, and I like I was like obsessed. And I did like as many West End experiences as I could, and then I auditioned for a school called Trink Park, um, which is a performing arts school in Hertfordshire. Um, and I have I really was quite specific with the schools I wanted to audition for because I wanted a school where I could do my A levels still, because that was quite important to me at the time. I think it's quite hard to put all your eggs in one basket in this industry. Yeah. Like it's a really tough thing to do, and I kind of was very wary that I might need or might want my A levels, do you know what I mean? And also, I like academics, I wanted to keep going with that. So Tring was the only place, I think in the UK, where it was a boarding school and they did your A levels in SIP form. And I auditioned for the musical theatre course and the acting course, and somehow, by some stroke of luck, I got into both, and then I had to like make this crazy decision. I was like, oh my gosh, this is the rest of my career.

SPEAKER_01 5:11

Um, but yeah, it feels like that at that point, doesn't it? It feels like it's the be all and end all when actually you can switch disciplines at any time, yeah. Yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_02 5:24

I feel like in the moment I was like, oh my gosh, like this development to my life. But now I'm like, no, it doesn't. Um yeah, I I think I so I chose acting, the acting course, because I feel like I've always out of every discipline we trained in at theatre workshop, acting was always my favourite. Like I I never like dance I loved and singing I loved, but I felt like acting was like really resonated with me. Like I knew I had a passion for that, and like I would have loved to have spent all day doing acting, and so I was like, well, that's obviously the course I'm gonna choose then. Um but yeah, I spent two years there. I did my A levels, I passed by some like short horror. And um I think I got my diploma. No, I got my diploma with the UCAS. After that, I came back to theater workshop. Um, because I had a gap year because I auditioned for drama school in year 13 and I didn't get in anywhere. And I was like, oh, what do I because I also applied to Union? I had a big decision of like, do I do a law degree or do I have a gap year? Um and then I was like, well, I know I don't want to do a law degree. Like I know I don't want to be a lawyer. That is a backup plan, so why would I make that my first route of action? So then I came back um to Birmingham. I think I messaged Susie. I was like, I really I'm gonna work like you know, in hospitality, but I want to be connected to that part of myself. And I've been with you guys, I think, for eight years at that point, and I was like, well, that's the obvious choice. So I messaged Susie, I dialed Susie up and I was like, Oh, do you need do you need anyone to do weenies? And like, can I get classes? And then she said yes, and then me and Kaz struck a bond.

SPEAKER_01 7:23

Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_02 7:26

And I would do, I did all the weenies on a Saturday morning, and we would do private singing lessons for a diploma and grade eight and grade eight.

SPEAKER_01 7:36

You did grade eight first, and then literally the next term you did your diploma, which was crazy. It was crazy.

SPEAKER_02 7:43

We did it, I think we had two or three months.

SPEAKER_01 7:46

Yeah. Of course you did.

SPEAKER_02 7:50

We of course you did, don't forget. Um, but yeah, I love weanies. That is my favourite job I've ever had. I still rave about it today. I love that.

SPEAKER_01 8:01

Actually, you and Alice were both weenie teachers with me at the same time.

SPEAKER_00 8:06

Yeah, at the same time. How are you?

SPEAKER_01 8:08

And do you remember do you remember we bullied you both into doing that dream coat as students? Yes. Because you were both quite small and looked young. We were like, we could do with you in that show. So we made you do that.

SPEAKER_02 8:22

Well, we did the first rehearsal, and I was like, Oh, I'm out of my age range. It was fun though. I really enjoyed it. Exactly. I had a bad time putting the pigtails back in.

SPEAKER_00 8:33

Oh, the plait. Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_02 8:36

Because we did I did Joseph when I was with you guys, and a Vita actually, when I was training, and then it felt like a bit of a full circle moment to do it as a teacher, you know? Yeah, my little my hair and plaits looking about 10 years old still.

SPEAKER_00 8:55

And you're right now, aren't you, Evie?

SPEAKER_02 8:58

I am, yeah. I'm doing a philosophy degree at Bristol. Oh just a bit random, but I feel like I obviously knew I wanted to act, but I did not. I didn't get into drama school the first year, and then the second year I was like, oh, I don't think it's for me. I feel like drama school can be so beneficial for so many people, but I felt like I was I knew exactly what path I wanted to go on, and I feel like musical theatre is something you have to train in. Do you know what I mean? It is a really cutthroat, not cutthroat, that's the wrong word, but it's quite a everyone's trained to a really high standard in the musical theatre industry. Whereas with acting, people are trained to a high standard but in a different way. It's more like you can you don't necessarily have to go to drama school.

SPEAKER_00 9:45

Yeah, not even for us to go to drama school, it's all everyone's you know journey is different and exactly, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 9:52

Yeah, I mean and it's kind of so much to be said as well for delaying drama school and to adjust 100%. I really think there's a lot of benefit in going, get either life experience or get your degree. Oh yeah, and go when you're a bit older.

SPEAKER_02 10:07

Yeah, like I found that so much of my experiences and like life have helped me acting, but maybe like everything I did that wasn't training still benefited me in my career. Because I feel like it's a really intense industry sometimes, and it can be a lot. And you know what? Working in high pressure pressure situations or like working with people you might not get along with is a really common thing, and so it's really beneficial to like experience that on your own first before you take that leap. Um, so I chose to go to uni and do an academic degree because I was like, I know I want to work now.

SPEAKER_01 10:48

I think what really stood out for me in your gap year, Evie, was all the opportunities you took. So, alongside doing all the stuff with us, you were also travelling to London once a week to do your course with Rada. You were doing, you literally took every opportunity that came your way. You were like, Yeah, I'll do that. I'll do that. Alongside you were working, you were, you know, you'd got the job at the pizza place. You know, you just took advantage of everything.

SPEAKER_02 11:17

Um yeah, I feel like my goal, because I didn't get into drama school, and that was a bit of a blow at the time because that I was kind of fed that that was the only route, and like there was no other way for me to get a career, and I was kind of like, oh my gosh, like this it's the end of my dream. And then I was kind of like, Oh, well, I'm gonna do it on my own then. And I was like, the uh um the only thing I wanted from my gap year was to get an agent and to get more training and to set myself up. So I just decided I think I auditioned for Juilliard. That's the only school I think I auditioned for for my gap year. And it didn't work. You went up for New York, didn't you? Yeah, it was crazy. That was crazy. I like it was such an enlightening experience because that's that was the audition that made me realise drama school was not for me. Because I went in terrified. I was really, I got through the first three rounds, and then I got flown to New York, and I was like, what is my life? This is crazy. And then I got there and I was like, this is not how it was sold to me. I felt really outnumbered in the sense that everybody was really, really desperate to get in. And I was like, wait, I don't think I am actually that bothered. I don't think I want to spend four years. I think I'd rather like training, I think I'd rather just go for it. So I came home and I was like, I obviously I didn't get in, but I did get quite far, but I sort of seen the expense of school anyway. Um but I and then I got home and I was like, yeah, like this feels right. And so uni was the best option because I didn't want to necessarily work the same job for the whole time, and I didn't know how long it would take me to book anything, like it's impossible to know. It could take a week, it could take seven years, you know, it's different for everyone. And so uni felt like the best option because I could meet people and have a social life and kind of have these great experiences, but also be able to balance and work on acting alongside that.

SPEAKER_00 13:18

And you mention agencies, so that's you the agency now.

SPEAKER_02 13:25

So I'm with Mark German management, who are absolutely brilliant. Like I would not be where I am today without them. And was that from when you were with uh this workshop? Yeah, so no, no, no, no, it wasn't, it wasn't it. I um started doing their online classes as well during my gap year. And they signed me from a class, and that was like my goal. I was like, I'm gonna join these classes, and I I want to get signed because I want to work. And then they sign me, and then they like are just brilliant. Like I have two agents, Charlotte and Alex, who like work with me um the most, and they fight for me so much. Like they really, I feel like they're gunning for me, and that is such a nice feeling. I feel like with some agencies you don't get that, you kind of I mean it must be different for everyone, but some people like I've spoken to of with different agents feel like they don't know them and they don't root for them, they just kind of put them up for stuff. Whereas every audition I get feels like it resonates with me. And they know you they know me and they know what I want to do, and they know what work would best suit me, and they also just are the loveliest people, like we call all the time and we just chat. And it's so nice to be able to have that kind of relationship with someone because they are the people that have to advocate for you, and sort of if you've got a problem, you have to go to them, and it's nice to know that I can talk to them and they will believe me. So, yeah, big fan. I love them.

SPEAKER_00 15:06

That's really nice. I love that because like you said, it's really hard to find an agent with and gain that relationship with them, because at the end of the day, like you're working together.

SPEAKER_02 15:17

You know, they don't get anything if you don't get jobs, and you don't get anything if they don't put you up for jobs. It's such a mutual relationship. So typically with agents, like I mean, I'm sure we all know this, but um they only get paid if you get paid. They don't get paid, you don't pay a fee to join an agency, they they only get paid if you get paid. So obviously they're rooting they also want you to get work as well because that's what they're there for. Um so it's I think it's such a great thing that it's a great incentive for everyone. Like I I can only work if I have an agent properly, I guess. You can always get different experiences, but I find with the specific things I audition for I can only audition for with an agent. And they like want me to get these jobs as well. It's not like oh we'll just put her up for it because it's like no, she'd be right for this role, we're gonna try. So it's quite nice. Uh well, it's very nice.

SPEAKER_00 16:11

Yeah. And so the big subject the big the main event. The main event. What are you Well, what have you just been working on that's coming out very, very soon?

SPEAKER_02 16:27

I have just been working on a C BBC series called The Lady Grace Mysteries that is based off the book by Patricia Finney. Um it is It is actually a really funny series. I first read it, I first auditioned I didn't know what the books were when I auditioned, and then I read them after obviously after I got the wrong. Um, I read them and they were just she is so my character I play Grace by the way. Um, and she is so similar to me. We are the same person, and it would it was freaking me out. I was like, what is going on? This is crazy. Um, but yeah, it's a really beautiful book series about a girl called Grace who um finds herself in a position where people are attempting to assassinate Queen Elizabeth. So it's set in Elizabethan Times, and she gets asked by the Queen to figure out who it is because the Queen doesn't want it to be this she doesn't know who if there's a traitor at court, and if she hires anyone else, they could be the traitor, whereas she knows I'm not. So the best option I guess is me or my character. Um and yeah, it's it's like a it's such a beautiful show about resilience and friendship and relationships, and she spends the entire time just trying to save the queen, who is like her mother figure in the show, and yeah, I won't tell you if she's successful or not, but yeah.

SPEAKER_01 18:07

So what channel's it on? When does it launch? What time?

SPEAKER_02 18:11

So it will be on BBC iPlayer on the 20th of April, which is on Monday. Which is crazy. Like every time I see it, it's wild. Um, and I think I'm not too certain on this one, but I'm pretty sure it will also be on live television every Monday and Tuesday.

SPEAKER_00 18:35

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 18:37

So it will all come out on BBC I play at once, but I think it always also is shown live Mondays and Tuesdays episodically. Um I'm not too sure on that though. I think I just heard that in the grapevine, but I'm pretty sure that's what's gonna happen. And yeah, it's it's so crazy, guys. That's so wild that that is my life. Like, what is going on?

SPEAKER_00 19:00

It's gonna be so crazy like seeing your like you on the TV.

SPEAKER_02 19:05

Like it's so it's like I find it weird. Like if I see like I'll see my I'll go on TikTok and the trailer's been posted, and it's my face, and I'm like, what am I doing here?

SPEAKER_00 19:15

Hello, like that's me.

SPEAKER_02 19:18

It's so weird, like because it doesn't feel like I'm watching myself in its entirety, like it does feel like I'm watching Grace, but also me. Like I know Grace is me, and that's like a weird thing to get your head around.

SPEAKER_01 19:35

Like, it's really true, like I mean it's I I can't imagine what it's like for you because even for us when we watch like the trailer and things that we've seen, it's like that's Evie, but no, it's not Eevee, but it is Evie. But it's it's so bizarre. So your head must just be like exploding.

SPEAKER_02 19:52

I'm just like, what's going on? Like, because I I feel like I get I'm quite I get very into character if I'm playing a part. I'm not I wouldn't say a method, like I'm not gonna be the character when I don't need to be, but I do like if I do a performance, for example, I don't remember it if I'm playing a part. It's like I'm a different person, it's very it's quite weird actually. So like when I watch scenes, I don't necessarily remember them. So it's not like watching me. It's like watching someone else. I know it's me. It's weird. It's like my face on someone else's body. One thing that's weird as well is it is my first job. So I'm not used to it. Like I feel like a lot of people that I know, like a lot of my friends in the show, everyone's worked before. And so they've seen themselves in commercials and they've grown up seeing themselves on TV. I have not. And it is this really weird thing where I'm this is not a brag, this is just like a statement, I guess. But I've in quite a lot of it, so it's really weird.

SPEAKER_01 20:55

Well, you're the main part, aren't you?

SPEAKER_02 20:56

Yeah you are in the Lady Grace mysteries. And because it's based off my character's diary, it's voice over, voice over, voice over. So every scene I'm not in, I'm talking over. It's a lot of me guys, so if you if you don't want that, don't watch it. Like, um, it's a lot of my vase and it's a lot of my voice.

SPEAKER_01 21:13

So it was Susie always comments about when we hear your trailer and things, she's like, Oh, the voice, the diction, the clarity. So all those things that we go on at like our students. Oh yeah, that's you guys. This is why.

SPEAKER_02 21:27

That is like you are my foundation. Like, like everything I am is because of you. Like 100%. Like I owe I do I owe you I genuinely I owe you so much because what would like what would I have done? Like, I feel like I view my training in very different stages. Like you guys were like where I just like that's where I got my passion. Do you know what I mean? And like my love for it. Like training after that was like, I this is how I'm gonna fine tune really specific skills, but like I wouldn't have wanted to do it without you guys. Like, I I'm getting emotional, guys. Um, I loved the guy. I found my love for it. Because it was such an environment where I could be myself. Like, no one at school wanted to do what I wanted to do. But everyone at the theatre workshop was like me. So I feel like it was really. Yeah, I do view it as my foundation for everything.

SPEAKER_01 22:25

I do think what stands out with you, Evie, and Rich and I have talked about this, because we do talk about you from time to time, um, was your work ethic was so strong, even from when you were a little girl. You were, like you say, your attendance was incredible. You were prepared for everything. You know, I'm thinking about like, you know, the stuff we did um in your gap year, you were just so on it all the time. And that doesn't mean to say it was easy. I remember we had days where you were nervous, like before going into exams or lessons and things, and you know, it it's not easy, but you always were like, no, I can do it, right? I'm gonna put my big girl pants on and we can do it, we can get this done. And even now, like you're at uni, you will I hope you don't mind me sharing this, but Evie will um she'll find monologues she likes and just record self-tapes just for practice, don't you? And then sometimes she'll send them to me and go, Oh, I thought you'd like this one, Kaz, or will you see what you think? And they're always incredible. And I'll watch them with my husband and I'll afford them to Suze or whatever, and we'll be like, Wow, she's just this isn't even for an audition. This is just you're you're constantly honing your craft and trying to learn. It's because it this is what you want to do.

SPEAKER_02 23:46

Yeah, it's such a different thing to it's such a unique craft, I think. And like I feel like I live for acting. You could I've always said you could take anything away from me but that I don't know what I do without it. I feel like it is such it is, it used to be like such like a lifeline for me. Like I would express all of my emotions through it, and then now it's like such a release. And I will, I never I always feel 20 times better after I've acted. Like I want to do it. I think my reason I decided I wanted to do acting was because I never got bored and I never got sick of it. Like I still now I've spent two days in London doing classes this week. I've got one tomorrow, I had one yesterday online. Like I want it so bad, but not in like I'm not like you know it's weird. It's like I don't have to try and want it. I just do. Like I've never questioned doing that much work. And I feel like since I started, that kind of I guess passion for it has not wavered once. Like even on the worst, like most intense days on set where we'd be doing 12 scenes and have no time left, and you were tired and you're in this really tight, uncomfortable costume, like I still was doing what I loved and I knew I was.

SPEAKER_00 25:16

Thank you for listening to TTW Talks. We hope you enjoyed listening to this episode and look forward to hearing the next one. Make sure to follow us on Instagram at the Theatre Workshop Birmingham and TikTok at the.theatre.worksband to see all of our class and show content and all of the exciting things we get up to. Once again, thank you for listening. This has been TTW Talks.