11 Responses

1. Try Interactive Skills in Henley
   Interactive Skills, based in Henley on Thames (01491 571182) have provided actors for role plays in assessment centres, with excellent results. They use a specialist agency with access to a range of actors, so you can choose the type (and price) to suit your needs.
   Rod Murray
   Chimaera Consulting Ltd

2. Actors within training
   Joe: unfortunately I haven’t kept the postings concerned, but I know there has been lots of information about actors for training activities on the UKHRD discussion list. Try your question there! To subscribe, send the message “subscribe network” to majordomo@ukhrd.com

   Good hunting!

3. Finding actors for role play
   Over the last 15 tears we have found youth theatre groups and drama colleges very good for some role play situations. You need to make a relationship with the key tutors so they can check out your motives etc and make time for thorough briefing so they become your collaborators but its great experience for the students and you get good ones; a lot of those we used I now watch on TV! Even auditioning for good ones is decent experience and more students are now mature students which reduces some of the age problems.
   Even better, the good ones can later give powerful feedback about how they felt in role being treated the way they were, they can review video-tape with the learner….much better than tutor or peer feedback alone!
   Also much cheaper than £25k call centre simulators!
   Good luck!

4. STEPS ROLE PLAY, LONDON
   Joe – we use STEPS Role play – a group of professional actors based in London. They are excellent. Phone no 020 7403 9000. Ask to speak to Richard Wilkes and say hello from me!!

5. We provide role players
   The Teresa Ward Consultancy can provide role players. Whilst not professional actors they have the necessary skills and experience to create believable characters, atmosphere and most importantly give effective feedback from the emotional level.

6. We can provide role playersd
   Sorry Joe – forgot the contact info for the Teresa Ward Consultancy : Tel/Fax 01604 408903
   Email teresaward@btinternet.com

7. Try Impromptu in Brum!
   Joe – try Impromptu in Birmingham – ask for Connie Wiskin or Phil Croft or Steve Harvey and say Roger from Ellis Hayward suggested you call. I’ve worked with them frequently for almost five years – they are excellent, both pre event and on the day. They have a wide range of skills…can’t recommend them highly enough. Call 0121 440 3509

8. Aspiring Media Stars
   If you are looking within the north west, you could try Edge Hill Enterprises Theatre & Media course. We train aspiring actors and theatre technicians in practical aspects of professional presentation, and although not specifically role play activities, this would make an interesting project.
   In the first instance, contact Alex Fruin on 01695 584327 or fruina@edgehill.ac.uk
   Tony Stringer, Business Development Manager, Edge Hill Enterprises

9. Interact – provide actors for role play
   Interact, based in Teddington ( Contact Ian Jessop – 0181 333 1087) provide actors for a variety of role play situations and not just for the training environment. They will also help write necessary scripts etc. bringing their professional experience to this area to make the role play enactment more effective. Although I have not used them personally, coleagues have and have been very postive about their effectiveness and contribution.

10. Using colleges
    I have used colleges that run media studies courses and have found the actors very good- as I note others have done. But when it comes to reward I issue a certificate, with comments from the “audience” and feedback that can go toward their portfolio for assessment. this is most welcome when done in collaboration with the college.
    Jo

11. Roleplayers in Somerset
    I have details of EDC in Somerset edc@netcomuk.co.uk. Have not used them but have spoken.
    General point (after years of using roleplayers), beware ‘actors’ who act rather than roleplay. Those who rely on a script rather than a behaviour come unstuck when the delegate does not respond as expected. Good luck!