Receive The Rules Of Acting Generated By Michael Simkins Offered As Audio Books

for actors and nonactors alike, As an Anglophile, I enjoyed a look into the world of the West End and references to "Corrie, " Simmo is extremely likable and engaging, and the book is well organized, Desperate to get this book for all the tap dancing jazz handed kids I know, But they will have to wait until they can deal with the pretend pig sex in the first chapter and the hideous reality of trying to make a living in the acting game.
Great fun, a good read for actors, actors in training, and anyone who loves the stage, Made me laugh out loud plenty, There's a good balance between inspiring, humorous stories and cold reality, all nicely written an a charm to read, Very amusing account about the life of an actor and all the ups and downs and hard work that comes with it, A nice read for people with acting ambitions or who are curious what the fuss is all about, An amazing book. Loved all the anecdotes, the way it was worded, Truly a terrific book.

Must read for any Actor, Thoroughly enjoyable journey through the life of an actor, explaining the hazards, temptations and diversions along the way, The stages of an actor's lie Who is Michael Simkins Who is this Michael Simkins Get me Michael Simkins! Get me a young Michael Simkins! Who was Michael Simkins are explained with humour and many anecdotes, many of which had me blurting out with laughter, although few beat the indignities suffered by the unnamed actor in the preface, who paid for not reading a screenplay through to its conclusion by having to simulate sex with anstone pig.
As Simkins says: Don't try your luck in the profession unless you're prepared to earn your rent by having sex with a pig, " one man in his time plays many parts, "

Michael Simkins describes himself as a 'jobbing actor' who has worked in theatre, TV and film for over thirty years, UK based, he may not be familiar to an overseas audience although he has appeared in many series which have been exported Midsomer Murders, Foyle's War etc, etc. In fact his name may not even be familiar to Brits, but his face almost certainly will be,

Ostensibly, the book is a guide to people wishing to start a showbiz career, and it does contain a lot of useful advice on drama schools, auditions, theatre work, TV etc.
But really all of this is just an excuse for Simkins to share some reminiscences and anecdotes about the weird and wonderful world of the luvvie, And he does so with a gusto that frequently took me way beyond giggling to howling with laughter,

Some of the stories are clearly true, some apocryphal, some possibly embroidered or dare I say it perhaps even made up, but they build up to a picture of someone who has thoroughly enjoyed his career the lows as well as the highs.
Simkins has worked alongside some of the true greats of British theatre and TV, and generously praises many of them, The ones he's less polite about he tends not to name, but mostly it's quite possible to make a good guess about who he means, which adds a whole other element of fun.
There's a lot of swearing and jokes of a sexual nature, so perhaps not for the oversensitive I could have done with less of the extremes of swearing myself in places but overall the book is so goodnatured it would be hard to take offence.


Simkins takes us through his career from his days at RADA in thes, his apprenticeship in the provincial theatres, on to the West End and the National Theatre.
He explains how different TV and film work is to theatre, and it comes over fairly clearly I think that theatre is his real love, If I was being critical, I could comment on some sloppy grammar, but honestly this is like listening to a great raconteur doing a lengthy afterdinner speech, so I stuck my pedantry back in its box for once.
Simkins is endearingly selfdeprecating he mentions his many successes but revels in the stories of panto and provincial theatre just as much as in his major roles on some of the great stages of the world.
And for someone who has mingled with the, he seems to have managed to keep his feet on the ground, A very, very entertaining read highly recommended,

NB This book was provided for review by the publisher,

sitelinkwww. fictionfanblog. wordpress. com Very enjoyable, with some laugh out loud stories and anecdotes and a few crude moments, For anyone who's been an actor amateur or pro or who's aspiring to the vocation, this will be not only an eyeopener, but a dreambuster, . . but in the best of ways, Simkins tells it like it is: acting's a great profession, but one in which you have to take the crazy jobs with the brilliant ones, And don't even get started on Hollywood,
This book is my bible, If only this book had been written when I started out in the business, Not only is this book hilarious partly because it is terrifyingly accurate, but it also contains so much valuable advice, Follow it and you will know how to behave with aplomb in situations such as your first audition, through to changing your agent and negotiating the pitfalls of networking, This book should be read by everyone thinking about becoming an actor, In fact read it before you even apply to drama school and keep a copy with you from there on in, Laugh out loud funny and surprisingly moving at times, The fact that we were at school together I was Viola to his Sir Toby Belch makes this doubly painful to acknowledge, A fun and insightful look into the world of acting by someone who had been there, bought the TShirt and wrote the book,

Actor, Michael writes in a very easy to read style and pulls no punches when he tells it like it is, but because of his affable style, the thumps don't hurt that much or bruise, but the injuries handed out by showbiz are worth noting.
There are some very intresting, and in some cases, laugh out loud acting anecdotes, with my favourite coming from Sir Ralph Richardon

who described acting as a means of 'Keeping a large number of people from coughing!'

This is a must read for all those who tread, have trod or taking their first tenative steps on the boards.
Fellow actor Nicholas Hytner said the book was 'The Hilarious Truth' and he's not wrong, Painfully true and often hilarious, More like a memoir with a few tips thrown in, I really enjoyed this book which was chockablock full of LOLworthy anecdotes, along with some wise and honest advice, Simmo has a great voice as a writer, . . and all I could wish for is a little extra proofing,

Recommended if you're interested in actors and acting, Being one of those people who can never remember names who is who or who played what, I never expected to enjoy this book as much as I did and rate it a goodstars.
I enjoy all things theatrical and read it because the title took my fancy, but also because of a friend who is involved in local theatre stage management, secretly would love to be on stage, and want to understand this desire.


Not only is Michael Simpkins talented as an actor, he is also a talented writer, This is a book full of real information about the world of acting, All the questions a budding young thespian could have are answered in a humorous and accurate way, Each step from which drama school, the dos and donts of auditions, theatrical etiquette, the highs and lows, successes and failures and reaching Hollywood, is covered in a logical progression by Simpkins.
I think The Rules of Acting is a real guidance about the industry covering small details that can only be given from the inside, As Simpkins shares the details directly with the reader, I found it a humorous book making me laugh out loud,

If you seriously have a desire to join the industry then you must read this book, It is honest, and encouraging to those wishing to do so,
More of a book on what to expect in the business than teaching,
Humour sucks and everyones a critic, blah blah blah, Luvvies. Tyrannical directors. Useless agents. Less job security than an England football manager, Whod be an actor

Michael Simkins isnt sure, even though hes been one himself for over thirty years, Join him backstage as he examines that business called showbusiness, from am dram to Hollywood, and from Shakespeare to ads for flatulence pills,

In a career that started as a plump teenager in ballet tights at RADA, Michael has appeared in countless West End plays and musicals, presented safety training workshops for sewage workers, and when resting, worked as a crate smasher at a car factory.
Hes done movies, soaps, ads, and voiceovers, and worked with everyone from Meryl Streep to Kelly Osbourne, As the ultimate jobbing actor hes flirted with triumph and oblivion without ever quite managing either,

InThe Rules of Acting he shares his hardwon wisdom, Covering everything from learning your lines to tilting for Oscar success in Hollywood, surviving a flop, to why its advisable to read the whole script if you wish to avoid improper relations with a pig, its the ultimate survival guide for anyone contemplating a life in showbiz.


'Throw out An Actor Prepares! Michael Simkins' book tells actors all they need to know about the realities of the acting profession the passion, the struggle, the noble idealism and the heartache.
'
HELEN MIRREN

'It is thrilling that Micahel Simkins is having such success as a writer anything to keep him off the stage'
IAN MCKELLEN,