Ms Patsy Rodenburg OBE

National Teaching Fellow 2011 Patsy Rodenburg OBE is Head of Voice at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama (30 years) and is recognised as one of the world's leading voice and acting coaches. She has worked with best-known actors (including Judi Dench, Ian McKellen, Antony Sher, Daniel Day-Lewis, Ralph Fiennes, Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, Ewan McGregor and Keira Knightley), and has collaborated with film directors Franco Zefferelli and Sam Mendes. She has worked with theatres across the globe including the National Theatre, where she was Head of Voice for 16 years, the Royal Shakespeare Company where she was resident for nine years, the Royal Court, Donmar and Almeida Theatres. In her work at the Guildhall School, Patsy teaches voice, speech, text and poetry, with a particular focus on Shakespeare and Greek tragedy, as well as directing students in public productions. She also leads an apprentice-style Masters programme to train the next generation of voice coaches. One student described Patsy as "relentless like the sea. She keeps coming at you and pushing you further. It is not aggressive; there is a natural softness and gentle rhythm to her teaching. But she will erode whatever blockage you have that keeps you from being the best actor and person you can be." Patsy was awarded an OBE in 2005 for her significant contribution to the arts and in December 2010 she was named as number fifteen in the 'Top 50 Most Influential People in Theatre' by The Times newspaper. Her publishing includes The Right to Speak (1992), The Need for Words (1993), The Actor Speaks (1997), Speaking Shakespeare (2002) Presence (2007), and Power Presentation (2009). Her books are standard issue texts on any acting programme in the UK or USA and remain prominent on the bookshelves of all major booksellers. She also regularly publishes in newspapers, journals and magazines and has recently produced an 8-DVD collection of examples of her methodology at work distilled from 80 hours of recorded hands-on coaching. Patsy has also taken her work into the corporate arena via masterclasses, lectures and seminars, and regularly appears on radio and television. Further information on Patsys work can be found here: http://patsyrodenburg.com/PatsyRodenburg.com/Home.html www.ted.com/talks/patsy_rodenburg_why_i_do_theater.html