Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Acting:

by West End Producer

He’s the anonymous Twitter sensation whose hilarious and unfailingly accurate barbs satirising and celebrating the theatre industry have won him a devoted following. His identity is the subject of feverish speculation in the media, fuelled by his regular appearances at West End opening nights in costume, wig and latex mask. He has become a genuine theatre impresario, launching talent competitions Search for a Twitter Star and its successor, Search for a Twitter Composer.

And now, West End Producer is ready to share all he's learnt about how to get ahead in show business, in the form of a handy paperback book.

Full of the wit and mischievous indiscretion that has gained him such a cult following, packed with gossip and insider knowledge of the theatre business, and containing enough savvy advice on acting to kickstart a career, West End Producer's book offers tips (both practical and deliciously impractical)

Getting into drama school (learning how to sit in a circle)
Auditioning (perfecting the 'staring vacantly out front' pose)
Rehearsals techniques (including how to act in a serious play)
The different kinds of actor (from sex pest to company idiot)
Combating boredom (and avoiding backstage naughtiness)
How to behave at first-night parties (obeying the traffic-light colour code)
And, most importantly, the correct way to bow at the curtain call

Also included in the book are many of West End Producer’s most memorable tweets, miniature comic salvos despatched with all the shrewdness of a man who truly knows his Barrowmans from his Balls.

"Prepare to be shocked, rocked and mocked in this genuinely laugh-out-loud-funny, lovingly crafted, meticulously researched, spookily insightful and accurately spelled guide to all things thespian." Michael Ball

"Don’t even consider putting your daughter on the stage, Mrs Worthington, until you’ve first consulted this wonderful book." Paul O’Grady

Genres: Nonfiction, Theatre

224 pages, Paperback

First published November 21, 2013

Reviews

[Sleepless Dreamer · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was alright, I guess. Not particularly funny, occasionally true, and God, every time he says the word dear, I wanted to choke him.

[Jasper]

Don't be fooled. This book is not about acting per se. It's about the stuff that happens around the acting. The type of acting you do while you're not on stage, performing.

[Reece Jennings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful, delightful, delightful! WEP's energy, brilliant offhand comments and moments of genuine insight and encouragement (as well as all the juicy gossip, factual or otherwise) make this an exhilarating peek behind the curtain of all manners of becoming an actor, especially for the stage. WEP's emphasis on the discipline and mood of each step of a journey in both career and specific milestones is hilarious and absorbing. I had a wonderful, high spirited time reading Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Acting, and I feel even more encouraged on my own journey towards a career on the stage! This will be to hand for me on the rest of that very journey!

[Damian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining, charming and funny. This was a great read, offering hilariously real tips for actors - and even for me, as a writer who wants to be a playwright in the future. Great!! I was a fan of the West End Producer's twitter account and the book keeps the quality high. I hope he starts selling a new book soon!

[Hana · Rating 4 out of 5]

unapologetically crass, surprisingly insightful, and absolutely hilarious. i would only really recommend this to people who follow or used to follow west end theatre because some of the jokes may miss their mark--but if you had, at one point in your life, stalked actors on twitter, speculated about cast changes, and bitched about producer choices, then this is the book for you.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

V funny

[Jae · Rating 5 out of 5]

i laughed so hard at most of this! although it is not acting in film more musical theatre it still applied in a sense but wicked and amusing

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny, realistic view of the acting world, darling. I also agree with his recommendation that the world would definitely be a better place if we had more jazz hands.

[Hayden James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am now a lot more informed on acting and know who to suck off but I feel like this book should've been clearer that it's only really about theatre and not film

[Verity W · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a massive theatre fan and follower of West End Producer on Twitter, I was expecting to really love this but I was a bit disappointed. Maybe you need to be actually on the stage to love this, but whilst it was amusing it didn't have me rolling in the aisles the way that I was expecting.

It's a fun look at theatrical life, very light hearted but you probably need to be a real luvvie to get it all.

[Kath · Rating 2 out of 5]

As someone involved with music theatre education I had been amused when someone read me out a couple of snippets. Unfortunately a reading of the whole did not live up to its promise. Much was smutty, with far too many nod, nod, wink, wink remarks and the repetitious use of 'dear' far outweighed its original humour. All right as a column in 'The Stage' but not a full book's worth.

[Veronica DreamDjinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoroughly entertaining read, tongue-in-cheek but here and there slipping in some serious stuff about the craft and the business of acting as well. Mostly funny, though. Occasionally had me in stitches :))

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous book.

Want to buy for lots of people (opening night gifts?!) but it's FAR too expensive for that dear!

[Dan Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good book! Basically talks about everything to do with theatre! A highly recommended book for theatre lovers!

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hilarious and factual - great read