Introducing Erika, Surrey Scout for AMTC UK

Erika replied to one of my earlier posts and I thought it might be helpful to give each scout who writes to me their own post!

Here is what Erica said:
ERIKA VINCENT -THE BIZ THEATRE SCHOOL AND OFFICIAL AMTC SCOUT FOR THE SURREY AREA UK

Just wanted to say a big Hi to everyone involved with AMTC. We are just so excited that we are finally going get the same chances as the US have had for years. There is so much talent here in the UK and especially in Surrey where we are based and we can’t wait to show you what we can do.

I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself to you and tell you a little more about us and why we are so delighted and honoured to have been appointed the official scout for the lovely leafy County of Surrey, near London in the UK.

My name is Erika Vincent and I run The Biz Theatre School and our agency Biz Management based in Surrey. I have been in show business for over thirty years since making my stage debut at the age of four in a Royal Gala in The West End. Since then my career has taken me to the English National Opera Company at the London Coliseum where my performances included La Traviata and Simon Boccanegra, to The Royal National Theatre where I performed in the European premiere and Olivier award winning production of Stephen Sondheim's Sunday in the Park With George, and into The West End where my credits include Maria Moriarty in Sherlock Holmes with Ron Moody at the Cambridge Theatre as well as numerous productions such as West Side Story, Mr Cinders, The Merchant of Venice, The Wizard of Oz and The Beggars Opera .TV appearances include my television debut at the age of nine in Junior Showtime, several Royal Variety Performance (Where I was honoured to perform in front of HM The Queen, HRH Prince Philip and other members of the Royal Family) and feature films such as Heaven's Gate with John Hurt and Kris Krisstoferson, (directed by Michael Cimino).

Having gained all this experience, I am so keen to pass it on to the next generation and for them to really have the opportunity to live their dream. For me it was a hard slog all the way, countless auditions , countless rejections -being told I was too small, too tall, too fair, too dark but I never gave up and kept trying. At least in my day they had proper open auditions, which is how I got my first big break in the West End Production of West Side Story. Now because of shows like Pop Idol etc, most companies do not have the time to waste with open calls seeing ‘no-hopers’ who just want to be famous but are not prepared to put in the graft. This is why it is so hard now to be seen by casting directors and agents when you are just starting out in the business. This is why I believe in AMTC and the fantastic opportunity and training it provides and why I am so keen to get involved. How wonderful to have access to all these top people in the business in one go and to get the chance to meet the sort of people it would be impossible to get to see in the normal way. We are really looking forward to learning so much from the whole experience. My one regret- I wish they had AMTC -Europe in my day!!

For further details about us please look at www.thebizgroup.co.uk