Phil hails from the north east of England where he began his professional acting career at the age of fourteen. Following successful roles in television dramas alongside Robson Green and David Threlfall, he made the decision to move to London in 2000 to train at drama school. Phil auditioned for six of the top actor training institutions, winning places at four of them.
Phil explains “In preparing to audition I did a great deal of research and I worked incredibly hard. I enjoyed the whole process immensely.” Phil accepted a place on the three year acting course at The Central School of Speech and Drama and graduated with Distinction in the summer of 2003. Numerous leading roles on stage and screen have followed and he is delighted to be taking the reigns of this exciting new publication.
“When I was auditioning for drama school, and indeed when I was training at Central, I would have loved to read a journal like this,” he says. “Preparation is paramount and I'm very excited to be creating a magazine that is not only informative, but which also brings together a group of very passionate students who are need of a publication covering the entire journey.”
I took from the course a colourful tool box of skills, knowledge and personal understanding that I have used in my professional career.
Phil is no stranger to the magazine world having been a writer and then Associate Editor on various theatre and lifestyle magazines in-between acting roles. He is somewhat enthusiastic about combining his publishing knowledge with his drama school training and work as an actor. “Training at drama school was one of the best experiences of my life. I took from the course a colourful tool box of skills, knowledge and personal understanding that I have used in my professional career,” he explains. “I have a very good understanding of an actor's journey through training and together with my work in magazines I am confident we are going to create a publication that is very special indeed.”
Phil will continue to take acting roles in-between issues of the magazine as he feels bringing further experience from the professional world will be beneficial to The Drama Student. “We never stop learning in whatever we do, and I feel it's essential for the integrity of the magazine to continue exploring my work as an actor,” he says. “It's my first love and as I'm sure our readers will identify with, it's a profound passion, and it never goes away.”
As the Editor of The Drama Student, Phil is keen to hear from current and potential drama students to find out precisely what his readers want for their magazine. “We're already well on our way with the editorial and we have some fantastic features for the first issue, but it's imperative to listen to our audience,” he says. “I'd like to know what you want, and need, in order for us to create a magazine that you'll trust.”
Phil Matthews, the Editor of The Drama Student Magazine, can be contacted by email – phil@thedramastudent.co.uk
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