1. Strong nerves
Nobody said that getting up and performing in front of a group of total strangers, family and friends is easy. Being extremely nervous before a performance is common to 95% of actors.

2. A good memory
All those lines to remember! All those lines to forget!

3. Good with accents
If you can pick up a couple of accents different from your own, that’s a useful technique to apply to different characters. Beware of the cod American accent which jumps from state to state like a railroad runner.

4. A box of tricks
When ‘finding their character’ during rehearsals, many actors like to use bits of props and costumes. A pet favourite is to work out the kind of shoes their character would wear. Other favourites are clothing, hairstyle, walk, and mannerisms.

5. Make-up
A little bit of pan stick, a little bit of powder, and a little bit of rouge – just don’t forget to wash it all off after the show.