Meet Marcia Carr: Deputy Chief Examiner

Marcia is our Deputy Chief Examiner and has been involved with LAMDA as a learner, teacher and examiner. We spoke to Marcia to find out more about her and her journey with us:

What was your first job?

My first official job was at 16 as a Workshop Leader for Birmingham Youth Service. It earned me the money I needed for my first season at Manchester Youth Theatre.

What do you do outside of LAMDA?

I am still an Associate Artist with NYT and enjoy being part of The British and International Federation of Festivals. I qualified as a Feldenkrais practitioner and enjoy bringing this skill to others. I also try to still be ‘hands-on’ with the theatre company I set up with my business partner, which celebrates being 15 in 2019; working with young people and the community still excites me. I love spending time with my two girls who enjoy examining me on their LAMDA choices. I also try to take a couple of days off a year to invest in the school my girls attend, going in to do workshops in effective communication through writing or performing and supporting the teachers in carving a more creative curriculum. My husband and I have donated an award for ‘Public Speaker of the Year’, and added this academic year a cup for ‘Best Team Debate’. We both have a passion to ensure state school children are empowered to communicate their ideas with confidence. Having been trained in opera and musical theatre, I try to ensure I find time to sing with my best friend. I would never wish to lose my skills as a performer – this is at the heart of all I do. I believe all of the things that excite me outside of LAMDA are what have always enabled me to do my work.

How long have you worked with us?

As an Examiner for over ten years, and in my current role since the end of April. In that time LAMDA has embraced my skills in writing and leading workshops. One of the highlights is working with teachers and examiners from across the world in Summer Workshops.

Why did you want to be our Deputy Chief Examiner?

I do not believe it is a role I ever aimed for. When I saw the job advertised, I really considered how much I have enjoyed my years working with some amazing people and seeing so much performance from around the world. Also, how much I have learnt from an examining panel with a diverse skill set. I thought that this would be an amazing opportunity. I have spent many years teaching in drama schools and universities, and then exploring the development of degree courses, and to now be challenged by the examinations procedure seemed like a very natural progression. The diverse nature of the role, that embraces both my examining and allows me to design and train others, merged many things I love doing. An underlying factor is my father’s saying that you should always be happy in your work. LAMDA has always been a joy, so why not take on a greater role. Another major factor was being able to work with Linda, our Chief Examiner, who has always been there to give good advice when I was an Examiner. Just her joy and passion for her role and LAMDA has meant that I felt I had to be a part of the syllabus team.

Tell us about your journey from learner, to teacher, to examiner, to Team Leader to Deputy Chief Examiner?

I began my relationship with LAMDA as a student back in the Midlands, taking examinations and diplomas in Verse and Prose and Acting. I was invited back to the Midlands after my first degree by my teacher, to look at how we could bring the examinations to a very diverse set of students in an inner city sixth form college. We slowly built a centre, with students taking examinations from the whole syllabus. My teacher, David Henson, was an Examiner and so I took my time becoming qualified across the performing arts and then, when I felt that I had the skills to be able to comment on the whole syllabi, I applied. I slowly moved from UK to international examining, and finally applied to become a Team Leader; a role that helps to support a team of Examiners. In this time I was asked if I would be interested in helping out the Scrutiny Team looking at reports and offering training guidance and enjoyed this. I started my journey in performing with LAMDA and now am here in my current role as Deputy Chief Examiner, so LAMDA has travelled in some form with me throughout my life.

What advice would you give teachers preparing Learners for a LAMDA examination or qualification?

Always ensure as teachers to follow specifications closely, read the regulations and check a Learner’s skills against the criteria. But most importantly, have fun and build confidence.

What is your favourite Shakespearean poem/play/sonnet?

That is difficult. I do not believe that I have a favourite but I certainly remember touring Macbeth internationally and then getting to direct Jane Merrow years later, and so this show has a very distinct memory and taught me so much about how to read and perform Shakespeare.

What has been your favourite moment at LAMDA so far?

Getting to work with a team that is so very passionate about delivering examinations to all. And seeing Eleanor McLeod greet young Learners at London Public who could not believe that they were meeting the writer of the poem that they had just offered for their Examination.

What is your favourite aspect of examining?

I think it is knowing the value of what we do for all Learners. Also, being able to do something I love all over the world.

What has been the most eye-opening moment of your career so far?

That is hard. Most memorable is perhaps receiving my Manchester Evening News Award for best performer. That was eye-opening, but on a more real level it has to be a young boy who during a day workshop began to believe that his voice could be louder than his fists. I think we tend to forget the power that performance has in encouraging everyone to experience a better self, and merely the joy of being able to explore beyond the boundaries of an everyday existence.