For Thomas Donnan, the path to becoming a professional actor has been one of resilience, persistence, and timely support. His journey, marked by breakthroughs with Knock & Nash and, more recently, his signing with United Agents, is a testament to his passion and the crucial mentors who helped him along the way.
The Knock & Nash Discovery: “An Opportunity I Could NOT Pass On”
Thomas’s story takes an inspiring turn during what he describes as “an afternoon at Seascale with my family.” He recalls scrolling through social media and stumbling upon an advert for a screen acting course with Knock & Nash. Having just experienced the disappointment of not being accepted into drama school, this unexpected discovery felt like a lifeline. “I showed my Mum and Dad and asked what they thought,” he remembers. “They completely agreed with me that it was an opportunity I could NOT pass on.”
Seizing the moment, Thomas applied for the course, was asked to audition via self-tape, and was thrilled to be accepted. After the setback of missing out on a drama school spot, this acceptance was “just the confidence boost I needed” and, as he sees it, “the actual start date of my professional actor training.”
Early Lessons and Life-Long Skills
Starting the course was a commitment that required Thomas’s full dedication—and his family’s support. Hailing from Whitehaven, Cumbria, he commends his dad for the sacrifices he made: “I have to hand it to my Dad for driving me through to Carlisle every Monday evening for a 3-hour intense screen acting class. Having that support behind you is, I would say, crucial, and I’m very appreciative of all of their constant support.”
Reflecting on the quality of his training with Knock & Nash, Thomas shares, “These sessions became invaluable to me. I learned so much about screen acting and acting on a wider scale.” In particular, a one-on-one session with acclaimed actress Madeline Potter remains a standout. “It’s one of the best acting lessons I’ve ever had,” he says. He brought a monologue from Hamlet, and with Potter’s guidance, he learned to “tear the speech to pieces, and analyse the text, the objectives, and the real ‘nitty gritty’ Given Circumstances.” This session gave him an incredible sense of growth, even as he felt “absolutely terrified and in awe” of Potter’s expertise.
A Mentor’s Guidance: Jordan Tweddle and New Opportunities
In Knock & Nash’s CEO, Jordan Tweddle, Thomas found a trusted mentor and friend. “I warmed to Jordan very quickly; he has this beautiful sense of ease with his approach to actor training,” Thomas says. He was so inspired that he started “hounding his inbox, begging him to take me on as his private student.” His persistence paid off, and Tweddle took him on for personalised coaching.
With Tweddle’s guidance, Thomas prepared two monologues for his next round of drama school auditions. The selections—one from Much Ado About Nothing and another from 31 Hours by Kieran Knowles—struck a deep chord. “This play tackles themes of toxic masculinity, bullying, harassment in the workplace, male mental health, and sadly, suicide,” he shares, adding, “These themes are topics which are very close to my heart and spoke to the reason why I wanted to become an actor in the first place, to tell stories that spread awareness.”
With Tweddle’s mentorship, Thomas felt he was growing, both as an actor and as an individual. “Knock & Nash taught me not only how to act, but how to completely re-find myself as a human being,” he says. “I guess that’s what acting is?!”
Drama School Triumph and the “Showcase” Moment
With Knock & Nash’s training behind him, Thomas secured a place at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, a prestigious program where he thrived for three years. By his final year, however, he felt the pressure to perform and compete. “I think for every drama school student, reaching third year is a bit of a whirlwind. It’s also very bittersweet,” he says, noting how intense it became as everyone reached out to agents, hoping for representation.
When it came time for the annual London showcase, where agents and casting directors gather to watch the drama students perform, Thomas surprised even himself. Despite having dealt with “huge imposter syndrome and monumental stage fright” throughout drama school, he remembers feeling “calm, collected, and prepared” that day. “I remember having some of my mates saying to me, ‘Thomas, how are you this chilled?’ or words to that effect!” The showcase proved to be a career-defining moment, as several agents expressed interest.
Signing with United Agents: “An Outer Body Experience”
The morning after the showcase, Thomas received an invitation to meet with Sophie Austin from United Agents. Recounting the meeting, Thomas reflects, “We hugged, and I signed an hour later! I actually became the first in my year to secure agent representation.” Being signed by one of the most respected names in the industry felt surreal. “The fact that it was with one of the biggest agent names going was such an outer body experience,” he says. To Thomas, it was a moment of affirmation, a sign that “I am on the right career path!”
Words of Wisdom and Looking Ahead
For those still on the path to representation, Thomas’s advice is encouraging: “DO NOT WORRY. Work hard, keep your head above the noise of what everybody else is doing, and just continue to put the same love and respect in you have for this craft.” He urges students not to compare themselves with others. “My story will be completely different to yours,” he reminds them. “Don’t compare yourself, because you are special and different for every other reason that your friends are special and different in their own ways too!”
Today, Thomas has moved to London and is steadily building his career, supported by the team at United Agents and his agent, Sophie Austin. He describes the transition as a “rollercoaster of a career path” but is learning to “stay creative and (trying to) stay sane” as he navigates the industry.
Looking back, Thomas credits Knock & Nash as the foundation of his journey. “The skills for being on a set, and the custom-written showreel we made at the end of the course, have become invaluable assets,” he says, highlighting the importance of his training. “The class exercises I experienced during my time with Knock & Nash remain some of the highest quality craft training I’ve experienced to date.” Thomas is filled with gratitude for the support, training, and friendships he gained through Knock & Nash, concluding, “I wouldn’t change any of it for a second—maybe just to go back and do it all again if I could!”
With his training, a prestigious agent, and a passion for storytelling, Thomas Donnan is on a promising path in the world of acting.
Photo Credits: Headshot by Michael Shelford, Production photos by Craig Fuller and Edward J Felton.
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