Ciara Charteris quit the acting industry for good in 2018 (Picture: BBC)
Poldark star Ciara Charteris has spoken out about the traumatising behaviour in her drama school class.
The actress, best known for playing Emma Tregirls in the BBC drama, quit theRoyal Welsh College of Music and Drama (RWCMD) in her second year after her experience.
The Grantchester performer, 28, who studied acting at the school ten years ago, claimed there was a face covering known as the ‘rape mask’ in the improvisation sessions.
‘The majority of the time the male members of the class would have access to that mask, and the work is all about embodying how that mask makes you feel. This one was known as the rape mask,’ she told Deadline.
‘You would see female students get cornered in a room and get touched or groped, and it was perfectly acceptable in the context of this class.’
In another ‘character study’ class, Ciara claimed females were asked to mime taking their clothes off and male students had to imagine them naked and then pick the most attractive.
Ciara said there was a mask known as the ‘rape mask’ at drama school (Picture: BBC)
She added: ‘Some people were not walked towards. Myself and another classmate burst into tears and ran out. I cannot for the life of me remember the purpose of this exercise.’
Ciara alleged there were some ‘seriously dangerous people’ in her year who became ‘a version of their own monster’ at RWCMD.
After quitting to work on the Stephen Poliakoff series Close to the Enemy, the Poison Tress actress claimed she sent the drama school a letter voicing her concerns.
She said female students were touched in the class (Picture: Getty)
She retired from acting in 2018 to co-found women’s wellness platform and survivors support network I Am Arla and is now CEO of entertainment wellness and safety firm Intact Creatives.
A spokesperson for RWCMD told Metro.co.uk: ‘All music and drama schools have been working to improve understanding of how respect for each other works in everyday practice.
‘At our College, we’ve worked closely with partners including theatre, film industries, universities, students, staff and alumni and we’ve introduced real changes in recent years. We’ve transformed how we support our students, how we respond to safeguarding and similar disclosures, and how we deal with complaints or concerns.
‘In the last three years we’ve introduced new Guidelines for Close Contact and Intimacy in teaching and production work, created with leading external experts. Staff are trained in inclusive practice and intimacy work, to ensure the learning environment is safe.
Ciara quit in the second year and said she raised her concerns with the school (Picture: Getty)
‘We’ve established an improved confidential feedback/complaints system enabling students and staff to record concerns at any time, anonymously if they prefer.
‘On receiving a complaint or concern we immediately make sure that anyone involved is safe and supported, and we consider whether external experts should be involved.
‘Our enhanced professional Student Services team of mentors and tutors now have a range of specialist skills. They operate alongside a Student Voice Officer who works directly with our students.
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‘Following a major review and revalidation, our undergraduate Actor training course, fronted by a new team, has just received 100% satisfaction rating in the National Student Survey.
‘We will never stop listening to and working with our staff and students or learning from others to make sure our culture is one in which students can learn and thrive, while being professionally challenged in a safe and supportive environment.’
Metro.co.uk contacted RWCMD for comment.
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She left in her second year.