Do you need a video reel to be a theater actor? ?

As Cogito says, most professional actors are just actors.  When work is so hard to come by, why limit yourself to only stage or only screen work?  I have friends who are mainly stage actors in New York, but they still do guest star work on shows like Law & Order.  It's not bad pay for a day or two of work.  They have show reels.  I was a professional, union actors for 20 years working mainly on stage, but I also did some screen work and had a show reel.

Professional acting is a business - you're basically running a company where you are the product being marketed and sold.  And as part of running a company, you need marketing.  Things like head shots, resumes, show reel, website, social media - they're all part of the marketing package for your business.  So in that case, you would need a show reel.  And it's not like you have only 1 show reel (anymore then you have only 1 resume).  Technology has made it so easy to customize your resume, show reel, and other things to include the relevant experience and clips for the job you're submitting to.

But if all you're interested in at this point is doing stage work, you don't need a show reel.   

If you're interested in expanding to more film work, you can start with filming your own scenes/monologues to start. It's becoming more and more common for actors to do self-tape auditions so it would be good to know how to do that.  Then as you get cast in things like student films shorts, or other non-union work you can get copies of the screen for an updated show reel - similar to how you would update a resume with better experience and training as you get it.  There's nothing magical about having a show reel -- you need to a good one that can effectively market your skills.

Good luck.

Vjciuxuxixuxuxuxixixux

Almost all actors are just 'actors' - not 'Theatre actors' or 'TV actors' or 'Movie actors'.

To survive as an actor, you really need to be versatile and happy and willing to work anywhere.

Surely they taught you that at your drama school?

Most actors, after their degree-level training is complete, go on to get loads of experience on stage, in short films, student films and indies, as well as promotional work and voice work.  By doing this, they can amass enough good footage to put a really impressive professional showreel put together.

It may not be the case where you live, but in my experience, agents are not very fond of 'faked' scenes, i.e. filmed monologues.  It's far better, and expected, to be able to produce genuine clips of on-camera acting.

It is kind of hard to show your "stage talent" on a web site.  You can list your experience, but that does not show a director how you act or if you would be a fit for a part.  Having a video - whether from TV or a movie - allows the cast director to see some of how you act and what you are like as a performer.  

If you do not have TV or movie experience (or do not want any), you can always film a monologue or get some fellow actors together and film a scene with you in the lead and the center of the camera work.

But usually when casting for the stage, the director wants to see you perform live and in person.  That is going to carry more weight then any video on your web site.  Most will never even look at that site, or if they do it will only be after you have done your audition and they are leaning towards you for the role.

If you have never done any TV or movie work, you should give it a try.  While it is different from stage work, it does help to build your abilities.  Plus extras and walk ons are a quick and easy way to make some money while trying to break into stage acting.  (Have done both and much prefer to be on the stage.)

It is not necessary to have video on your site, but it can help.

Theater will have dancers and actors submit a resume and audition in person. 

Do research on the Actors' Equity Association.