ArtsEd is one of Britain’s leading drama schools. Our 3rd Year BA Acting students participate in a significant amount of film work, making them highly employable in the industry. Launched in 2014, the Original Screenplay Project has gone from strength to strength. Each year a limited number of films from the project are submitted to film festivals. In 2016 we were thrilled to win the Best Comedy award at the Crystal Palace International Film Festival for Paul Houghton’s Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.

We are delighted to invite writers to submit their scripts for the fourth season.

Shortlisted scripts will be read in a workshop situation and once the final eight scripts have been selected, writers may be required to develop or adapt their work. They will subsequently be filmed in March 2018, by a professional director and cameraman, supported by a full student crew. Each film will then be edited to broadcast standard and screened before an industry audience.

Each script should combine a clear, narrative arc with a degree of dramatic action and must also fulfil the following criteria: 

Be of 10-12 minutes duration
Be suitable for filming on a limited budget
Require a maximum of 4 simple locations and not involve difficult technical set ups i.e.: long driving scenes, period settings etc.
Tackle contemporary subject matter, both comedy and drama and be set in the last decade
Be suitable for a cast who are in their twenties, with a minimum of 3 to 4 strong roles
Avoid any extreme violence or explicit sexual content
Require a limited number of older cast or none at all ideally

All writers will be fully credited for their work, retain copyright of the script and receive a professional standard showreel of the film. We are sadly unable to offer remuneration to writers but see this as a great opportunity for a writer to have their work developed and produced in order to showcase their talents.

We will acknowledge receipt of submissions but regrettably, due to the volume of submissions we are unable to provide individual feedback. Decisions regarding shortlisting of scripts will take place after the closing date, and final scripts will be chosen by September 2017.

To submit a script for our consideration, please email a copy in PDF or Word format to scripts.artsed@gmail.com and remember to include your name, contact details, and script title on the front page, together with a brief synopsis and character breakdown.

Deadline for submissions is Wednesday 24 May 2017

The ArtsEd Extra Youth Theatre is looking forward to making their West End debut this week, performing in the National Theatre’s Connections Festival – a celebration of young people, theatre-making and the importance of access to the arts. The company of young actors has come together from across West London and will perform Tim Etchells’ Status Update at Soho Theatre on 31 March at 7pm.

{image2}Status Update is an unflinching and amusing catalogue of the things teenagers learn, believe and appear to have sussed out about the world. It’s a challenging piece for ArtsEd Extra Youth Theatre’s first project as the entire cast remains on stage throughout the performance, relying on their ability to work together as an ensemble.

Director and Head of Part-Time Leaning, Jonathan Goodwin has watched the group step up successfully to the challenge: “I’ve seen a huge development in the skills level and confidence of the entire cast throughout this project. Each performer has shown a great commitment during rehearsals and as a result we’ve received amazing feedback from friends, family and representatives of the Soho Theatre and the National Theatre.”

Tickets for the performance at Soho Theatre are available here.

If you would like to be involved in similar projects please register your interest with Jonathan Goodwin jgoodwin@artsed.co.uk / 020 8987 6692

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Image credit: Joe Thomas, Lighting Designer and Operator www.joethomasdesign.co.uk

The summer season at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre is going to start with great style and verve this year with four ArtsEd faces leading the cast of On The Town.

Class of 2017 graduates, Siena Kelly and Miriam-Teak Lee, will make their professional stage debuts as Ivy and Hildy, joined by ArtsEd alumna, Lizzy Connolly as Claire, three roles played in the original film version by Vera-Ellen, Betty Garrett and Ann Miller. Siena and Miriam-Teak are well prepared for their stage debut having performed lead roles in Lady Be Good and The Life during their final year of training.

The male lead, Gabey, will be played by ArtsEd alumnus, Danny Mac, recently seen in the finals and live arena tour of Strictly Come Dancing. The role of Gabey is well known to Chris Hocking, ArtsEd’s Deputy Director, who played the character on the last UK tour of On The Town in 1989.

Chris Hocking says: “It’s an incredible achievement for Miriam-Teak and Siena to launch their professional careers in such an iconic musical. We are ecstatic to see ArtsEd students and alumni in four of the six lead roles!” 

Playing 19 May to 1 July 2017, On The Town is based on a concept by Jerome Robbins with music by Leonard Bernstein and book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, including the hit song “New York, New York (it’s a helluva town)”.  The production will be directed and choreographed by Drew McOnie. Drew won the Olivier Award for Best Theatre Choreography for In the Heights before scoring a hit with his choreography for Jesus Christ Superstar in 2016, for which he is nominated in The Olivier Awards 2017.

Photo credit: Hugo Glendinning

ArtsEd Youth Dance Company (AEYDC) performed as part of RichDance 17 at Hampton School on Saturday 4 March – a performance platform for youth companies and professionals. The company of dancers from Years 10-13 took to the stage to premiere their new dance piece 'RED'.

Company Director Christopher Reynolds commended the performers saying: “The students’ performance was extremely professional and their support of the other participants was fantastic. RichDance was a great day for AEYDC to bond as a company as well as being ambassadors for the Day School and Sixth Form. I am extremely proud of them all, well done!” 

RichDance, now in its 15th year, forms a part of the Richmond upon Thames Music and Drama Festival. The weekend is a fantastic showcase for dance companies and choreographers, professional and emerging dance artists, local schools, and youth and community groups from across London.

ArtsEd Youth Dance Company will next be performing here at ArtsEd in The Dance Show from 27-31 March in the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation Theatre. Tickets are available from 2pm Thursday 9th March via the Box Office.