Talented ArtsEd alumni Marc Antolin (Musical Theatre, 2008) and Daisy Maywood (Musical Theatre, 2010), pictured (photo Steve Tanner), have announced plans for a US tour of their Kneehigh production of The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk. Currently playing at London's evocative Wilton's Music Hall, audiences are drawn into the magical world of artist Marc Chagall and his wife Bella, partners in life and on canvas, with captivating performances by Marc and Daisy.

Written by Daniel Jamieson and directed by Kneehigh's Artistic Director Emma Rice, the lovers' compelling story is interwoven with dance and live klezmer music inspired by Russian folk tradition, composed and performed by Ian Ross and James Gow.

Marc is all set for LA: “I’m really looking forward to taking the show to the US. Emma Rice’s work and Kneehigh have a big following internationally and there’s lots of Marc Chagall’s work in America. Also, the Oscars are being held in LA while we are there and Vanity Fair have their party at the theatre we’re performing in, so we’re hoping for an invite!”

The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk will make its US debut on February 24 at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Los Angeles. Following the LA tour, the stage lovers will fly back to West Yorkshire Playhouse, Salisbury Playhouse, the Spoleto Festival and more.

Catch this 4-star show at Wilton's while you can! – https://www.wiltons.org.uk/whatson/395-the-flying-lovers-of-vitebsk

A whirl of colour and surreal humour… The Guardian

A visual gem… The Stage

Gloriously romantic… The Times

Winner of the Carol Tambor Best of Edinburgh Award 2017.

ArtsEd is all ready for Priscilla Queen of the Desert, which opens in The Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation Theatre on Friday 2 February and runs until Saturday 10 February – more details here

The story: Drag queens Tick and Adam, and a trans woman, Bernadette, go on a road trip through the Australian outback when Tick's estranged wife calls in a favour. Their unreliable tour bus, Priscilla, takes them on a voyage of discovery – encountering redneck homophobia, new love and self-acceptance on the way to giving the performance of their lives. Based on the award-winning 1994 film, Priscilla Queen of the Desert has a contagiously upbeat soundtrack of disco hits. 

And the cast can't wait for opening night!

“Working on a production of this scale has been a very thrilling process. It isn't every day that you get to strut around on the stage in heels impersonating Tina Turner. Colin Mayes and P.J. McEvoy, the two designers on the show, have incredible creative images which they are applying to costumes, set and projection. It isn't easy to transform a cast of young adults into a whole array of crayons, paintbrushes and rollers but they are doing a fantastic job. Priscilla Queen of the Desert is a massive feel-good show which carries a strong message of acceptance and love; topics which are very relevant to the world we live in today. I am extremely excited to be able to go out and share this heart-warming story to a new audience each night.”

Harry Winchester (Miss Understanding)

“Being part of such an extravagant musical has been a dream to be in. Priscilla Queen of the Desert shares a very important and relevant message to all people and it has been an honour to be able to express all the different topics the show covers, from friendship, parental love, acceptance and LGBT community. The role of Cynthia is not only a comical character which I’ve LOVED portraying every second, it also illustrates a message to always be true to yourself and carry on doing what you love. To be given this opportunity has been a real blessing and I will be forever grateful for all the life lessons I have learnt throughout this process.”

Jessica Lee (Cynthia)

“Working on Priscilla has been an absolute dream for me creatively. The show has an incredible soundtrack and a hilarious book, so the rehearsal process has been masses of fun. Really loving the music and knowing how much I'm going to laugh makes it such a joy to go to rehearsals!

The show also has a really moving storyline with some very complex characters and it's been a great pleasure to delve into what the heart of the story is really about. I am playing Tick, a drag queen who struggles with anxiety and fear of a world that seems to not accept him as he travels across Australia to meet his son. Tick has been a real challenge for me as there are many facets to his character and the role demands a great deal of emotional range. I've absolutely loved rising to these challenges and working with the creatives to really get to know this character.

Overall the show is a non-stop barrage of energy, jokes and great music, with a truly moving story of love, parenthood and acceptance. I'd encourage everyone to come and see this glorious show performed by such a wonderfully talented cast!”

Ben Tyler (Tick/Mitzi)

Don't forget to tell us how much you enjoy the show – join us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

ArtsEd is looking forward to a dazzling new production opening in the Studio Theatre on Friday 19 January. Show runs until Saturday 27 January.

Top Hat* is a fabulously witty, light-footed farce featuring some of Irving Berlin's most famous songs, including Puttin' On the Ritz, Cheek to Cheek and Let's Face the Music and Dance. Broadway star Jerry Travers, arriving in London to perform in producer Horace Hardwick's latest West End show, accidentally dances into the life of glamorous model Dale Tremont and falls instantly in love. Pursuing her from London to Venice, he is thwarted by a case of mistaken identity and a rival suitor – flamboyant Italian fashion designer, Beddini. But can Hardwick's sneaky valet, Bates, help save the day?

Our Marketing Officer, Tess Henderson has been out and about behind the scenes at ArtsEd talking to cast and creatives.

Director Richard Fitch is full of infectious enthusiasm:

“This production of Top Hat is likely to be a version of the show that you have never seen and won’t ever get to see again. Whilst keeping hold of the sharp wit, incredible score and endearing love story at its centre, we aim to showcase what it is to fall in love in a way that resonates with both a 1930’s and contemporary audience. The students inject this show with infinite charm, class and precision and along with the stunning choreography, the show is guaranteed to have you laughing out loud, humming and tapping long after the show ends.”

While members of the cast are equally excited:

“The entirety of rehearsals have been truly splendid. We are exceptionally lucky to have such a hard working creative team on board, who have given us a motivating and professional environment to work in, preparing us for the industry. Playing Dale has been an absolute dream of mine and I have loved embracing her gutsy yet angelic personality. We are very thankful of the school, especially Chris Hocking for having faith in us to pull off such iconic material. I am so excited for opening night and to be able to share our work with the public, we hope everyone enjoys the performance.”

Hannah Lawson (Dale Tremont)

“The rehearsal process for Top Hat has been an absolute joy. There's a wonderful sense of collaboration and camaraderie in the room. The show is old school musical comedy – there's mistaken identity and big ensemble tap numbers that have been beautifully crafted by our choreographer, Ashley Nottingham. I'm already not looking forward to letting go of Madge. She's blunt, feisty and she knows her own worth; stepping into her shoes has been really empowering. I also get to wear some fab dresses thanks to our designer and the costume department!”

Clancy Ryan (Madge Hardwick)

“The process of this show has been bliss. Horace has been a real challenge for me! He has such fast qualities and an anxiety that took me a while to connect with. I think everyone’s in for a good night of light hearted 

comedy!”

Charlie Ellerton (Horace Hardwick)

So to all the lucky ticket holders out there, we look forward to welcoming you to ArtsEd!

And don't forget to tell us how much you enjoy the show – join us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

*Music & Lyrics by Irving Berlin
Based on RKO’s Motion Picture
Book by Matthew White & Howard Jacques
An amateur production by arrangement with R&H Theatricals Europe

ArtsEd's famous foyer was buzzing last night as guests enjoyed a pre-show drinks reception to celebrate the launch of a ArtsEd Friends, our new annual giving scheme. Principal, Chris Hocking spoke about the high calibre and dedication of all the students who train here in Acting and Musical Theatre, and invited everyone to consider becoming an ArtsEd Friend to ensure that we have the support that our students need to keep future talent thriving. 
 
There is a Friend level to suit all budgets. You can start as a Fan at just £10 a month, or become an Admirer (£500 pa), an Enthusiast (£1,500 pa) or a wonderfully generous Champion at £3,000 pa. We are determined that the most talented young people in the country should be able to benefit from the outstanding training here. Every year, financial pressures mean that students of great promise face the prospect of turning down their place or even leaving their course before finishing. By becoming an ArtsEd Friend you will help keep ArtsEd at the forefront of UK drama schools and ensure talent wins out over financial hardship.
 
Miriam-Teak Lee, a 2017 graduate who went straight into On The Town at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and will soon be in the musical Hamilton, spoke enthusiastically about her time at ArtsEd and how it prepared her for a successful West End career. Director of Bullets Over Broadway, John Brant, ended the speeches with praise for ArtsEd students and graduates for being the best to work with in the industry – hardworking, polite and respectful. And of course, immensely talented.
 
The audience left Bullets Over Broadway on a high – following a wonderful demonstration of the success of ArtsEd’s unique triple threat training, not to mention a fantastic set design, costumes and band. It's a team effort!
 
We welcome all new Fans, Admirers, Enthusiasts and Champions!

ArtsEd's Youth Dance Company gave a stunning performance at the Royal Albert Hall in November as part of this year's Dance Proms, which marked the final Proms. 

Dance Company Director, Christopher Reynolds was delighted with their performance:

'ArtsEd Youth Dance Company were fantastic, they worked incredibly hard during rehearsals and this was seen in their professional attitude and performance at the Royal Albert Hall. Huge congratulations to all the dancers and thank you to all the parents for their continued support of the Day School and Sixth Form.'

While Headteacher Adrian Blake said: “I’m enormously proud of all the students in Dance Company, and Mr Reynolds the Company Director – performing at The Royal Albert Hall is such an incredible opportunity! With students singing at The London Palladium last week, and students dancing at The Royal Albert Hall just a few days later, this is a wonderful time to be part of ArtsEd!”

The Dance Proms brings together dance teachers and their students, aged between 5 and 21 years, from around world to create original dance pieces using any style of dance in their own schools or studios.Since 2011, when three of the world’s leading dance examination boards, the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD), the International Dance Teachers’ Association (IDTA), and the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) joined forces with the Royal Albert Hall, Dance Proms has been an international celebration of dance, dancers and dance teachers. The first ever Dance Proms involved 450 young people performing in front of an audience of 3,000 and was a huge success with both performers and audience.

Technology is now used to encourage the sharing of ideas and experience and the opportunity to interact with respected dance professionals and high-profile names in the industry. It also allows the wider public to engage with and shape the project by offering an online public voting element. For more details see http://www.danceproms.co.uk/

American actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth is known for her outstanding performances across both stage and screen. Winning a Tony Award for her performance in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Kristin went on to originate the role of Glinda in Wicked on Broadway, securing her status as one of musical theatre’s finest.

An Intimate Evening With Kristin Chenoweth at the London Palladium on Friday 20th October further cemented her reputation among the star-studded London audience. ArtsEd’s Sixth Form students had the honour of joining Kristin on stage, with theatre greats including Elaine Paige, Leslie Bricusse, Michael Mayer and Andrew Lippa watching on.

The students rehearsed for the performance under the guidance of teachers Rob Bannon and Joe Wilson.

Mr Bannon was delighted to see the students shine on stage: “What a special evening this was! The students had the experience of a lifetime working under Musical Director, extraordinaire, Michael Orland as well as performing with Kristin on stage at the Palladium. Kristin had the extraordinary ability to treat the students like her peers rather than her backing ensemble and the students really stepped up to the plate! Professional, talented and passionate are three words that come to mind when describing how our students approached the rehearsals and performance. It is an experience that neither I nor the students will forget in a long time. I am incredibly proud of them.”

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Applications are open to join ArtsEd Sixth Form in 2018 – click here to find out more.

ArtsEd is delighted to announce that third year Acting student Omar Ahmed (pictured, third from left) has been awarded a Laurence Oliver Bursary. Drama students from across the UK were awarded £77,500 worth of bursaries by the Society of London Theatre to help them complete their training. Drama school principals across the region can nominate two students, who then audition in front of a panel at a West End theatre and are interviewed by a panel of theatre industry professionals led by West End producer and Chair of the Laurence Olivier Bursaries Committee, Lee Menzies. This year’s auditions took place at St Martin’s Theatre.

Previous bursary winners include Ewan McGregor, Michaela Coel, Paterson Joseph and Denise Gough.

Director of the School of Acting, Gareth Farr says: 'We are extremely proud and thrilled that Omar has received this award. He is a very worthy recipient who has shown dedication and determination from his very first day at ArstEd. It is fantastic to see his talent and hard work recognised by an esteemed panel of industry professionals.'

Omar's first role this term is Sam in The Suicide, written by Suhayla El-Bushra and directed by Alex Thorpe.

The Suicide opens in the Studio Theatre on 28 November – book tickets here.

ArtsEd is constantly seeking the UK’s most exciting new acting talent. To this end, in early 2018 we will hold auditions for our BA Acting course outside of London for the first time, in Manchester and Swansea. The audition process will include an illuminating insight into our BA Acting course and daily life at ArtsEd from key ArtsEd tutors and alumni.

Gareth Farr, Director of the School of Acting sees the regional auditions as an essential step in the continuing development of ArtEd’s outstanding training offer:

“We know that there are fantastic young actors right across the country. However, students with exceptional potential can’t always make it to a London audition, so we want to bring the audition to you. If you want to train at drama school then we want to see YOU at one of our auditions.”

Each audition session will start with a warm-up workshop led by an ArtsEd Acting Tutor, candidates will then be required to perform two monologues. Successful applicants will be invited to a recall audition in London. Here you will learn more about ArtsEd’s distinctive training, split 50/50 between stage and screen techniques, view our excellent facilities and experience the uniquely vibrant atmosphere of our Chiswick home.

Audition Dates:

Swansea – Saturday 20th January 2018
Manchester – Saturday 3rd February 2018
London – dates available November – June

How You Can Join Us In 2018

You can make your application online via the ArtsEd website. During this process you will be able to select your preferred audition location.
Click here to find out more about the audition process and start your application today!

BA (Hons) Acting – 3 Year Full-Time Training

We are passionate about training confident, committed and creative actors. Our three-year Acting degree has a unique 50:50 balance between training for screen and stage which ensures graduates work comfortably across all areas of today’s industry. Led by tutors who understand the demands of different disciplines, the School of Acting training is intensive and highly relevant.

Our fantastic facilities include:

Purpose-built rehearsal studios
TV and radio recording suites
Two professionally equipped and purpose-built performance spaces, The Studio Theatre and The Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation Theatre

Recent graduates have secured fantastic work including: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Palace Theatre), Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare's Globe), Kingsman: The Golden Circle (Twentieth Century Fox), EastEnders (BBC) and Imperium Part I: Conspirator (Royal Shakespeare Company).

The inaugural ‘The Stage Debut Awards’ on Sunday 17th September 2017, celebrated actors and creatives who have made their professional theatre debuts in the past twelve months.

Miriam-Teak Lee, 2017 Musical Theatre graduate, took home the award for 'Best Actress in a Musical' for her outstanding performance in On the Town at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre in London.

In her acceptance speech Miriam-Teak shared her mother’s advice ‘whatever you put in, is what you get out’, a maxim she applies to each and every one of her performances. She also thanked ArtsEd Principal, Chris Hocking, and her brother, Dex Lee, a fellow ArtsEd alumnus, for their support and inspiration.

If you missed Miriam-Teak in On The Town, your next chance to see her on stage will be in the hotly anticipated West End opening of Hamilton at the Victoria Palace Theatre alongside Tarinn Callender, a fellow 2017 graduate.

Huge congratulations also go to ArtsEd graduates Siena Kelly and Daniel Urch for their Debut Award nominations for wonderful performances in On the Town and 10 in the Shade at Ye Olde Rose and Crown.