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.

ArtsEd has been ranked as the top drama school for overall student satisfaction in the 2017 National Student Survey. The survey gives final year undergraduates a chance to comment on their course and institution, asking 27 questions relating to eight different apects of the learning experience. NSS talks to students across the UK and nearly 3 million have taken part. 

This was the first time that ArtsEd had entered the survey and it was rewarding to find out that 97% of our students were pleased with their training overall. We hope this actively encourages all those hoping to come to ArtsEd and launch their own musical theatre and acting careers. 

Principal Chris Hocking said: “We are continually reviewing and refining our acting and musical theatre courses to ensure that the training we provide is of the highest quality and prepares students for the particular demands of today’s industry. Our students have always had a strong and positive voice within ArtsEd and we are delighted that this is now reflected in the National Student Survey results.”

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for news of all ArtsEd courses, shows and students' ongoing success.

Once again ArtsEd Day School has produced an excellent set of GCSE results – congratulations to everyone in Year 11!

100% of Year 11 students achieved six or more GCSEs at Grade C (4/5) or higher, with many students securing eight or nine passes
Our ‘old measurement’ of five A*-C with Maths and English is 88%, which is an increase of 14% on last year and equals our highest ever GCSE results
37.4% of all GSCE results were A*-A
95.4% of all GCSE results were A*-C which is our highest ever A*-C statistic

“We are delighted that our Year 11 students have done so fantastically well with their exam results, especially in a time of such change in the landscape of GCSEs. To achieve our best ever results, when most schools have been told to expect a dip in their A*-C statistic, is particularly pleasing. These results show that ArtsEd builds on strong learning relationships between staff and students; it is always our expectation that individuals can surpass baseline predictions and achieve more than they ever thought possible”.  

Adrian Blake, Headteacher

Sixth Form students at ArtsEd celebrate the school’s best ever results today. School records were broken with outstanding results in both BTECs, a superb 99% at grade A-A* equivalent, and A Levels, 38% at A* – A and 74% A* – B.  Combined, these results brings the school’s overall A* – B achievement to 90% for the first time.

The hard work of our Sixth Form leavers has really paid off this year. They will be leaving us for an impressive range of destinations including; RADA, LAMDA, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, The Ailey School in New York, University of Bristol and University of Exeter with many choosing to continue their training here at ArtsEd.

Adrian Blake, Headteacher said: “I'm really proud of the students, and staff, who have worked together so successfully to raise the bar yet again and secure such fantastic results”.

If you are interested in joining our Sixth Form or Day School, we would be delighted to welcome you at our upcoming Open Evenings – click here to find out more.

Sixth Form (Yr 12 Entry) – Tuesday 26 September at 6pm
Day School (Yrs 7-10 Entry) – Wednesday 27 September at 6pm

Jane Harrison is retiring from ArtsEd in July after eight successful years of leading the school as Principal and eight years prior to that as Director of the School of Acting. She has overseen many changes and improvements during her time in post, including the launch of The Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation Theatre in 2013.

At a recent leaving party at ArtsEd, Jane said that she was sad to be saying goodbye to staff and students, but knows that Chris Hocking (pictured above with Jane), currently Deputy Principal and Director of the School of Musical Theatre, will do a “fantastic job” when he takes up the role of Principal in September.

Mark Burch, Chair of the Trustees, thanked Jane for all her hard work and dedication over the years, while long-term member of staff Elspeth Morrison delivered a rousing farewell speech full of memories and good humour.

Everyone at ArtsEd would like to thank Jane for her huge contribution and wish her all the best for the future. She will, of course, be invited to all the shows!

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We are delighted to announce David Grindrod’s appointment as Vice President of ArtsEd.  David has been an advocate and ambassador of ArtsEd for many years and a trustee since 2011.  His new role will build on this foundation of invaluable support and we are thrilled that students and staff alike will continue to benefit from the generosity with which David shares his extraordinary expertise and experience.   

“One of the joys of my daily life is finding and working with new talent and I look forward to continuing my association with ArtsEd, an organisation that truly understands how to develop the potential of their students.”

Jane Harrison, Principal says: “We are immensely pleased that David will be continuing his long-standing support of ArtsEd in the role of Vice President.  We are very lucky indeed to have someone of his experience and reputation working with us all.”

David launched David Grindrod Associates in 1998 specialising in casting for musical theatre across the West End and internationally, as well as casting for film and television. Key ventures include Mary Poppins Returns (Disney), School of Rock (New London), Beauty and the Beast (Disney), Bat Out of Hell (London Coliseum), Matilda (Cambridge Theatre), Groundhog Day (Old Vic) and Mamma Mia! The Movie (Universal).

ArtsEd's full-time Foundation students have had an exceptional year and many are going on to university or drama school, with several staying on to train at ArtsEd.

“Through much laughter, sweat and determination my foundation group kept focused and worked diligently all year, achieving great success in their auditions. It was very rewarding to watch the students' talent blossom as their understanding, confidence and ability grew throughout the course….  it was a win win situation for everyone!”

Heather Robbins, Head of Musical Theatre Foundation Course

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Musical Theatre Foundation 2016/17 Destinations

Alexandre Blin and Chloe Rice have accepted places at the London School of Musical Theatre (LSMT).

Jayden Booroff, Daniel Falber, Ainsley Fannen, David Mairs-McKenzie, Meagan Mackenzie, Liam Santos and Karen Wilkinson have all accepted Mountview.

Annie Imrie-Cook has been offered LSMT/Performance Preparation Academy (PPA) but is waiting to hear from RCS before deciding.

Shona Eaton and Meagan Power will be taking up places at ArtsEd.

Alex Fentiman, Anna Morgan and Tasmin Wilson have all been offered places at PPA.

Jonathon O’Neill has accepted a place at Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Acting Foundation 2016/17 Destinations and Courses

Emeka Diamond – Lancaster University, BA Drama and Creative Writing

Charlotte Becque – East 15, BA Physical Theatre

Joel Lambert – ArtsEd, BA Acting

Matilda Childs – East 15, BA World Performance

Poppy Sheppard – ArtsEd, BA Acting

Michael Bunga – ArtsEd, BA Acting

Anne De Guibert – East 15, BA Contemporary Theatre

Elicia-Valentine Jones – Bristol University, BA Theatre and Film

Charlie O’Conner – ArtsEd, BA Acting

Rose Nesbit – ArtsEd, BA Acting

Brittany Sitwell – ArtsEd, BA Acting

Lewis Charlton – National Youth Theatre

Olivia Hespe – National Youth Theatre

Congratulations to all our Foundation students!

For more information see Acting Foundation Course, which is run in association with Lyric Hammersmith, and Musical Theatre Foundation Course. Both courses were designed by Chris Hocking, Deputy Principal and Director of the School of Musical Theatre, and are led by the successful BA (Hons) Acting and Musical Theatre teams.

ArtsEd is delighted to announce that second-year Acting student Cashauna Holland was presented with a Lilian Baylis Award at a recent ceremony at the Old Vic.

Cashauna was equally thrilled: “It was such an honour to hear that I was receiving the award and then to be at the ceremony was nothing short of a dream.”

The awards were presented by renowned actor David Suchet CBE, pictured, who offered the winners advice and encouragement.

Congratulations Cashauna!

The Lilian Baylis Awards, celebrating their 25th anniversary this year, are granted to students from each of the eleven accredited London Drama Schools, to help them complete their training by reducing financial stress. Nominated by their drama schools, students have to fulfil three criteria: show promise, with the potential to make a significant contribution to the development of theatre; experience hardship, with their course completion in jeopardy without additional finance and should have completed two years of a three-year course, or one year of a two-year course.

The awards are dedicated to the memory of Lilian Baylis (1874-1937) who ran The Old Vic Theatre from 1912 until her death. She was committed to ensuring that The Old Vic productions were of the highest quality and that the doors were open to many who could not afford the more established theatres. She was an important figure in developing major venues: The Old Vic National Theatre; Sadler’s Wells Opera, which became the English National Opera; Sadler’s Wells Ballet, which became Birmingham Royal Ballet and the Royal Ballet School.

Click here for more information about the Lilian Baylis Awards.

Izuka Hoyle (above, with Julia McKenzie), who graduates from ArtsEd this summer, has won the prestigious Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year. The SSSSPOTY prize – a silver salver and a cheque for £1,000 – is awarded to the student who, in the opinion of the judges, gives the best performance of their two songs.

Izuka performed ‘Last Midnight’ from Sondheim’s Into the Woods and ‘The Matchmaker', a new song by Claire McKenzie and Scott Gilmour, at the Noel Coward Theatre on Sunday 11 June. Izuka has been rehearsing for the competition alongside appearing in Working at Southwark Playhouse.

The winners were selected by a panel of judges including Rachel Kavanaugh, Simon Lee, Alex Young and Janie Dee chaired by Edward Seckerson, with Julia McKenzie presenting the prizes.

Fellow third-year student Shaq Taylor was named runner-up for his performances of 'Epiphany' from Sondheim's Sweeny Todd and new song ‘Apology to a Child’ by Tom Slade. Shaq took part in the competition just the day before he makes his West End debut in Les Miserables.

“We say every year that the standard gets better and better but this year we saw a real change in the talent on offer. How the judges could choose from such a talented group is beyond me. All three students recognised in the top three were outstanding and are undoubtedly destined for stardom.”
Craig Glenday, Chairman, Stephen Sondheim Society

This year’s competition was directed by ArtsEd’s Deputy Principal Chris Hocking. He was delighted with the result: “The dedication and commitment from all the students is inspiring and the pride that they have in representing their drama school is so great to be a part of.”

The 12 student competitors represented drama schools from across the country including RADA, LAMDA, Royal Welsh College of Music, GSA, Mountview, Italia Conti, Oxford School of Drama and the London College of Music.

We look forward to seeing where all our other talented 2017 students fly off to once they graduate.

Good luck everyone!

Photo credit: David Ovenden