Yesterday, ArtsEd’s BA Acting and BA Musical Theatre students came dressed in caps and colourful gowns to celebrate the completion of their higher education courses, all qualifying with flying colours.

Surrounded by supportive family members, friends and ArtsEd staff, this year’s graduation was a joyful and memorable occasion with everyone enjoying the prospect of a new and bright future for the ArtsEd graduates.

The ceremony began with an opening speech from ArtsEd’s Principal, Chris Hocking, who addressed the grads with his witty and inspirational words:

“I’m absolutely convinced that you will all go on to brilliant, varied, interesting and stimulating jobs in your journey through the business-of-show.

“As you enter the ‘Theme Park’ of proper adult life you will see lots of different career rides that you didn’t choose. Careers that just go round and round like on a ‘Merry-Go-Round’; careers that push you from pillar to post – like Dodgems; careers that are scary – but then turn out to be quite dull – like a Haunted House. Now you are trained for the best Theme Park ride. You are on the one that everyone wants to go on – but many are far too scared to try. It is of course: THE ROLLERCOASTER!”

The opening speech was shortly followed by addresses from the Head of the Department of the School of Acting, Gareth Farr, and Musical Theatre graduate, Oliver Corbett, and Acting graduate, Thaddea Graham.

Guest Speaker, the amazing triple-threat star of stage and screen, Sharon D Clarke addressed the students with inspirational words sprinkled with practical career advice:

“Make sure you acknowledge everyone working with you along the way with a friendly hello – the cleaners, stage managers and even your dressers!

A ripple of laughter ran through the crowds as Sharon added:

“And remember! Don’t leave your sweaty costumes on the dressing room floor for someone else to clean up!”

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The students were awarded individual certificates by City, University of London, and continued celebrations back at ArtsEd where many graduates signed up to become part of the ArtsEd Alumni Network – ensuring their legacy at ArtsEd lives on.

For the second year running, The Stage Debut Awards celebrate emerging UK talent, showcasing cast and creatives who have made their stage debut over the last twelve months. This year, the categories include: Best Actress in a Play, Best Actor in a Play, Best Actress in a Musical, Best Actor in a Musical, Best Director, Best Designer, and the Joe Allen Best West End Debut Award.

Last September, 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 her acceptance speech Miriam-Teak shared her mother’s advice: ‘what you put in, is what you get out’, and that’s certainly the case with our graduate nominees this year.

We are delighted to announce that three of our 2018 Musical Theatre graduates have been nominated for The Stage Debut Awards 2018. Toby Miles and Amara Okereke for their performances as Marius and Cosette in Les Misérables, and Simon Oskarasson for his Ariel in Return to the Forbidden Planet at the Gatehouse Theatre. Thrilled with his nomination, Simon Oskarsson says:

“Playing Ariel in Return to the Forbidden Planet was exciting, challenging and a lot of fun. Working with such lovely cast, creatives and producers was an amazing first experience in the industry for me, which I’m very thankful for. I feel very honoured, grateful and absolutely over the moon to receive this nomination.”

Shocked and delighted, Toby Miles says:

“Playing such an iconic role in the longest-running musical continues to blow my mind. I am truly honoured to have been nominated for Best Actor in a Musical at The Stage Debut Awards – it was certainly a shock!”

And Amara commented:

“I feel so honoured and very lucky to have been nominated for a stage debut award. I am of course so grateful for my training at ArtsEd, without which I wouldn't be in the situation I am in. I am loving every minute of being in Les Misérables so this nomination is really the cherry on top of a truly wonderful experience.”

Principal and Director of Musical Theatre, Chris Hocking says:

“The Stage Debut Awards are such an exciting way of recognising young talent fresh out of drama school. I am so delighted that 2018 graduates, Amara, Toby and Simon have been nominated for their outstanding contributions. We wish all the nominees a wonderful evening celebrating their debuts.”

The winners will be announced on Sunday 23 September. Find the full list of nominees here.

Looking to support new talent? Then why not become an ArtsEd Friend? By becoming a Friend of ArtsEd, you will ensure that talent and passion will win out over financial hardship. Your support will directly enable our extraordinary gifted young students to fulfil their true potential as artists and performers. Find out more and sign up today!

Once again, ArtsEd’s Day School has produced an excellent set of GCSE results with 100% of students securing six GCSEs with many students securing eight, nine, and even ten.
 
With the introduction of the new Top Grade of ‘9’, equivalent to A** (compared to the 8 previous grades from A*- G), ArtsEd has seen a third of students achieve this new grade in one or more subjects, and over 30% of all exam results were the highest grades of 7, 8, or 9.
 
Adrian Blake, ArtsEd’s Day School and Sixth Form Headteacher said:
 
“We are delighted that our Year 11 students have done so well in their exams especially with the changing landscape of GCSEs. To achieve so many Top Grades just shows how multi-talented our students really are, and I am enormously proud of each and every one of them”.

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Day School Student Matt Oliver said:
 
“I’m over the moon with my results. I’ve put my heart and soul into my studies and it’s really paid off.
 
“Our teachers at ArtsEd don’t just teach, they support us with other vital aspects, such as organisation and managing stress. I could not have achieved this without the support of my teachers.”
 
Day School Student Francesca Causer said:
 
“ArtsEd is a stepping stone not just in education but also in how you change as a person – I’ve learnt how to feel confident in myself and how to do well.”
 
“The teaching is excellent – it is a principal factor in the high levels of achievement at all levels”.  ISI Report
 
Current ArtsEd Day School and Sixth Form students have recently performed in West End productions of Matilda, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and Kinky Boots alongside countless alumni. Alumna Samantha Barks takes on Julia Robert’s role in the premiere of Pretty Woman on Broadway, alumnus Thomas Dennis is playing the lead of Albert in the National Theatre’s UK tour of War Horse, Elena Skye is playing Eponine in Les Misérables on the West End and Hollywood’s new Charlie’s Angels line-up features alumna Ella Balinska.
 
If you are interested in joining our Day School or Sixth Form, sign up for ArtsEd’s upcoming Open Evenings.

Sixth Form (Yr 12 Entry) – Tuesday 25 September at 6pm
Day School (Yrs 7-10 Entry) – Wednesday 26 September at 6pm

We are delighted that, for the second year running, ArtsEd has been ranked as the top drama school for overall student satisfaction in the 2018 National Student Survey.

Over 320,000 students from right across the UK take part in the survey, answering questions about their course, institution and learning experience in general.

ArtsEd are delighted to have maintained the title of top drama school for overall satisfaction in NSS 2018, with 95% saying that they were happy with their training.

Industry preparation is key in the performing arts and this year’s survey results demonstrate ArtsEd’s success in this area, with 100% of respondents agreeing that  have received good career advice during their time here and that their time at ArtsEd has provided them with the practical skills to learn and achieve. 

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 the 2018 NSS proves that: 90% of students feel that their voice is heard, compared to the sector average of 69%.”

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

The Lyric Hammersmith and one of the UK’s leading performing arts schools, ArtsEd, are proud to announce the launch of a new bursary scheme on the Foundation Acting course at ArtsEd. This bursary, funded by ArtsEd, will allow one Young Lyric member to complete the 10-month Foundation course starting in September 2018.

The Foundation course develops participants’ skills in preparation for degree level training. An exciting and innovative industry connection, unique to ArtsEd and the Lyric, is that half the classes are delivered at ArtsEd and half take place at The Lyric Hammersmith.

The bursary has been one of the outcomes of three years of working in partnership with ArtsEd who run both their Foundation Acting and Musical Theatre courses from the Lyric building. The students are an integral part of the Lyric building; they are enrolled as Young Lyric members, and participate in workshops and performing arts projects within the Lyric’s facilities. Several of the students also gain employment experience from working in the building as ushers. The bursary student will continue to be supported by the Lyric as well as their course tutors at ArtsEd.

The Lyric is pleased to be able to offer this opportunity as part of its ongoing commitment to giving young people from all backgrounds at every level of experience and training access to the arts. The Lyric’s programmes including Young Lyric, the flagship START programme for 16 – 21 year olds who are NEET, the Lyric Ensemble company of young actors, as well as many other projects and activities, have a proven record of supporting young people from a wide range of backgrounds offering different pathways into the theatre industry. The ArtsEd bursary scheme will enable the Lyric to build on this work and help contribute to greater diversity amongst the UK’s drama schools.

The young person selected for this bursary has completed several projects at the Lyric including the flagship START programme for marginalised 16-21 year olds not in education, employment or training (NEET).

Sean Holmes, Artistic Director of Lyric Hammersmith Said;

“We are delighted that through this bursary, the Lyric and ArtsEd have ensured a life-changing opportunity for a highly talented young person. An opportunity that might not have been obtainable without this significant investment.”

Chris Hocking, Principal of ArtsEd said:

“We are thrilled to strengthen our ongoing partnership with the Lyric, Hammersmith by offering a full scholarship to a Young Lyric member for our outstanding Foundation Acting Programme. They will not only benefit from ArtsEd’s outstanding tutors using the fantastic Lyric facilities but also will be part of the supportive and inclusive ArtsEd student body. We hope that this is just the beginning of a fruitful partnership – a collaborative approach to widening participation to the performing arts scene in west London.”

Read The Stage article HERE.

For talented young people in this country, financial pressures mean that many students of great promise face the prospect of turning down their place or even leaving their course before finishing. ArtsEd provides support where it can, but not to everyone that needs it. The generous support of individuals plays a vital role in the creation of the next generation of exceptional talent – enabling extraordinary young students to fulfil their true potential as artists and performers. 

Find out more about how you can help our gifted young students by making a donation or becoming an ArtsEd Friend today.

Become an ArtsEd Friend

This week has seen a double award success for ArtsEd’s BA (Hons) Musical Theatre graduate Alex Cardall and third year BA (Hons) Acting student Laura Meredith. Each student has been awarded £5,000 to help towards their living costs as they both embark on the next leg of their performing arts journey.

21 year-old Alex Cardall from Solihull was the first winner of the brand new Rising Star Award, given to a graduate of the Musical Theatre BA programme for outstanding talent and effort demonstrated throughout all three years of their training.

The prize money will help Alex to support himself as he continues onwards with his professional career and as he makes his stage debut in Sweet Charity at the Watermill Theatre in Newbury later this year.

Intended to provide much needed financial support to a Musical Theatre graduate in the first year of their professional career, the Rising Star Award will ensure that Alex and others in the coming years can continue into the industry with a degree of financial security, whilst also strengthening ArtsEd’s mission to provide students and graduates with support in as many ways as possible.

The Rising Star initiative has been created and donated by an anonymous donor with a long-standing passion for musical theatre who approached ArtsEd after seeing numerous outstanding graduates in West End shows. Alongside the Rising Star award, their generous philanthropy also supports two annual bursaries for exceptional third year students of Musical Theatre.

After watching Alex develop over the years, the Principal of ArtsEd and Head of Musical Theatre, Chris Hocking said:

“Alex is not only an extremely talented triple-threat Musical Theatre performer but he also embodies the ArtsEd ethos of professionalism, dedication, generosity and humility.”

Rising Star Award recipient Alex Cardall said:

“I am delighted to receive this Rising Star Award. I can start my career at the Watermill Theatre in Newbury feeling more financially supported and I am really grateful for that.

“Being at ArtsEd has been a life-changing experience for me. I’ve received world-class training and have made friends and contacts for life – I can now go out into the world as a professional with the richness and diversity of this learning and make my dreams come true.”

Laura Meredith from Hull continues into her third year at ArtsEd’s School of Acting, as the recipient of one of the Sir John Gielgud Charitable Trust Awards that are received by well-deserved students across many of the UK’s drama schools every year.

This award commemorates the life and work of Sir John Gielgud who dedicated his entire life to the arts, both on stage and screen. Twenty-two John Gielgud bursaries are awarded amongst drama schools annually to help drama students in their final year propel into their future careers and ease the pressure of financial hardship.

Throughout her time at ArtsEd, Laura has proved her dedication and strong work ethic amongst colleagues and teachers.

Laura’s second year director said:

“Laura is a committed and much valued member of the ensemble… she has the toolkit and skills to bring authenticity and presence to each performance – a pleasure to work with.”

Laura’s dedication to the arts stretches beyond her course as she inspires young children and adults in her home City of Hull, helping out with Youth Theatre classes at Hull Truck Theatre and offering arts-related career advice.

Excited about the year to come, Laura says:

“Receiving the John Gieldgud Award enables me to enter my final year of training feeling  much more financially supported – I can now focus on this integral year with confidence and more security.

“ArtEd has provided me with quality training and opportunities beyond my wildest dreams. Working with world-class professionals every day amongst the school’s safe, personal, challenging and creative performing arts environment means I am having the time of my life and growing to become the professional I want to be.”

For talented young people in this country, financial pressures mean that many students of great promise face the prospect of turning down their place or even leaving their course before finishing. ArtsEd provides support where it can, but not to everyone that needs it. The generous support of individuals plays a vital role in the creation of the next generation of exceptional talent – enabling extraordinary young students to fulfil their true potential as artists and performers. 

Find out more about how you can help our gifted young students by making a donation or becoming an ArtsEd Friend today.

Yesterday, ArtsEd Day School and Sixth Form celebrated the end of another academic year at our annual Prize Giving. The ceremony opened with Head Teacher, Adrian Blake, recounting highlights of 2017/18 shows and events and underlining the increasing importance of the arts during a time when its place in the curriculum is continuously under threat. The Prize Giving ceremony and performances were a joyous celebration of the arts in a time of unrest; with dynamic dancing, awe-inspiring acting and belting ballads.

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The central message of the day was beautifully summed up in a Mayo Angelou quote from Principal, Chris Hocking:

“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

This sentiment was echoed in speeches from: Jamie McLelland (Year 7), Millie Mahoney (Year 11) and Joshua Orpin (Year 13), who all agreed that ArtsEd is a unique and joyous place to study and train; Joshua is delighted to be staying on at ArtsEd for a further three years to study for a BA(Hons) in Musical Theatre.

The talent and commitment of all of our students was proved further in the awarding of an array of prizes in numerous performance and academic categories.

Congratulations to all who won awards at Prize Giving 2018!

It's with great sadness that we learn of the death of Dame Gillian Lynne – celebrated choreographer of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical CATS, among many others, and longstanding and dedicated ArtsEd patron.

Principal Chris Hocking says:

“Gillie was an inspiration to everyone that worked with her. What an honour it was to have Gillie work on CATS at ArtsEd in 2010. She treated the students like professionals and they all learned so much from her wonderful knowledge, passion and wicked sense of humour. Dame Gillian changed the face of Musical Theatre in the UK and we will always be in her debt for this. I was luckily enough to see her last week at the naming party Gillian Lynne Theatre in the West End – a fitting tribute to one of the all-time Dance and Musical Theatre greats. She still had naughty sense of humour and an eagle-eye for detail. Our thoughts are with her husband Peter and family at this time.”

ArtsEd President, Andrew Lloyd Webber, paid tribute to Dame Gillian on Twitter: “Farewell dearest Gillie, three generations of the British musical owe so much to you.”

While Elaine Paige, who played the lead in the original production of CATS, remembers her “dear friend and teacher”.

Based on Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by TS Eliot, the show opened in May 1981 with Elaine Paige, Bonnie Langford (ArtsEd alumna) and Paul Nicholas among its cast.

Last month Dame Gillian attended a special ceremony in her honour hosted by Lord Lloyd Webber and producer Cameron Mackintosh. The New London Theatre, the original London home of CATS, is now known as the Gillian Lynne Theatre – the first West End venue named after a non-royal woman.

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Dame Gillian Lynne enjoyed a long and illustrious career. Chosen as a teenager by Dame Ninette de Valois to join Sadler’s Wells Ballet during the Second World War, she was quickly promoted to Leading Soloist and spent eight years in the company. She then moved to the London Palladium as their star dancer while acting and dancing in films with Errol Flynn, Arthur Askey and Anthony Newley. Gillian was instrumental in the development of jazz dance in Britain and her distinctive style – a fusion of classical and jazz – led to her groundbreaking work on the world famous CATS. In 1981 Dame Gillian took on Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical which ran for almost 9,000 performances in London. She also worked on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s record-breaking hit Phantom of the Opera for which she provided the musical staging and choreography – one of more than 60 Broadway and West End shows she has helped mastermind.

Gillian Lynne’s television direction and choreography won her the Best Arts Programme BAFTA, while she received the RAD’s Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Award for services to Ballet and she has been given the freedom of the city of Vienna for her production of CATS, the first proscenium version. She was made a Dame in 2014 for her services to Dance and Musical Theatre.

Group photo shows Dame Gillian with Andrew Lloyd Webber, Cameron Mackintosh and dancers from CATS at the renaming of the New London Theatre in June 2018.   Photo: Craig Sugden