We are thrilled to announce outstanding BTEC and A-Levels results achieved by our Sixth Form students this year.

Students enjoyed success in both BTEC and A-Levels:

BTEC

• 92% secured D*D*D* to DDD (Distinction star to Distinction). This is equivalent in UCAS points to 3 A*’s to 3 A’s at A level.
• 78% received D*D*D* (equivalent to 3 A*’s at A level)

A-Level:

• 82% of A Levels taken were graded A*- C

Combined: (including BTEC equivalent UCAS points)

• 94% of all exams taken were graded or equivalent to A*- C

Mark Ferrington, Director of Sixth Form said

I am so pleased with the individual achievements of our students this year. They should all be so proud of their hard work and dedication over the past two years, what a great set of results. Thank you to all our teachers, parents and carers who have supported our young people during their time at ArtsEd Sixth Form.  We wish all our students the very best of luck as they move forward onto the next chapter of their journey.

Lizzie Bellamy, Head of BTEC, had the following message for students:

Congratulations to our Year 13 BTEC students. You should be proud of what you have each achieved. You have shown great strength and vigour throughout the past two years. I hope you can all look back on your journey with us with pride, knowing that you can overcome any challenge if you put your mind to it. We look forward to hearing of your future successes. Keep motivated, open, and share your creative voice.

If you are interested in learning more about life at ArtsEd Day School and Sixth Form, why not join us at our upcoming Open Evenings this September! Register today and share the link with others who might be interested.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Register now

ArtsEd BA Acting student, Jake Evans has been awarded a financial bursary to help him complete his training, having successfully auditioned for a panel of theatre industry professionals. The Society of London Theatre (SOLT) awarded a total of £79,000 in Laurence Olivier Bursaries for 2023 to 17 deserving students from drama schools across the UK, and Jake is among the deserving recipients.

Recognising Exceptional Talent
The Laurence Olivier Bursaries were established by SOLT in 1987 on the occasion of Laurence Olivier’s 80th birthday. These bursaries aim to provide vital financial assistance to exceptional students who are entering their final year of drama school and may face financial challenges that could jeopardise their studies. This year, the bursaries have been awarded to 17 talented students from drama schools across the UK, further emphasising the significance of this achievement.

A History of Success
Esteemed actors such as Denise Gough, Bryony Hannah, Paterson Joseph, Ewan McGregor, Daniel Rigby, Vinette Robinson, Juma Sharkah, Michaela Coel, and Michael Sheen have all been recipients of the Laurence Olivier Bursary. This legacy highlights the recognition and support that this prestigious award brings to emerging talents.

The Audition Process
Nominees for the Laurence Olivier Bursary are put forward by drama schools across the UK. These aspiring actors are then auditioned on a West End stage and interviewed by a panel of distinguished theatre industry professionals. This year, the auditions took place at St Martin’s Theatre, creating a unique opportunity for students to showcase their skills and potential in a professional setting.

Well done Jake! We’re immensely proud and look forward to seeing you light up stage and screen in your third, and final, year of training with us.

In an exciting turn of events, Prime Minister Philip Davis of the Bahamas paid a momentous visit to ArtsEd as part of his delegation’s trip to London for the coronation of King Charles.

The prime minister’s connection with ArtsEd was facilitated by Ian Poitier, a director and government advisor for the Bahamas in the field of arts. Poitier, who directed ArtsEd’s Principal, Dr. Julie Spencer, in the 2007 film “Oh Happy Days,” played a pivotal role in arranging the meeting. It is worth highlighting that Poitier himself is an esteemed alumnus of ArtsEd, having graduated in 1988 as the first black student admitted to the Musical Theatre course.

During his visit, Prime Minister Davis embarked on a comprehensive tour of ArtsEd’s state-of-the-art facilities, immersing himself in the institution’s creative environment and even attending some degree-level lessons. This first-hand experience provided him with valuable insight into the rigorous training and artistic excellence offered at ArtsEd.

Joining the prime minister on this inspiring tour was Miriam-Teak Lee, a highly regarded ArtsEd alumna and recipient of the prestigious Olivier Award. Lee, renowned for her exceptional talent and accomplishments in the performing arts industry, graciously shared her personal experiences as a former ArtsEd student. Her presence further underscored the significant contributions the school makes in nurturing and shaping artistic talent.

Expressing her gratitude for Prime Minister Davis’s visit, Dr. Julie Spencer, Principal of ArtsEd, stated, “We are deeply honoured to host Prime Minister Philip Davis and his esteemed team at ArtsEd. Our institution has always championed the power of collaboration and cultural exchange, and we eagerly look forward to exploring potential partnerships with the Bahamas.”

The discussions throughout the visit centred around fostering cultural exchanges, nurturing talent, and embracing diversity. The visit served as a powerful reminder of the profound impact that the arts can have in uniting people and creating a more vibrant and interconnected world. ArtsEd remains committed to its mission of cultivating creativity and providing a platform for artistic expression that transcends borders.

Photo: Disha Fraser

ArtsEd made an elegant return to the  annual Olivier Awards on Sunday night at the Royal Albert Hall, when our graduating BA Musical Theatre students performed alongside Shanay Holmes during the In Memoriam section of the ceremony. The choir accompanied Shanay in a spotless performance of Jonathan Larson’s Seasons of Love; a moving tribute to shining lights of the industry who have passed away in the last twelve months.

Taking part in such a prestigious ceremony was a wonderful experience for the students who were thrilled to be a part of such a moving moment in the event.

Performing as a year group at the Olivier Awards was an absolute joy and an honour. It was such a fantastic, inspiring experience and an incredible way to round off the best three years of training!
Eleanor Peach, BA Musical Theatre ’23

If you missed the live performance, you can still catch up below. As the students move on to the next phase of their careers, this performance serves as a reminder of the bright futures that surely await them. You can also visit the official Olivier Awards website to see the full list of the evening’s winners and other highlights from the ceremony.

Photo: Christie Goodwin

As part of Sign Language Week, ArtsEd are delighted to celebrate the fact that they are the first UK drama school to embed British Sign Language into the curriculum.

ArtsEd’s student cohort is notably diverse with a curriculum that reflects the richness of cultural references and experiences of the students, as well as a focus on the ever-evolving developments in the creative industries.

ArtsEd Principal, Dr Julie Spencer says:

As the sector works to develop its inclusion of the deaf and hard of hearing community both on and off stage, ArtsEd is equipping students with communication skills that will help to support this integration in the long-term.  Expanding the BA Acting curriculum to include BSL was a natural step in the ongoing development of a course that is both contemporary and inclusive.

BSL is integrated into the first year of the BA Acting degree, with a first term module developed in collaboration with Rupal Chandi, a leading BSL tutor, with in-depth experience of working with performers and as a Deaf Consultant for theatre.

In their first term, students have weekly classes with Rupal, exploring the use of visual communication with the support of BSL. Using facial expression, body language, placement and fingerspelling. This insight into communication beyond voice encourages students to explore the physicality of language in other areas of curriculum.

1^st Year BA Acting student Saphira Wing says:-

Learning BSL with Rupal has really helped me to progress as a performer, particularly implementing what we’ve learnt into our project work.  Not only has it allowed my performances and learning to be more dynamic and positively challenging, it has also highlighted the importance of inclusive practice in the performing arts, to me and to the rest of my cohort.  Working with Rupal has highlighted the multifaceted nature of communication and I hope prepared us to be part of the change that will make the industry more facilitating and accessible to everyone.

The success of the pilot project in September 2021 has led to BSL being embedded further, and it is now included in the contemporary physical theatre and verbatim theatre modules  in the second term. Students work with Rupal and external directors, blending BSL into their performances.  Rupal says:-

Working with Arts Ed so far has been an amazing challenge, we are constantly changing and developing how we incorporate BSL into the students learning and projects. I enjoy supporting them in exploring the benefits of BSL being used within their performances.

Find out more about ArtsEd’s Acting courses here

The magic of theatre was alive and well on Friday, February 10th, as 9 cast members from the original West End production of “A Chorus Line” made a surprise appearance at the evening performance. The students, who are in their third and final year, were left speechless and in awe of the legendary cast members, who shared their experiences and provided a valuable learning opportunity for the aspiring performers.

The musical, “A Chorus Line,” first opened its doors in the West End at the historic Theatre Royal Drury Lane in 1976, and it quickly became a hit, running for three years and winning the Laurence Olivier Award as Best Musical of the Year in 1976, the first year the awards were presented. The original British cast took over the production in 1977.

The surprise appearance by the cast members provided a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the students, who had the chance to meet and interact with the legends themselves. The cast shared their experiences and offered advice to the students, who were eager to absorb every bit of knowledge they could from the seasoned performers.

The appearance of the cast members was a testament to the lasting impact that “A Chorus Line” has had on the world of musical theatre. The musical has been performed all over the world, and it continues to be a beloved show, inspiring new generations of performers.

Thank you to our trustee, and original cast member, Cherry Dickins, for making this happen.

If you are auditioning for our School of Acting (BA Hons Acting, Foundation Acting, MA Acting) you’ll need to prepare and send a self-taped audition as part of your application.

Self-tapes are part of everyday life for a professional actor; they’ve been used in the TV and film industry for many years and are increasingly used for theatre auditions as well. But if you’re just starting out on your actor training journey, we understand that self-tapes can be a bit of a mystery, even quite daunting.

Don’t worry! We’ve got you.

ArtsEd’s Director of the School of Acting, an Actor and Director, Kim Vithana, has provided some top tips for auditionees applying to our School of Acting. Keep reading for her guide to a successful self-tape.

For details on what you need to present in your tapes and how to choose a monologue, please visit our auditions page and select the course you are applying for.

Kim’s steps to self-tape success

You must record a brief ident to introduce yourself by stating your:

• Name
• Age
• Where you’re from
• The pieces you are presenting (name of character and play)

Your ident should be delivered straight to the camera, and my top tip is: don’t overthink this bit! Treat your ident as the equivalent of walking into a room and introducing yourself to the panel – show us a bit of your personality. Be enthusiastic about the characters you’ve chosen. If you’re engaging in your ident, we’ll be more engaged when watching you!

Let’s cover the technical aspects of filming your pieces:

• For the classical piece, you should film yourself in a ‘wide’ shot (meaning we want to see you full-length or as much of your body as the space will allow). Your classical piece should be treated like a soliloquy, and be delivered straight to camera.
• Your contemporary piece should be filmed as a close up of your face – but not too close! Head and shoulders are fine. The contemporary piece can be delivered in the same way as your classical, or it can be aimed just above the camera if that makes sense for the piece.
• Always film self-tapes Landscape not portrait.

My main piece of advice regarding the positioning of the camera and body/face is that we don’t want to see the side of your face!

How to perform your acting monologues for audition:

1. My first top tip is this: do not attempt to do ‘acting for camera’. We want to see a theatrical performance.
2. If you are recalled to the second round, which will be in-person, part of that audition will be a screen test. At the first self-tape stage we want to see how you would perform as if you were in the room with us.
3. Use your natural voice – don’t affect an accent or do a ‘voice’ to fit the character. We want to hear YOU.
4. Wear comfortable clothing. Don’t attempt to dress as the character or wear a costume.
5. No make-up, and hair should be tied back so that we can see your face.
6. Don’t use props.
7. Don’t use background music.
8. Please don’t overthink it or attempt to film multiple takes in order to choose the ‘best’ one. You should film each monologue no more than 3 times and choose the best one from the 3 to send to us.
9. Don’t copy a famous version of your chosen monologue from YouTube!

What are we looking for in our Acting auditionees?

This is one of the most common questions we are asked regarding applications and auditions, and the answer is actually very simple.

• We want to see YOU and who you are!
• We want to see your enthusiasm (for the piece and for the process).
• We’re looking for your commitment to the choices you make. We may not agree with your choices, but that’s fine as long as you commit to them.
• Be bold!
• We’re interested in the decisions that you make as an actor and how you have interpreted the pieces. Make them your own.
• There is only one of YOU – we are looking for the unique qualities that make you who you are, so show us. We want to see your individual creativity.

Here’s my final top tip, and it’s a very important one:

• We are not looking for perfection or for the finished product, meaning we do not expect you to be a polished, trained actor – that’s what drama school is for! We are looking for potential.

Be brave, be bold and enjoy yourself. I look forward to seeing your tapes.

Kim Vithana

DOs and DON’Ts for your acting audition:

We are delighted to announce that two of eight nominations in The Stage Debut awards have gone to recent alumni of ArtsEd’s BA (Hons) Acting course.

Samuel Creasey (2020) has been nominated for his “ hugely endearing performance” as Malcolm, the lead role in Philip Pullman’s THE BOOK OF DUST at the Bridge Theatre.

Michael Workeye (2019) has been nominated for his “scene-stealing turn as younger brother and aspiring grime artist Yosi, full of swagger and surliness” in THE HOUSE OF IFE at The Bush Theatre.

The Stage Debut awards, in association with ATG, recognise breakthrough theatre talent and categories include emerging writers, designers, directors and composers, as well as performers.

The Stage editor Alistair Smith said:

“Judging these awards has, as ever, been a complete joy. We have a wonderful set of nominees. They reflect the artistic flair, skill and diversity of the next generation of theatrical talent who will ensure that British theatre thrives in the years to come. We can’t wait to celebrate their achievements next month.”

Mark Cornell, chief executive officer of ATG, said:

“ATG is thrilled to be supporting British theatre’s emerging talent through The Stage Debut Awards. At ATG we know that people are at the heart of successful theatre and that new ideas and voices are essential to bringing great live experiences to new audiences. We look forward to being part of an exceptional night celebrating professional debuts at these awards.”

Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on September 18 2022.

You can read the full list of nominees here.

We are proud to announce a superb crop of BTEC and A Level results secured by our sixth formers this year. 

We have been delighted to welcome back friends and family this year to see students showcase their talents in a full schedule of productions, both in-house and beyond, including at the Lyric Hammersmith and the Pleasance. Our school Prize Giving Ceremony in July at the Cambridge Theatre was a particular highlight for the Sixth Formers. Enjoying a full year of face-to-face academic studies has also been a pleasure for students and staff alike.

Students enjoyed success in both BTEC and A-Levels:

BTEC

• 96% secured D*D*D* to DDD (Distinction star to Distinction). This is equivalent in UCAS points to 3 A*’s to 3 A’s at A level.
• 74% received D*D*D* (equivalent to 3 A*’s at A level)

A-Level:

• 85% of A Levels taken were graded A*- C,
• 54% of A Levels taken were graded A*- B

Combined: (including BTEC equivalent UCAS points)

• 90% of all exams taken were graded or equivalent to A*- B

Mark Ferrington, Director of Sixth Form said

After a tough few years, I am thrilled to see that dedication and hard work of our young people has paid off with a fantastic set of results. We hope that the students are as proud of their achievements as we are!

Lizzie Bellamy, Head of BTEC, had the following message for students:

Congratulations to our Year 13 students. You should be proud of what you have each achieved. You have shown great strength and vigour throughout the past two years. I hope you can all look back on your journey with us with pride, knowing that you can overcome any challenge if you put your mind to it. We look forward to hearing of your future successes. Keep motivated, open, and share your creative voice.

If you are interested in learning more about life at ArtsEd Day School and Sixth Form, why not join us at our upcoming Open Evenings this September!   Register today and share the link with others who might be interested.

We look forward to seeing you soon!