Author Archive

Breakthrough Artist Award 2022- two out of 10 nominations go to ArtsEd BA Acting alumni!

Posted on: July 1st, 2022 by Neil Roig
Sam Creasey (BA Acting 2020) and Gabrielle Creevy (BA Acting 2018) have been nominated for the Breakthrough Artist category in the upcoming South Bank Sky Arts Awards.

They take two of just 10 nominations, that include Emilia Jones for CODA and pop duo Wet Leg.

The South Bank Sky Arts Awards, the first and only awards ceremony to celebrate every genre of the arts, including Dance, Theatre, Pop, TV Drama, Film, Classical Music, Literature, Opera, Comedy and Visual Art – returns on Sunday 10 July at The Savoy Hotel, hosted by Melvyn Bragg.  Previous winners of the Breakthrough Artist category include playwright Samuel Bailey, actors Jessie Buckley and Tom Hiddleston, and musicians Nubya Garcia and Stormzy.

Sam has been nominated for his debut role as Malcolm Polstead, the young hero of the Bridge Theatre’s adaptation of Philip Pullman’s fantasy novel The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage.  Cast just before he graduated in March 2020, Sam finally stepped in front of the audience in November 2021 to outstanding reviews across the board.

Clive Davis of the Times says of Sam:

“What was immediately obvious was that he possessed natural stage presence. There was a rare aura of confidence about him too: it’s hard to believe that when he first took the coach to London from south Wales to begin his drama course, he spent half an hour in the capital, had a coffee, then jumped on the next coach home.”

Gabrielle has been nominated for her role as Bethan, a working-class Cardiff schoolgirl from a troubled home in the magnificent BBC3 drama In My Skin, a role for which she secured a BAFTA in 2019.  Carol Midgely of The Times describes Gabrielle’s performance as:

 “unforgettable, an exquisite balance of the tragic and bleakly comic and so masterfully authentic that sometimes you could be watching a documentary. Creevy ..plays the 16-year-old Bethan beautifully, and with such intelligence and nuance in a totally immersive performance, that it is obvious she is an acting force to be reckoned with.”

You can find out more about the awards here.

We are immensely proud of both Sam and Gabrielle.

5 Reasons to do a Part-Time Foundation course at ArtsEd

Posted on: June 22nd, 2022 by Neil Roig

Our Part-Time Foundation Courses in Acting and Musical Theatre are designed for people who can’t study full-time right now but who are looking to develop their skills and boost their confidence.

Here are five reasons why you should consider applying for ArtsEd’s Part-Time Foundation courses:-

1. ArtsEd is one of the UK’s leading drama schools
Our training is outstanding, demonstrated by the success of graduates from our BA courses in Acting and Musical Theatre.  100% of our 2021 graduates have signed with an agent and over 50% of our 2022 Musical Theatre graduates have already secured jobs, and they only finished their final year of study in June!  In  May 2021 ArtsEd was in the top 10 British Universities for best graduate prospects, alongside Oxford, Cambridge and Imperial College – Office for Students report.

2. They are the perfect preparation for auditions or the industry
Our part-time foundation courses are the perfect kick-start to your Acting or Musical Theatre career! Designed to equip you with the core skills and the confidence to launch yourself onto a full-time course or straight into the industry.

3. They fit perfectly around work or study
Classes take place on weekday evenings, over two intensive terms, fitting seamlessly around your job or other study. Sessions are on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 7.00pm – 9.30pm.

4. Our facilities are excellent
Both courses are based in our recently expanded and upgraded Chiswick home, with new studios and rehearsal spaces, equipped to degree-level specifications, as well as airy welcoming communal spaces.

5. They are economical
At £3,060 or £3,570 are part-time courses are an economical way to hone your skills and explore the benefits and the challenges of vocational training.  What better way to confirm that this is the path you want to follow!


Did you know?
70% of our Part-Time Foundation students received recalls and offers from top drama schools.

ArtsEd Choir Perform Finale at Olivier Awards!

Posted on: May 12th, 2022 by Neil Roig

The ArtsEd Choir (made up of graduating third year students on our BA Musical Theatre degree course) did us proud at the 2022 Olivier Awards ceremony, taking to the stage alongside professional performers to sing Stephen Sondheim’s Our Time. A fitting tribute to Sondheim and an acknowledgement of the incredible efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic to keep theatre alive.

Students studying our Musical Theatre joined the audience at Royal Albert Hall to support their third years, and rubbed shoulders with some celebs as they entered via the ‘Green Carpet’.

Enjoy the whole video below, or skip to 3 minutes when our Choir join the pros and take their place as the next cohort of graduates about to head out into the industry!

 

ArtsEd Easter Courses – Book Now!

Posted on: March 10th, 2022 by Neil Roig

Easter is just around the corner and ArtsEd EXTRA has a host of exciting Easter courses to keep you occupied!

Our holiday short courses are ideal for anyone interested in the performing arts and are led by our amazing team of workshop leaders.

We have courses in: Musical Theatre | Acting | Filmmaking

All courses are created to suit every level of ability and experience, so if you’re a beginner you’re very welcome to start your journey with us, and for those with more skills and experience, you’ll be encouraged to challenge yourself to improve. Classes are fun-filled and operate in a safe, collaborative, and inclusive environment here at our Chiswick location, home to our brand new studios and facilities!

On offer this Easter…

To explore these courses, head to our Holiday and Weekend page here, where you can filter the courses on to ‘Easter’ and then click for more info and to book.

If you have any questions prior to booking, don’t hesitate to contact: extra@artsed.co.uk 

Graduate Interview: Samuel Creasey

Posted on: February 23rd, 2022 by Neil Roig

We visited Samuel Creasey, 2020 graduate of our BA (Hons) degree in Acting,  at the Bridge Theatre, where he is appearing in The Book of Dust – La Belle Sauvage.

We chatted about his experience making his professional stage debut, and how his time at ArtsEd has supported his career so far.

Musical Theatre audition tips – Master your ArtsEd audition!

Posted on: February 3rd, 2022 by Neil Roig

Congratulations, you’re applying for our Musical Theatre courses here at ArtsEd!

You’ve submitted your application, invitations to audition are beginning to land and you have taken the first step on your journey to becoming a professional performer, an ambition you’ve likely had for some time.

There’s a lot for you to get to grips with, including understanding all the different audition requirements, sorting out your travel so you get here in plenty of time, and of course being at your best for the audition panel!

We appreciate that the audition day can be daunting, but we also want you to have as much fun as possible.

There is a lot you can do to ensure you make the most of each opportunity. ArtsEd’s Director of the School of Musical Theatre, Jonathan O’Boyle, is here to help with some top tips for auditionees applying to our Musical Theatre Courses.


The audition day at a glance

The first thing I do is introduce myself and the team that will be auditioning you that day. We talk about the course and then walk you through the day ahead.

We then kick off the audition process with a group warm-up, after which you will be split into two groups. One group will head off to the dance section of the audition, whilst the other group will take part in the singing section, presenting their legit and/or contemporary songs to the panel. After that, the groups switch around.

Once everyone has sung their songs and completed their dance audition, we will let you all know who has been recalled to the afternoon 2nd round audition phase.

The second round of our Musical Theatre audition includes a further dance workshop, a further singing audition and your acting audition where you will work on your monologues. The final part of your day will be an interview with me and/or a senior member of the teaching staff from the School of Musical Theatre.

So that’s the overall shape of an ArtsEd Musical Theatre audition. Here’s what you need to know to best prepare you for your time with us.

Singing

For the singing round you will need to prepare and perform two songs. One should be a ‘legit’ ballad written no later than 1965 (e.g. ‘If I Loved You’ from Carousel, ‘Simple Little Things’ from 110 in the Shade or “On the Street Where You Live’ from My Fair Lady). The other song can be anything of your own choice, providing it’s a contrast to your legit song and it is something you enjoy singing. We always look forward to hearing people’s choices.

You must bring your own copy of the sheet music for the song. It makes sense to make it as easy as possible for the accompanist do the best job they can do for you during your audition. To that end, make sure the music is in the right key, clearly printed and firmly sellotaped at the seams.

For the first round you will be asked to sing a 1-minute cut of each song. Choose your favourite part of the song. This might be the first minute, it might be the last, choose the section that speaks to you the most and that best showcases your voice.

Remember to prepare both songs in full as you will need the full versions for the second round in the afternoon (if you are recalled).

It will help you if you understand the context of the song. Where does it sit within the musical? What happens before the song? What happens after? What is the environment, are you outside? Inside? Is it cold? Warm? What does the character want?

If your song is addressed to someone, imagine who you’re signing to, and place them in the room with you, to the left or right of the panel. If the character is singing to themselves, I recommend singing over the panel’s head. Try to avoid looking at the panel, as we will be taking notes and we don’t want to distract you.

Dance

On the morning of your audition, you will take part in a group jazz class. Don’t worry if you haven’t danced before, all movements will be explained and demonstrated on the day. We are looking for candidates who have potential, not just experience.

All 2nd round recalled candidates will participate in a second dance workshop in the afternoon. During this workshop you will be given more detailed and precise technical information that you will need to apply to a new piece of choreography. Again, don’t worry about lack of experience, if you have got through to the 2nd round, we think you have potential and will explain anything that needs explaining.

You should wear comfortable clothing that you can move freely in (not too tight or loose). You can wear jazz shoes or dance bare foot, but please don’t wear trainers.

Acting

You will need to have prepared two monologues in anticipation of getting through to the 2nd round of the auditions. Each monologue should be a maximum of three minutes long.

One should be from a modern play written after 1990, and the other from a classical play using heightened language. This could be Shakespeare, but we also welcome classical pieces from across the globe. Please choose material you relate to personally and which you find exciting.

As with your songs, you will benefit from having a clear understanding of what the character wants in that moment in time, and how that fits within the wider context of the play. We ask that you perform your monologues in your natural voice. We want to hear you!

Interview

The interview will be an opportunity for us to meet you and get to know you a little more. We are interested in getting to know you as a person, as well as getting to know your skills. I will be asking questions about your interests and aspirations. This will also be your chance to ask any questions that you might have for us about the course.

And remember…

What do we look for in a prospective student?

ArtsEd EXTRA Academy – NEW Filmmaker’s Course!

Posted on: January 24th, 2022 by Neil Roig

Calling all aspiring filmmakers!

We’re launching a brand new Sunday course just for you!

The Young Filmmakers course is perfect for all you budding creatives out there looking to get behind the camera, challenge yourself, and collaborate with others. We provide all the gear so all you need is the imagination and ideas.

The course is for ages 14 – 17+ and you can read all about it (and sign up!) here.

Ruth Cadbury MP visits our A Level Politics students

Posted on: January 24th, 2022 by Neil Roig

Today we were fortunate to be joined Ruth Cadbury MP, to deliver a chat to our year 12, A Level Politics students. 

They got the chance to have a Q&A session, at the end, to discuss the issues that most matter to them. 

For more information about our Sixth Form Curriculum, click here.

A Day In The Life of an MT at ArtsEd!

Posted on: January 22nd, 2022 by Neil Roig

Check out Marianthe’s vlog!

Spend a typical day with a first year BA (Hons) Musical Theatre student.

TV’s Dipo Ola workshop with Foundation Actors

Posted on: January 22nd, 2022 by Neil Roig

ArtsEd’s Foundation Acting course students (led by Steven Kavuma) were treated to a brilliant workshop and Q&A session this Friday with actor, Dipo Ola.

Dipo made his screen debut in the critically acclaimed, and multi-award nominated Channel 4 Series, Baghdad Central. He has gone on to work with the BBC on the cult classic anthology show, Inside No.9 and is now in HBO’s true crime miniseries Landscapers, alongside Olivia Coleman.

For more information about our School of Acting, including the 1-year Foundation course, click here