08.10.2025
The atmosphere at Arts Educational Schools (ArtsEd) was electric on Tuesday, 2 September, as the BA (Hons) Acting and BA (Hons) Musical Theatre Class of 2025 celebrated their Graduation – a day of monumental achievement made even more extraordinary by one fact: every single graduating student secured agent representation before the ceremony’s conclusion. This unprecedented success is not just a testament to the students’ exceptional talent and dedication, but a powerful affirmation of ArtsEd’s performing arts BA (Hons) programme and its unwavering commitment to forging industry-ready artists.
Completing three years at one of the most prestigious drama schools is “no. mean. feat.,” as Alumni and Guest Speaker, Georgina Onuorah (Class of 2020) noted. This moment marks not just a bittersweet ending, but a “magical new beginning” for a cohort ready to step onto the world stage.
From Studio to Stage: The Niche and Transformative Training
The journey through ArtsEd’s triple-threat training is famously rigorous, often involving a kaleidoscope of artistic and physical challenges. The graduates celebrated the “really niche experience” that saw them jump from trying to “master a grand allegro” and “figuring out how to tilt your larynx,” to the often-humorous moments in acting class.
As BA (Hons) Acting graduate, Isabel Barden reflected on the early days: “In Term One brought projects… [that involved] rehearsing how an… owl flies down to its nest and how slow a sloth can move.” They had truly “done it all,” moving through everything from animal studies to complex final-year shows. The goal of this intensive process, as Beau Lonergan, BA (Hons) Musical Theatre graduate, articulated, is for ArtsEd to accept people who have potential and from their foundations “builds up skyscrapers of performers,” grounding their work on a base of skill and wisdom.
This intense environment naturally led to deep bonds. Thinking back to their first voice class, where everyone felt like a “complete stranger,” the first year gave way to a lasting legacy. The ArtsEd BA programme Class of 2025 became “a family who have gotten each other through, who have witnessed each other stumbling and soaring, who have made epic art together.”
The Superpower of Self: Authenticity is Your Asset
The speeches delivered on the day consistently championed the importance of embracing one’s own unique identity—a crucial piece of advice for the tough and unpredictable industry ahead.
Onuorah, reflecting on her own unexpected path, shared how being a “shy tween with a socially debilitating stutter” led to a hidden strength: the love of listening. “Your training doesn’t end here—listening well is a skill that will only make your work richer,” she advised, concluding with the powerful message: “whatever makes you different is your superpower.”
This message of authenticity was reinforced by a hilarious first-audition anecdote: after weeks of perfecting a song, scene, and walk, she “walked into the room and stacked it so hard the casting team gasped in acknowledgment.” Instead of crumbling, she laughed, the casting team laughed, and it broke the ice. “That was the first job I booked.” It proved the key lesson: “never stop bringing our authentic selves into those rooms, because that is our most valuable asset.” The industry needs you “Just as you are.”
Building a Legacy: Kindness, Competition, and Community
The Class of 2025 leaves a vibrant legacy, exemplified by moments of shared joy, determination, and collaboration. They were the first year to stage a completely self-created, self-directed showcase in the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation Theatre, creating an electric atmosphere for their peers. Even in the face of inevitable “bad days” and tears, they were pushed through by “the little voices of encouragement of ‘you’ve got this’ in the locker rooms” from their year group.
The gratitude for the dedicated ArtsEd staff was palpable, with thanks spanning the entire building, from the teachers who are the “back bone to our education” to the site staff who keep the beautiful building “functioning, clean and safe.” Specific praise was given to those who “guided us to be screen stars,” taught them improvisation, and even those who “literally taught a whole year group how to hip-hop,” despite not being the musical theatre course.
Ultimately, the graduates were praised for their “passion and fight,” for having “stuck up for each other, fought for what is right and encouraged each other to learn and grow as individuals.” They hope to continue their professional lives with “kindness and a consideration to others wherever we go.”
The Adventure is Only Just Beginning
With the astounding achievement of 100% agent representation, the newest ArtsEd Alumni are exceptionally well-positioned for their careers. They are reminded that the journey is “yours. You are the driver.”
As they embark, the advice is to be patient with themselves and focus on what truly matters. “Don’t compare yourselves to others, we are all unique and our moments will come at different points in our lives.” Furthermore, they are urged to remember that “Acting doesn’t go anywhere”, and to make sure they “feel purpose and motivated in other forms away from acting.”
The graduation is not an end, but a transformation, encapsulated by a beloved quote from Into the Woods: “The difference between a cow and a bean, is a bean can begin an adventure.”
ArtsEd was that very bean, and the adventure is only just beginning. We look forward to seeing this talented group go boldly, with joy, dignity, and skill, in pursuit of excellence.
