Skip to main content
Read page text
page 6
News Bristol Old Vic Theatre School closes undergraduate courses The conservatoire drama school will not admit any new undergraduate students from September Bristol Old Vic Theatre School has announced that it will be axing all of its undergraduate courses. The conservatoire drama school cited ‘recent challenges’ making its undergraduate training model ‘financially unsustainable’ as the reason for the closure. In a statement published yesterday, Bristol Old Vic Theatre School has confirmed that it will no longer be accepting applications for its undergraduate degree programmes and will not be admitting any new undergraduate students from September 2025. The school will continue to provide postgraduate training and short courses. Bristol Old Vic Theatre School principal and CEO Fiona Francombe says: ‘By taking this decision now we are able to plan for the next two academic years calmly, and with our students’ best interests at heart. It is our intention to create a long-term sustainable future for the School where we can deliver high calibre training for which the School is renowned but we need time and space to work through the options and our current focus must be on existing students and staff. We have always been known for producing extraordinary work, training wonderfully talented people, and reaching audiences of all ages. This legacy will continue as we begin this new chapter of our story.’ The school specifically mentions ‘capping of student fees, restrictions to international student visas, cuts in grants, and increases in costs of living and teaching’ and ‘the OfS’ recent announcement that it would not be accepting applications for self-registration until August 2025 at the earliest’ as contributing factors to its financial challenges. Bristol Old Vic Theatre School has confirmed it will work with the University of the West of England, its degree validating body, to ensure the experiences of current students are unaffected and that they will be able to complete their degree courses as planned. Drama Studio London launches new Foundation Diploma in Performance The course offers training in the fundamentals of performance to prepare students for undergraduate study Drama Studio London (DSL) has announced a new course aimed at providing an introduction to professional acting for stage and screen. Professional Acting course, or on one of the performing arts degrees provided by the London College of Music. Applications for the 2025-26 intake of the Foundation Diploma in Performance are now open, ahead of the course start date on 13 October 2025. Qualifications from both Drama Studio London and London College of Music are validated by the University of West London (UWL). The acting school’s new Foundation Diploma in Performance is intended for students aged 18 and over who wish to gain acting experience and offers an alternative further education option to other three-year programmes. The diploma will be taught across 24 weeks, with tuition spread across three terms and 30 hours of tuition per week. Students will be trained by DSL’s resident faculty and freelance professionals, including modules in performing text, the audition process and introduction to screen and audio acting. Emma Lucia Hands, director of Drama Studio London, says: ‘We hope to attract talented individuals who will benefit from the care and attention we can provide, offering confidence and technique to performers in the early stages of their creative careers.’ The course costs £9,535 for UK students and £16,500 for international students, and offers students a Level Four qualification, a showreel and the chance to perform in an end of term showcase at a London Theatre. Graduates will also be offered the opportunity to secure a place on Drama Studio London’s three‑year 6 Drama & Theatre Spring Term 2 2024/25 www.dramaandtheatre.co.uk
page 7
News RWCMD appoints Dame Shirley Bassey as president Dame Shirley will be president of Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama for the next three years The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (RWCMD) has announced that Dame Shirley Bassey will join the college as its president for the next three years. She succeeds HM King Charles who was president of the college before his accession, MCTERNAN IRSTEN K and was confirmed as continuing as its patron earlier this year. The announcement comes as RWCMD’s 75th anniversary celebrations draw to a close. In this honorary role Dame Shirley will support the College’s work as the national conservatoire of Wales. The appointment builds on her more than two decades-long relationship with the college as an RWCMD Fellow. The college’s Dame Shirley Bassey Studio is in recognition of this relationship and she has endowed a valuable singing scholarship in her name. Bassey says: ‘Over the 22 years that I have been involved with this very exciting place of training, I have seen first-hand how much it has to offer and how exceptional the students who choose to study in my home city of Cardiff are. As RWCMD president, it will give me the greatest pleasure to continue to champion the vital importance of the College to Wales and to the arts everywhere in the world.’ RWCMD principal Helena Gaunt adds: ‘Dame Shirley has been a great friend to the College over many years. She has directly supported our students through a vital scholarship, attended events and, through her talents and hard work, always exemplified extraordinary professionalism, artistry and generosity to inspire our students. Now, as we bring our 75th birthday to a close, it is exciting to welcome her to the College in the official capacity of President and to celebrate the special relationship that we have. She has touched so many lives all over the globe that she offers us exceptional inspiration as we continue in our mission to empower the emerging artists who train here to develop creative and sustainable careers at the highest levels, and to make an impact on the world around them.’ LAMDA appoints new chair The school will welcome former University of the Arts London chief executive Sir Nigel Carrington in February The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) has announced the appointment of former University of the Arts London chief executive Sir Nigel Carrington as the new chair of its Board of Trustees. Effective from February, Sir Nigel will take over from the Rt Hon Shaun Woodward who has led the board for eight years. Woodward will hand over to Sir Nigel at LAMDA’s Board Meeting in February 2025 following a successful tenure during which he oversaw the transformation of the school’s campus, and the growth of the organisation’s Exams department. side-by-side. There are so many exciting opportunities ahead and I look forward to working alongside the Board, Mark O’Thomas and the wider LAMDA community as we work together to advance the goals of this historic but at the same time extraordinarily forward‑thinking institution.’ Carrington has just completed 10 years as chair of the Henry Moore Foundation, an arts education charity, and was recently appointed as Chair of Universities UK’s Transformation and Efficiencies Taskforce. He has 13 years of experience as vice chancellor and chief executive of the University of the Arts London, as well as experience as managing director of an engineering and technology group, and partner in a major law firm. Sir Nigel said: ‘I look forward very much to joining LAMDA’s Board as its new chair. As the longest continuously operating conservatoire for drama training for stage, screen, and audio, LAMDA’s global reputation for inspiring exceptional performing arts talent attracts professionals and students alike to work LAMDA principal and CEO Professor Mark O’Thomas says: ‘It has been a privilege to work with Shaun since I joined LAMDA in 2022. His support as we increased our impact and reach has helped to put us in a stronger position, paving the way for further progress. I want to welcome Sir Nigel on behalf of all my colleagues at LAMDA. Looking to the future, Sir Nigel Carrington I’m excited at the prospect of collaborating as we continue to drive our strategic vision towards 2030.’ www.dramaandtheatre.co.uk Spring Term 2 2024/25 Drama & Theatre 7

Page Text

View plaintext

News

Bristol Old Vic Theatre School closes undergraduate courses The conservatoire drama school will not admit any new undergraduate students from September Bristol Old Vic Theatre School has announced that it will be axing all of its undergraduate courses. The conservatoire drama school cited ‘recent challenges’ making its undergraduate training model ‘financially unsustainable’ as the reason for the closure.

In a statement published yesterday, Bristol Old Vic Theatre School has confirmed that it will no longer be accepting applications for its undergraduate degree programmes and will not be admitting any new undergraduate students from September 2025. The school will continue to provide postgraduate training and short courses.

Bristol Old Vic Theatre School principal and CEO Fiona Francombe says: ‘By taking this decision now we are able to plan for the next two academic years calmly, and with our students’ best interests at heart. It is our intention to create a long-term sustainable future for the School where we can deliver high calibre training for which the School is renowned but we need time and space to work through the options and our current focus must be on existing students and staff. We have always been known for producing extraordinary work, training wonderfully talented people, and reaching audiences of all ages. This legacy will continue as we begin this new chapter of our story.’

The school specifically mentions ‘capping of student fees, restrictions to international student visas, cuts in grants, and increases in costs of living and teaching’ and ‘the OfS’ recent announcement that it would not be accepting applications for self-registration until August 2025 at the earliest’ as contributing factors to its financial challenges.

Bristol Old Vic Theatre School has confirmed it will work with the University of the West of England, its degree validating body, to ensure the experiences of current students are unaffected and that they will be able to complete their degree courses as planned.

Drama Studio London launches new Foundation Diploma in Performance The course offers training in the fundamentals of performance to prepare students for undergraduate study Drama Studio London (DSL) has announced a new course aimed at providing an introduction to professional acting for stage and screen.

Professional Acting course, or on one of the performing arts degrees provided by the London College of Music.

Applications for the 2025-26 intake of the Foundation Diploma in Performance are now open, ahead of the course start date on 13 October 2025. Qualifications from both Drama Studio London and London College of Music are validated by the University of West London (UWL).

The acting school’s new Foundation Diploma in Performance is intended for students aged 18 and over who wish to gain acting experience and offers an alternative further education option to other three-year programmes.

The diploma will be taught across 24 weeks, with tuition spread across three terms and 30 hours of tuition per week. Students will be trained by DSL’s resident faculty and freelance professionals, including modules in performing text, the audition process and introduction to screen and audio acting.

Emma Lucia Hands, director of Drama Studio London, says: ‘We hope to attract talented individuals who will benefit from the care and attention we can provide, offering confidence and technique to performers in the early stages of their creative careers.’

The course costs £9,535 for UK students and £16,500 for international students, and offers students a Level Four qualification, a showreel and the chance to perform in an end of term showcase at a London Theatre. Graduates will also be offered the opportunity to secure a place on Drama Studio London’s three‑year

6 Drama & Theatre Spring Term 2 2024/25

www.dramaandtheatre.co.uk

read next page

My Bookmarks

Buy this Book
Skip to main content