Finding Funding for Studying the Performing Arts

Not all Schools and Colleges for the Performing Arts are part of the government grant scheme and so once you get your treasured place to study dance, drama or music it can be difficult to get funding to support you.

Mrs Worthington has found a really good website to help you with this.  It is called Creative Choices and helps you find funding bodies for all artistic courses that may not be available to the usual funding sources. It also gives you lots of other help with career choices, finding jobs etc.  There is a link to it here

A Gap in Musical Theatre Training

David James, who runs the BML Librettists Workshop, told me that as far as he knows there is nowhere in this country that you can train to be a choreographer or director of musical theatre.  Directing and choreography in musical theatre requires very special skills which we should be teaching.  Now that the musical theatre world is growing in Britain it about time we designed courses to equip young creatives.  If anyone reading this blog knows of a course that covers this do let me know - because so far I have yet to find one!

Arts Ed Dance Show

Arts Ed School is presenting their Spring dance show for years 7 - 13 from 21st to 25th March.  To book tickets for this go to the link here.  Places for Arts Eds shows fill up very quickly!

RADA Spring Productions

Major drama schools do not always have open days so the best way to see what they are like before your audition is to go and see a show there.  The Spring productions at RADA are on over the next two weeks and as usual there is some really exciting and inspirational theatre on offer:  THE BROTHERS SIZE by Tarell Alvin McCraney from 15th to 26th March, A WASTE OF TIME by Robert David MacDonald from 16th to 26th March and THE CRUCIBLE by Arthur Miller from 17th to 26th March.   The link to their website to book tickets is here.

Theatre Royal Haymarket Masterclasses

Free Masterclasses for young actors and theatre practitioners are being held at the Theatre Royal Haymarket.  This month they have Sophie Thompson (18th March), Bunny Christie on the Designers Perspective (25th March) and a special Shakespeare Masterclass at the V & A (also on 25th March).   Sometimes, if you are lucky you may be invited to join the masterclass.  I watched a wonderful class with Clive Rowe, where 8 young performers were put through their paces in musical theatre and had the chance to show their work to agents.  Sign up and join on the website here.

The Actors Centre

The Actors Centre in Covent Garden has been providing training for actors for over 30 years.  They run hundreds of fantastic classes taught by professionals.   It is also a great place to meet and exchange ideas in the coffee bar.  

They run some classes for non-members including Introduction to Acting, Audition Bootcamp, Audition Masterclass and Introduction to Presenting.

For the procedure for becoming a member go to their website here.

Daniel Radcliffe to Star in Broadway Musical!

Daniel Radcliffe is going to be starring as Finch in a revival of the musical How to Succeed in business Without Even Trying!   The book is by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock and Willie Gilbert and is based on Shepherd Mead's book of the same name.  The music and lyrics are by Frank Loesser.  It is scheduled to open at the Al Hirschfield Theater on Broadway on March 27th.  


So Daniel Radcliffe has made it to Broadway yet again.  His Broadway debut was in 2009 in Equus by Peter Shaffer - a transfer from the West End Production in 2007 directed by Thea Sharrock.  Daniel received a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play.

Ideas Tap

Ideas Tap is a fantastic website set up for young emerging creative talent!

It will give you help to find jobs, workshops, funding, events and just about everything you need to know. They are partnered up with major organisations like the Old Vic, National Youth Theatre, Magnum Photos and Ideas Club and its all free!

Click on the title of this blog to go to their website.

£5 Theatre Tickets at the National Theatre for 16-25 year olds

If you want to be an actor it is really important to go and see as many shows as you can, but this can be an expensive business unless you know how to get cheap deals.  The National Theatre is running a fantastic scheme which gives you tickets to shows for £5 if you are aged between 16 and 25.  You just have to complete a  downloadable form and produce evidence of age and they send you a special entry pass.  You can also take other young friends along to shows for £7.50.  They also run workshops and a range of other opportunities for young performers to work with members of the National Theatre.  Click on the title of this blog to go straight to the website.

Through The Stage Door with Peter Polycarpou

Peter Polycarpou, the West End and Broadway musical theatre star, runs an Easter and Summer musical theatre school called THROUGH THE STAGE DOOR.  You can read all about this on their new website here.

The next event is Bugsy Malone, which runs from 30th May for a week, with a showcase performance on 3rd June.  Only children between the ages of 10 and 16 are eligible.  In a week he rehearses the children for a showcase of the musical on the last day.   It costs £60 for the week including the showcase performance.  If you want to book your place on this course call 020 8891 4294 or email bugsy@throughthestagedoor.co.uk and give your name, address and contact details and they will send you an application form.

The young actors I've spoken to who have done this Summer School loved every moment and often return again and again to work with Peter.