The Stage Scholarships 2024: win free training at schools UK-wide

Students at the Bridge Theatre Training Company. Photo: Ben Felton

The Stage Scholarships scheme has been operating for more than three decades, teaming up with schools and colleges to provide free and subsidised training and tuition in the performing arts. As the cost-of-living crisis worsens and arts education continues to be cut in schools, access to performing arts training can seem more and more remote, so the opportunities offered by this scheme have become a vital resource for many.

Once again, The Stage has been able to team up with a selection of schools and academies in 2024, offering more than 50 places available on full or part-scholarship. The subsidised tuition offered by our partner schools through The Stage Scholarships scheme is valued in excess of £110,000.

In this feature, we introduce you to our five partners and give you an idea of the range of scholarships available. As ever, there is something for everybody, no matter your current level of experience.

Long-term partner Razzamataz Theatre Schools is offering the opportunity of a place at each of its 52 schools based throughout the UK.

Meanwhile, the prestigious Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts is offering a scholarship to a talented individual on one of any of its degree or diploma courses.

All In Actors, based in south London, is returning this year, offering a place on its flexible one -year programme.

Joining us this year for the first time is Performance Preparation Academy, based in Guildford, which is offering a scholarship for the foundation course that prepares students for a degree. Another new partner is the Bridge Theatre Training Company, offering two half-scholarships on its diploma courses.

Keep an eye out on thestage.co.uk as we launch the individual scholarships for each school over the next three months

The Stage Scholarships 2024: win acting training at the Bridge

The Stage Scholarships 2024: Win free training at All in Actors

The Stage Scholarships 2024: win free training at Performance Preparation Academy

The Bridge Theatre Training Company

Course: Professional acting course and postgraduate/experience acting course
Educational level: 18 years plus (professional acting) and 21 years plus (postgraduate acting)
Number of scholarships offered: Two half-scholarships on either course
Value of scholarships: More than £8,550
What costs are covered? Fees only
Location: Cecil Sharp House, 2 Regents Park Road, London NW1 7AY
Likely audition date: August 31
About: The Bridge was established in 1993 by Judith Pollard, Mark Akrill and other arts practitioners who felt strongly that drama courses were often prohibitively expensive. This Camden-based school strives to provide affordable training of the highest quality to its students, nurturing a collaborative process. Two half-scholarships are on offer, for either the two-year acting course or the condensed postgraduate acting course. Both offer performance opportunities in front of an audience of agents and casting directors. Alumni are working in film, television and theatre and include Elizabeth Cadwallader, Amy De Bhrún and Simon Cotton.

thebridge-ttc.org

Razzamataz Theatre Schools

Course: One-year, part-time performing arts
Education level: School age (after-school/weekend)
Number of scholarships offered: More than 50 around the UK
Value of scholarships: Across all schools, in the region of £46,000
What costs are covered? Fees only
Location: Various sites UK-wide
Likely audition date: Auditions are held from April to May
About: In 2000, former dancer Denise Hutton-Gosney established Razzamataz to provide out-of-school hours theatre training and activities for youngsters aged four to 18. In 2007, she secured backing from Dragons’ Den panelist Duncan Bannatyne and today more than 50 franchises thrive throughout the UK. Each school provides opportunities to train and perform in a range of disciplines from musical theatre to street dance to acting for camera. A family atmosphere is encouraged in the schools and the ethos throughout is on having fun and making new friends.

razzamataz.co.uk
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Students at Performance Preparation Academy in a stage combat class

All in Actors students in a production of The Tempest. Photo: Cam Harle

All In Actors

Course: One-year programme
Educational level: 18 years plus
Number of scholarships offered: One full scholarship and one half-scholarship
Value of scholarships: £6,750
What costs are covered? Fees only
Location: 8A Harleyford Street, London SW17 9RY
Likely audition dates: April 27 (online) or May 1 (in person)
About: This relatively new south London school is the brainchild of educators and practitioners Stephen Sobal and Ami Sayers. Established in 2019, All In Actors provides a new approach to training, that allows a student to work while training. The Act 3 actor training programme, which is offered in this scholarship, focuses on the core skills of acting, voice and movement intended to help students build confidence professionally and personally. There is an established faculty at All In Actors, but visiting practitioners have included Nicola Coughlan, Rory Kinnear and Milly Thomas.

allinactors.com

Performance Preparation Academy (PPA)

Course: Foundation Level 3
Educational level: 16 years plus
Number of scholarships offered: One full scholarship, foundation year
Value of scholarship: £9,250
What costs are covered? Fees only
Location: Unit 1, Deacon Field, Guildford GU2 8YT
Likely audition date: April 21
About: In 2016, PPA partnered with De Montfort University to provide degree courses to its students. The BA (hons) Acting for Stage and Screen with a foundation year has been created to provide a route into training for aspiring actors. This foundation year provides students with the opportunity to establish a foundation of technical and performance skills, and understanding so that they enter their three-year course fully prepared for vocational training. Graduates in all disciplines are working all over the world including Olly Manley, Luke Street and Emily Benjamin, who is soon to appear in Bronco Billy the Musical in the West End.

ppacademy.co.uk
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Participants in a class at Performance Preparation Academy

Italia Conti students perform Legally Blonde

Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts

Course: BA degree or Trinity diploma in acting, dance or musical theatre
Educational level: 16 years plus
Number of scholarships offered: One full scholarship
Value of scholarship: More than £47,970, depending on chosen course
What costs are covered? Fees only
Location: 47 Church Street West, Woking, Surrey GU21 6BQ
Likely audition date: To be confirmed
About: Established in 1911, Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts has developed an international reputation for excellence in performing arts education. Its aim is to train and support in a wide variety of disciplines, leading to graduates who become versatile and valuable members of the theatrical profession. This year, the academy is not restricting its full scholarship to a single course, but opening it up for any of its courses – diploma or degree – in acting, dance or musical theatre. The world of theatre, film and television is packed with alumni who trained at Italia Conti including Bonnie Langford, Daniel Mays and Layton Williams.