BIMM University: ‘If students have talent and passion, we can help them make their mark’
BIMM University’s four colleges – ICTheatre Brighton, ICTheatre Manchester, Performers College Essex and Performers College Birmingham – provide the up-to-date training and industry connections that can give its students the skills to succeed
Today’s performing arts industry demands a different kind of training. Students do not only need to be developed in the core skills of performance – they need to be equipped with a wide range of specialist abilities that allow them to embrace any opportunity. Students do not only need to understand the worlds of stage and screen – they need to have the experience, confidence and ability to make their mark upon them.
That is the training that BIMM University – one of Europe’s leading creative universities – is providing at each of its four performing arts colleges. In Brighton, Manchester, Birmingham and Essex, BIMM University students are not just honing their skills as performers, they are learning how to turn those skills into successful, sustainable careers, whether that is on stage, on screen, or within digital and social media.
“We have four colleges in four different locations, each with its own history and personality, but all are united by our philosophy: to provide up-to-date training and industry connections that fully equip students with all the tools they need to succeed,” says BIMM University executive principal Vaseema Hamilton. “Of course, that includes core voice, acting, dance and movement skills, but we situate those skills within a wider, deeper understanding of the ever-evolving performing arts industry and how to navigate it.”
BIMM University’s four colleges are spread across the UK, and each has its own identity. ICTheatre Brighton was founded in 2017, and spans the seaside city, incorporating rehearsal rooms, dance studios, motion-capture studios, sound studios and several different theatres. ICTheatre Manchester was founded in 2020 in the Dancehouse, the elegant art-deco building that is also home to Northern Ballet School, as well as a range of suites, studios, student facilities and a 400-seat theatre.
Performers College Essex, meanwhile, was founded in the 1980s, and is situated in the small town of Corringham, only a short train journey from central London and the wonders of the West End. Performers College Birmingham opened its doors in 2021, alongside Screen and Film School Birmingham and BIMM Birmingham. Its vibrant and lively campus is located in the heart of Digbeth, one of the country’s fastest-growing creative quarters.
“We have put a lot of effort into refurbishing and redeveloping our campuses post-pandemic, so that students have access to cutting-edge facilities wherever they are,” Hamilton continues. “Our four colleges cover catchment for most of the country, too, so if a student wants to stay at home while they study, that is an option. Whatever student experience someone is after, BIMM University can offer it.”
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The four colleges – Brighton, Manchester, Birmingham and Essex – might offer different student experiences, but they are all united by BIMM University’s philosophy, its dedication to providing quality training, and its progressive, forward-thinking curriculum, which provides a range of different performing arts degree programmes and diplomas to suit a range of ambitions.
ICTheatre Brighton and ICTheatre Manchester’s three-year BA (hons) Performing Arts programme is split into three pathways – Musical Theatre, Acting, and Dance Artistry. Performers College Essex and Performers College Birmingham, meanwhile, both offer a three-year BA (hons) Musical Theatre and Dance and a three-year BA (hons) Acting for Stage, Screen and Digital Media. The important point, though, explains Hamilton, is that all courses at all colleges allow students to pursue their own passions.
“All our courses are modular,” she says. “Of course, students spend plenty of time developing their core skills, but beyond that, they are given the choice to create their own degree pathway, to follow their own dreams. If students want to dedicate themselves to musical theatre, they can. If students want to dedicate themselves to devising or starting their own theatre company, they can. If students want to hone their skills in motion-capture, or virtual reality, or digital media, they can. It is totally up to them.”
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BIMM University prides itself on the individual attention its students receive, both academically and pastorally. The lockdowns and limitations of the past three years have taken a particularly heavy toll on young people, Hamilton acknowledges, and processes and practices are in place at all four of BIMM University’s colleges to support students through what can be a challenging time.
“We put a lot of emphasis on pastoral care,” she explains. “The performing arts industry has had a really rough ride since 2020, and so have young people. We really get to know our students and help them cope with whatever they might be going through. We have an individualised tutorial programme at all four colleges to help them navigate their studies and their social life.”
That is not all BIMM University provides for its students. The university also runs a successful performance management agency that graduating students can utilise, should they wish to. It is, as Hamilton explains, “a springboard”, through which students can develop their portfolios, connect to other agents, land their first professional roles, and embark on their careers within the industry.
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Applications for all BIMM University’s degree programmes are made through UCAS, and financial support is available for all through the Student Loans Company. BIMM University has a hardship fund for those experiencing financial difficulty during their time as a student, and its admissions process – a group audition followed by an individual interview – is entirely free to ensure access for all.
“That requirement for raw talent is obviously never going to go away, but proven professionalism, dedication and the right attitude are just as important,” says Hamilton. “We also look for passion for the performing arts in prospective students. What shows are they into? What artists do they admire? What work do they want to make? If they have the talent, plus that drive and ambition, we can help make it happen.”
For more information on BIMM University, and on ICTheatre Brighton, ICTheatre Manchester, Performers College Essex and Performers College Birmingham, visit bimm.ac.uk
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