Performers College broadens horizons for the next generation
Meet the performing arts institution working across Birmingham, Brighton, Essex and Manchester
Performers College prides itself on being a leading vocational institution offering elite performance training in musical theatre and dance. From September 2025, it will merge with the Institute of Contemporary Theatre, under the Performers College brand, expanding its provision into areas including acting, film and digital media performance training.
“Both schools are part of BIMM University and have been sister organisations for the past few years,” explains Adam Davenport, dean of Performing Arts, “and it made sense to unite the university’s Performing Arts curriculum and continue to deliver an outstanding, quality training experience under the Performers College brand, offering a new and increased suite of training pathways that reflect the different career ambitions of our students, and the variety of employment opportunities available in today’s industry.”
That means bringing the four campuses – in Birmingham, Brighton, Essex and Manchester – under one umbrella, while maintaining the distinct areas of special practice that each of them is known for.
Across the campuses, students can study specialist degree courses, as well as Trinity diplomas and postgraduate qualifications, but as Davenport notes: “Having these four locations allows us to create bespoke campuses that have individualised courses and specialist facilities, while also forging collaborations with regional creatives and national industry partners.”
Performers College in Manchester boasts a purpose-built theatre that allows students with an interest in technical theatre and production to hone their skills. Birmingham’s campus shares its building with the MetFilm School, giving students access to fully equipped industry-standard film and TV studios. Essex has specialist purpose-built dance facilities with more than 30 studios, while Brighton has a state-of-the-art motion capture suite.
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“They all have their own specialisms, and with this new identity we’re building a portfolio of courses across our campuses that appeal to people with different aspirations, and harness our connections, contacts and expertise to ensure they are industry-ready and equipped to enjoy successful careers,” says Davenport.
That’s already evident on the Birmingham campus, which opened in 2021. “We have a partnership with Birmingham Royal Ballet and our students regularly collaborate on projects and performances with BRB at the Hippodrome. We are also building relationships with the BBC who are creating exciting new studios in Digbeth,” Davenport explains. “The Essex campus recently worked with Europe’s leading dance agency AMCK to provide commercial dancers for the BRIT Awards. We want to continue to build on that, taking advantage of the thriving performing arts scenes in Manchester and Brighton.”
‘We develop each person as an individual artist. We help them to discover what is unique about them and build on that’– Adam Davenport, dean of Performing Arts
While these distinct campus identities are an important part of the way Performers College works – with students given the option to pick a specific course and campus location when applying through UCAS –there is also a powerful ethos that unites the training and student experience. “We develop each person as an individual artist. We help them to discover what is unique about them and build on that.”
Performers College doesn’t have a single vision of what a graduate should be or what they should do. Studying at Performers College is about exploring as wide a variety of opportunities as possible, with masterclasses and projects on everything from costume, to casting and combat.
As part of this new chapter in its evolution, as well as actors, singers and dancers, Performers College will help to develop the next generation of creatives. As Davenport says, “for us, success is not defined by one pathway or expectation. Alongside our professional performance courses, we look forward to guiding the directors, choreographers, writers and producers of the future. We aspire for our graduates to be people who make a living in the creative industries in whatever area inspires them, and provides them with creative fulfilment”.
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