Drama Studio London to Celebrate 50th Anniversary with Open House, Gala

This September, Drama Studio London (DSL) celebrates its 50th anniversary, looking back at their successes over the years.

As part of the festivities, DSL will hold an open house on Sunday 11th September, 2pm - 5.30pm, and a 50th Anniversary Gala on Sunday 11th September, 7.30pm - 10pm.

As the smallest drama school within Drama UK, their notable alumni include the likes of award-winning Emily Watson OBE (Uncle Vanya, Donmar Theatre; The Theory of Everything), Adrian Lucas (Pride and Prejudice, BBC), Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland), Olivia Vinall (The Hard Problem, King Lear, National Theatre) and Craig Els (Matilda the Musical, Cambridge Theatre).

The school remains deliberately small so as to maintain their high quality of training and the quality of their graduates is a testament to this. They focus on training actors for today's acting profession with their core values of respect, endeavour and enthusiasm. DSL has an incredibly high graduate employment rate. The nature of the courses mean that graduates are versatile and able to perform on stage and screen alike. On average 80% of graduates are employed in the industry within six months of graduating, with 83% after 1 year

DSL was founded in 1966 by actor/director Peter Layton. During the 1980s, DSL grew rapidly in reputation with UK accreditations and a branch in California. Peter retired from the day to day running of the Studio in 2002 but continued as Chairman, working closely alongside the Principal Peter Craze. In 2010, Kit Thacker was appointed Managing Director.

Kit Thacker comments Drama Studio London is unique and we intend to stay that way. We regard good acting as a vocation not an academic pursuit. We take a student's raw talent, passion and determination and teach them not just how to act, but also how to be an actor. Acting is a skillful craft but it is also an art. At Drama Studio London we respect the potential in our students to be a great artist, which we believe marks out each one of our alumni over the last 50 years.

To mark their anniversary, DSL will be hosting an open day and Gala night for their alumni. The celebration will be to share memories, partake in an exclusive auction and rediscover the building. All the funds raised from the anniversary celebrations will go to Friends of Drama Studio London charity, whose sole aim is to help students financially.

Dame Judi Dench, patron of Friends of Drama Studio London, comments, "I am delighted that Drama Studio London has a bursary scheme to help train talented actors who would otherwise struggle to meet the costs of DSL's excellent training. I am happy to support anything that will increase the amount in your coffers and encourage even more impecunious students to take up training. The idea of some of this money coming from successful alumni is very moving and I wish you every success."

Drama Studio London have always held that there are constants which can be objectively assessed by the knowledgeable, taught by the skilled and enjoyed by everyone. These would include the ability to tell a story, to convey passion and thought with clarity and simplicity, being able to adapt movement and voice in order to transform, having confidence in front of a camera, a microphone and an audience, and to having a presence which commands attention. This has been the basis of DSL's training for 50 years. Styles and formats change and are adapted with them but the basic ability to tell a truth and to appeal equally to the emotions and minds of the audience are constants.

For 50 years Drama Studio London has been training actors to be versatile, adaptable performers. While our roots are in the classical approach we embrace a modern outlook, providing a rounded, vocational education in all theatrical styles without imposing one set methodology. Our teachers and directors are drawn from all areas of the industry, bringing relevant and cutting edge knowledge into the classroom as well as providing employment opportunities for graduates. In this way we can ensure that our training in for the profession by the profession.

Drama Studio London is accredited by Drama UK and inspected by Ofsted, who ensure that our education is of the highest quality and our tutoring system nurturing, compassionate and encouraging. Students are given every opportunity to develop their potential, find their passion and hone their skills. We offer full-time professional training courses as well as a number of short and part time courses at both a beginner and intermediate level.

In October 2016 we launch our first degree programme - BA (Hons) in Professional Acting - which is validated by De Montfort University, providing an academic stamp while ensuring that our ethos for vocational training is maintained. This 3-year course will be based at our home in Ealing but offer resources and facilities provided by De Montfort University.

In an effort to foster and embrace diversity within the acting profession, our Friends of Drama Studio London charitable arm offers an annual Living Expenses Bursary as well as Scholarships to talented students with limited means, allowing people to realise their full potential whatever their background. The Friends relies on donations and every contribution is gratefully received.

For more information, see www.dramastudiolondon.co.uk.

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