BIRMINGHAM STATE OF THE ART ACTING SCHOOL

This year has been a busy year for the Midlands’ only accredited drama school – not only is Birmingham School of Acting (BSA) celebrating its 70th birthday, but this month the School has also moved into a new multi million pound state-of-the-art building.

The new home, in the City’s Millennium Point, offers students first-class drama facilities and resources.  There are 11 studios, three of which can be also be used as dance studios and a performance studio called the Patricia Yardley Studio, aptly named after the founder’s daughter and Principal of the School from 1980 - 2000.  All studios are fitted with sprung floors to enhance movement and dance and to protect students from joints and muscle injury; acoustic panelling to reduce echo and reverberation; air conditioning and air displacement systems that ensures the temperature of the studios remain the same from the floor to the ceiling.  The Patricia Yardley Studio also has the same facilities as well as being fitted with state-of-the-art air conditioning, lighting and sound technology for the studio to be used for rehearsals and performances. 
 

Adam Smith, a final year BA (Hons) Acting student, commented: “As a student of the School for the last two years I think that the move and the new premises are fascinating.  It is great!  The old building - the Link Building - was good to train in and had lots of character, but it is nothing like this building.  It really is state-of-the-art and the studios are a brilliant space to work and train in.”

Birmingham School of Acting merged with UCE Birmingham in May 2005, and the move to the new building has allowed BSA to introduce new courses for the acting profession.  The School will be introducing a post-graduate course in Musical Theatre for entry in September 2007 and plans to introduce a portfolio of Professional Development including a refresher course for actors and acting for screen and film course.

Simon Woods, Chief Executive Officer, said: “This is a fantastic move for the school and the new building is beautiful.  We are one of the top drama schools in the UK and we now have the facilities to match the quality of our training.  It is also good news for Birmingham as it reinforces the City’s position as a major centre for the arts and has strengthened the University’s reputation as the leading arts university in the Midlands and one of the best in Europe .”

Birmingham School of Acting was established in 1936 by Pamela Chapman who sought to provide the opportunity of drama and speech training to all sections of the community.  Since 1936 BSA has moved from Queen Margret’s Chambers on Paradise Streetto Church Roadin Edgbaston to The Link Building, Paradise Place behind Birmingham Central Library.  In 2005 Birmingham School of Acting merged with UCE Birmingham and on the 25th September 2006 the school moved into its new building which offers some of the best drama training facilities in Europe.

Every year the School produces up to 16 live theatre performances, six radio plays and up to nine short films.  The live theatre work will continue to take place in professional venues and is supported by a professional production department and the radio and film production is undertaken in partnership with commercial companies and crews.  This training provides the students with a real professional experience and the new facilities will enhance the learning experience for tomorrow’s actors.

The final year BA (Hons) Acting students will be performing in three plays throughout October at The Crescent Theatre.  The Storm or ‘The Howler’ by Plautus and Clever Women by Moliere will be performed from the 18 – 21 October and William Shakespeare’s As You Like It will be performed from the 25 – 28 October.  For tickets contact The Crescent Box Office on 0121 643 5858.