After a fantastic day today talking to people about the new Scholarships we have on offer and preparing for our first round of auditions on Monday I feel compelled to write a brief note about how much I love working so collaboratively with the fantastic folks in our industry.
Firstly, it has been so refreshing this year to find so many of the schools into which we feed being so open to working with our students. By the end of this term we will have had visiting teachers from London Studio Centre, GSA, Birmingham School of Speech and Drama, Urdang Academy, Millennium Performing Arts, Mountivew and Arts Ed. What a fantastic list of great schools, all of whom have seen the value of encouraging and nurturing incoming talent to their courses through foundation courses like ours.
Secondly, the schools and organisations who continue to support us by sending talented and well-trained students to us for audition and by publicising our courses to their students. Tina Thomas at Northampton College; Juliette Caton and Sammy Fonfe at SOTA; Denise Gosney Hutton and Shelley Fitzgibbon at Razzamataz; Melanie Dudman at Allied School of Dance; Joanne Scanlan at Tap Attack; Dani Davies at Reading Between the Lines Theatre Company; and everyone else who lends us their support - Thank You.
Thirdly, our fantastic teaching faculty who work so hard at the college, and also go so regularly over and above the call of duty to help make contacts for us with students and colleagues outside of Read - most especially our supremely talented and brilliantly bonkers Head of Acting, Seamus Allen. What an incredible, talented, and dedicated team of folks.
Fourthly, our Board of Trustees who give us their time, knowledge and experience to help oversee the work that the college does. How fantastic to be able to pick up the phone to the marketing officer at the Watermill Theatre, or the Chief Executive of a charity who has over 30 years of experience; a media business owner, the Head of 1st Year at a major performing arts college or even a Creative Technical Consultant at the National Theatre Studio. They are brilliant and we are blessed to have them. Equally our Board of Advisors including casting directors (James Hopson), agents (James Beresford), musical directors (Matthew Reeve) and teachers (David Ashley, Sean McNamara, Alison Desbois).
Finally, a huge thank you must go out to our wonderful students who, without fail and year on year, provide recommendations to their friends to come and audition for us too. We are very proud of what all of our alumni go on to achieve, and for them to leave us a legacy in the form of other students for the future is brilliant.
It does puzzle me that there are still people out there doing similar things than all of these wonderful people, but doing it in such a way that they remain aloof and don't get involved with the arts and training communities around them. There is so much positivity, support and camaraderie out there to be had that surely it can only be a good thing to open yourself up to it as an establishment and get out there to work with people ?
Just a thought :)
Wednesday, 23 January 2013
Tuesday, 15 January 2013
Our new patron and our new scholarships!
Read Dance and Theatre College - the UK's leading independent vocational school for foundation training in the performing arts - is delighted to announce the appointment of our newest patron, Bobby Cronin.
Bobby Cronin is an award-winning composer/writer based in NYC. His pop/rock musical WELCOME TO MY LIFE (W2ML) with co-book writer Alicia Dempster is under a Broadway option. He and book writer Allen Mogol were recently awarded The Alec Baldwin Fellowship in NYC for their musical 'TIL DEATH DO US PART. He is the first American commissioned to pen an original musical called THE CONCRETE JUNGLE for London's esteemed Arts Ed School (Andrew Lloyd Webber, President), which also just received an International Cast Studio Recording produced by Burlington Productions and Nick Lloyd Webber & James D. Reid (book by Bobby Cronin & Crystal Skillman, music & lyrics by Bobby Cronin).
DAYBREAK (add'l material by Brett Teresa; 2011 New Jersey Playwrights Contest winner) premiered in NJ & London's Tristan Bates Theatre, June 2012. Music and songs for the web series THANK YOU, NEXT (LAWebFest Award, Best Original Song). Other: Lincoln Center Songbook Series, Joe's Pub, Birdland, Symphony Space, London's The Players Theatre, more. "Reach The Sky: Live at The Beechman" on iTunes. Yale graduate, Member of ASCAP, Dramatists Guild. Educator at CAP21/NYU, with workshops taught around the world including: Read College, The Royal Academy of Music London, Arts Ed, MTA, and more. He is currently developing two new musicals: MARY & MAX and SUNSET CITY. Visit www.bobbycronin.com
In other news, we are thrilled to say that, for 2013, we have joined the prestigious scholarship scheme run by leading industry publication, The Stage. We will have two scholarships available worth £7,050 each for students applying to our foundation courses this year - one for our Acting course and one for Musical Theatre. The scholarships will run alongside our existing bursary funding scheme, which is created by running charity events and concerts throughout the year, plus having people on the staff who are mad enough to run long distances for sponsorship!
Full details of the courses at Read, how to apply, and how we have succeeded year on year to get our alumni into some of the top dance and drama colleges in the UK can be found at www.rdtc.org.uk
Bobby Cronin is an award-winning composer/writer based in NYC. His pop/rock musical WELCOME TO MY LIFE (W2ML) with co-book writer Alicia Dempster is under a Broadway option. He and book writer Allen Mogol were recently awarded The Alec Baldwin Fellowship in NYC for their musical 'TIL DEATH DO US PART. He is the first American commissioned to pen an original musical called THE CONCRETE JUNGLE for London's esteemed Arts Ed School (Andrew Lloyd Webber, President), which also just received an International Cast Studio Recording produced by Burlington Productions and Nick Lloyd Webber & James D. Reid (book by Bobby Cronin & Crystal Skillman, music & lyrics by Bobby Cronin).
DAYBREAK (add'l material by Brett Teresa; 2011 New Jersey Playwrights Contest winner) premiered in NJ & London's Tristan Bates Theatre, June 2012. Music and songs for the web series THANK YOU, NEXT (LAWebFest Award, Best Original Song). Other: Lincoln Center Songbook Series, Joe's Pub, Birdland, Symphony Space, London's The Players Theatre, more. "Reach The Sky: Live at The Beechman" on iTunes. Yale graduate, Member of ASCAP, Dramatists Guild. Educator at CAP21/NYU, with workshops taught around the world including: Read College, The Royal Academy of Music London, Arts Ed, MTA, and more. He is currently developing two new musicals: MARY & MAX and SUNSET CITY. Visit www.bobbycronin.com
In other news, we are thrilled to say that, for 2013, we have joined the prestigious scholarship scheme run by leading industry publication, The Stage. We will have two scholarships available worth £7,050 each for students applying to our foundation courses this year - one for our Acting course and one for Musical Theatre. The scholarships will run alongside our existing bursary funding scheme, which is created by running charity events and concerts throughout the year, plus having people on the staff who are mad enough to run long distances for sponsorship!
Full details of the courses at Read, how to apply, and how we have succeeded year on year to get our alumni into some of the top dance and drama colleges in the UK can be found at www.rdtc.org.uk
Tuesday, 31 July 2012
Preparing for a new start
The dust seems to scarcely be settling from Showcase and we're in final preparations to start back with the class of 2012/13. Anyone who thinks we get the summer off is wrong :)
We've been lucky enough to have to lay on extra auditions this year to see everyone, and it looks like a record year for the college with at least 16 students studying with us. We can't wait to start working with all of them!
We've also had a very inspiring meeting with our Board of Trustees who oversee everything that college does. They're a fantastic bunch of people - I should introduce you...
David Ashley (Head of 1st Year and Deputy Head of Music, Arts Ed)
Elizabeth Flintoff (Director of Outreach, Watermill Theatre)
Nick Flintoff (Creative Technical Associate, National Theatre Studio)
Roger Missing (Owner, Missing Link DVD)
Anne Munn (Chief Executive, The Mobility Trust)
Between the Board, Helen and myself, there are some really exciting plans in place for the future of the college, including some great fundraising events which I will be blogging/tweeting about soon, so keep up to date and come and visit us at any of the events whenever you can!
Let's see how many futures we can change this time around...
www.rdtc.org.uk
We've been lucky enough to have to lay on extra auditions this year to see everyone, and it looks like a record year for the college with at least 16 students studying with us. We can't wait to start working with all of them!
We've also had a very inspiring meeting with our Board of Trustees who oversee everything that college does. They're a fantastic bunch of people - I should introduce you...
David Ashley (Head of 1st Year and Deputy Head of Music, Arts Ed)
Elizabeth Flintoff (Director of Outreach, Watermill Theatre)
Nick Flintoff (Creative Technical Associate, National Theatre Studio)
Roger Missing (Owner, Missing Link DVD)
Anne Munn (Chief Executive, The Mobility Trust)
Between the Board, Helen and myself, there are some really exciting plans in place for the future of the college, including some great fundraising events which I will be blogging/tweeting about soon, so keep up to date and come and visit us at any of the events whenever you can!
Let's see how many futures we can change this time around...
www.rdtc.org.uk
Saturday, 16 June 2012
A year's not long in showbiz...
So, as I write this post we are just 3 weeks away from the end of my 10th academic year working with Foundation students. It's odd to think that those students from my first year are all now a decade older!
It is a great privilege to work with young people at this stage in their training - they are right on the cusp of something great, and being there when they take their first metaphorical steps on their own is an amazing thing. They may be going on to other colleges for the next phase of their training, but they will always have been Read-ies first, and that is something that we are very proud of. GSA, Chichester, Rose Bruford, AMTA, The Centre, Masters, Millennium, Tiffany, ALRA and anywhere else I've omitted, you all look after our Graduates!
We already have more students enrolled for next year than we've ever had before so we are limbering up to begin the process all over again, and in the meantime our wonderful year group of 2012 have their Showcase on July 4th and their Graduation on July 6th so as one thing ends another is already beginning...
Our enormous gratitude and thanks goes as always to our Dance Faculty lead by Helen Read (Eva Blanco, Jackie Cullen and Michelle Legg) and our Theatre Faculty lead by myself (Seamus Allen, Ellie Verkerk and Mark Woolgar) and all of our guest teachers, supporters and trustees, for doing an amazing job once again.
And so the wheel keeps turning...!
Jamie
Apply Now for 2012/13!
It is a great privilege to work with young people at this stage in their training - they are right on the cusp of something great, and being there when they take their first metaphorical steps on their own is an amazing thing. They may be going on to other colleges for the next phase of their training, but they will always have been Read-ies first, and that is something that we are very proud of. GSA, Chichester, Rose Bruford, AMTA, The Centre, Masters, Millennium, Tiffany, ALRA and anywhere else I've omitted, you all look after our Graduates!
We already have more students enrolled for next year than we've ever had before so we are limbering up to begin the process all over again, and in the meantime our wonderful year group of 2012 have their Showcase on July 4th and their Graduation on July 6th so as one thing ends another is already beginning...
Our enormous gratitude and thanks goes as always to our Dance Faculty lead by Helen Read (Eva Blanco, Jackie Cullen and Michelle Legg) and our Theatre Faculty lead by myself (Seamus Allen, Ellie Verkerk and Mark Woolgar) and all of our guest teachers, supporters and trustees, for doing an amazing job once again.
And so the wheel keeps turning...!
Jamie
Apply Now for 2012/13!
Wednesday, 16 May 2012
Update from Read College
So much has happened here at Read since the last time I posted, I scarcely know where to begin!
Firstly, the Reading Half Marathon... The run was a great success and we are massively grateful to all of our tutors who took part most especially Seamus Allen, who took on the whole 13.2 miles rather than the expected leg of the relay he had volunteered for, when one of our other runners pulled out due to injury at the last moment.
In all Seamus and myself, and the relay team consisting of Helen Read, Eva Blanco and Michelle Legg, raised over £1,000 for the student bursary fund which we are DELIGHTED with! In fact, I had so much fun that I've signed up to run another half marathon in October!
Secondly, our move to the new premises is now complete. It was a massive amount of work, and the team of volunteers who gave their time over Easter and into this term have been amazing. Fancy a look around? Here it is!
Now we are heading towards another fundraiser for our Student Hardship Fund, which will be a concert in my home town of Thatcham, West Berkshire. Featuring some great talent from the West End - all of whom are giving their time for free to support the charity - the evening will be under the musical direction of our fantastic resident MD, Ellie Verkerk. The concert is on June 17th at 7.30pm and tickets are available now by calling the college office on 0118 9666774 or 08451 307408, and at just £10 to see the stars of the West End musicals up-close and personal it's a bargain!
Read Dance and Theatre College is a registered charity in the UK number 1142899 and supports young people in their training in the performing arts based on their talent and dedication, without their finances hindering their chances of succeeding in the industry.
To find out more about how to support the charity, contact us on 08451 307408, email admin@rdtc.org.uk or simply click on the link below.
Firstly, the Reading Half Marathon... The run was a great success and we are massively grateful to all of our tutors who took part most especially Seamus Allen, who took on the whole 13.2 miles rather than the expected leg of the relay he had volunteered for, when one of our other runners pulled out due to injury at the last moment.
In all Seamus and myself, and the relay team consisting of Helen Read, Eva Blanco and Michelle Legg, raised over £1,000 for the student bursary fund which we are DELIGHTED with! In fact, I had so much fun that I've signed up to run another half marathon in October!
Secondly, our move to the new premises is now complete. It was a massive amount of work, and the team of volunteers who gave their time over Easter and into this term have been amazing. Fancy a look around? Here it is!
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| Reception Area |
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| Corridor to Offices and Staff Room |
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| Drama Studio |
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| Student Green Room area |
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| Dance Studio/Studio Theatre |
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| Vocal Studio |
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| Dance Studio/Studio Theatre |
What a fantastic place to come to work every day! We are very grateful to our new landlords at the University of Reading for their help with our move, and also to all of our staff, friends, supporters and even an ex-student who turned out to help us with the mammoth task of moving the whole college in 4 days.
Our official 'press opening' was on the Sunday just gone (May 13th), and our students were treated to an incredible workshop with Bobby Cronin - currently over in the UK from New York - who worked with the students in the lead up to the cutting of the (imaginary) ribbon in the Studio Theatre.
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| Left to Right - Sarah Crumpton, Natalie-Ann Stanley, Adam Butler, Emma Louise Southall, Bobby Cronin, Emma Cox, Jessica Wilcox & Lowri Hughes at the opening of the new Read Dance and Theatre College |
Read Dance and Theatre College is a registered charity in the UK number 1142899 and supports young people in their training in the performing arts based on their talent and dedication, without their finances hindering their chances of succeeding in the industry.
To find out more about how to support the charity, contact us on 08451 307408, email admin@rdtc.org.uk or simply click on the link below.
Wednesday, 21 March 2012
Reflections on mirrors
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| The Myra McCulloch Studio Theatre |
With only 10 days to go until our move to the college's new home at Bulmershe Court our current year group have taken it upon themselves to help us fundraise for training mirrors at the new building. These mirrors will benefit not only our current crop, but also all of our future students as well, and they are a key part of training dancers.
The new space offers us a fantastic main studio, but as a former studio theatre there are no training mirrors on site at all. That's why we are looking to buy 4 portable mirrors mounted on wheels that we can use all over the space and then bring with us at any time in the future when we should find ourselves on the road again.
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| Drama Studio at the new Read College |
As part of their fundraising, the students are planning all kinds of events which I'm sure we will keep you posted about, and if you can help the students by sponsoring them for their events, or just donating a few pounds towards their target total of £1,500 then all you need to do is click on the button below. Don't forget to select 'Yes' in the Gift Aid box if you are a UK tax payer so that we can claim 25% tax relief on your donation.
Thursday, 15 March 2012
Sign up for news!
Read Dance and Theatre College now has a fantastic new mailing list system to keep all of our fantastic supporters up to date!
If you would like to know what we've been up to in our charitable and educational work, just sign up with your email address below. We promise not to send you a bunch of spam or any email we don't think you'll want to hear about, and we also won't pass your information on to anyone else.
Jamie, Helen and the Team
If you would like to know what we've been up to in our charitable and educational work, just sign up with your email address below. We promise not to send you a bunch of spam or any email we don't think you'll want to hear about, and we also won't pass your information on to anyone else.
Jamie, Helen and the Team
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