Performing Arts 2025

[doesanybodyhaveamap]

Starting a thread re: performing arts applicants for 2025. If one already exists, happy to be redirected!!

Anyone pressed 'send' on their applications yet? Curious as to timelines for initial responses and to submit self tapes....

Buckling in for a long and nervous journey!

I would suggest keep trying especially if others have heard.

These colleges just don’t think of the impact on our children through the process and yes I know it’s indicative of the industry, but these are kids navigating their way through a stressful process, yet they all profess to be great at pastoral care and mental health.

Last year, LIPA didn’t ever get back to DD! She had decided to take somewhere else and whilst I did encourage her to phone them (they wouldn’t speak to me). She said it wasn’t worth it if they were that disorganised!

Hi all, just an update as we are in the thick of MT auditions now. DD has had in person auditions so far for PPA, Trinity & GSA. She has Bird in 2 weeks & EDA in April. However we are still Waiting on Italia Conti to view my daughters tapes which were submitted 4 weeks ago (really frustrating as they offered some boys auditions right away who submitted their tapes on the same day as my DD) & also awaiting outcome for Urdangnself tapes but will likely be end of March before we hear.

So far she has a degree offer for PPA & she got selected for interview at her GSA recall yesterday which was amazing but not getting our hopes up as they are only taking 22 this year 😔

Best of luck to everyone else still to audition & congrats to those with offers, it is a brutal process for sure. If my DD doesnt get any other offers then she will take the PPA offer as I am not sure I could do all this again next year 🙈 Nerves of steel required!

Sounds like she is doing really well.

22 out of how many applications - hundreds? Shows how tough it is as everyone who applies is good.

When we went to the GSA Open Day, they said they get over two thousand applications for the 20 odd places!

Ouch! For musical theatre? So 1 in a hundred chance…

i guess most people apply to 5-6 places but even so that’s tough odds

Wow, really. When was the open day? That is crazy numbers. My daughter has applied for 7 schools in total. Avoiding the likes of MV, Arts Ed & Laine as they are just too expensive. GSA would be the dream but we know the odds arent really in her favour. At least we dont have to wait too long for an answer.

DD is in Foundation MT at GSA at the moment. There are only 22 on that of which there are 8 boys. Only 1 so far has been offered waitlist, which is scary, but there are other auditions to go, including DDs - she’s not holding her breath!

I know one of her tutors has gone through hundreds of tapes to get to recalls, there are bound to be many great candidates who get missed, so even getting through to recall is an achievement in itself.

Ooh can I join please? I've read the full thread and congratulations to everyone's DC on getting this far! It's certainly nail biting stuff!

My daughter will be auditioning for sept '26 but is already looking and keeping her eyes peeled for open days etc. She attends associate classes once a month at Emil Dale and I know this is her top pick but I'm trying to encourage her to keep her options open and not pin all her hopes on ED.

Can I ask if anyone has any experience on the funding? As a single parent it terrifies me. Is it actually manageable or will she definitely need a scholarship to go anywhere? She thinks she'll be ok with student loans and a part time job but I still can't see how this is feasible, especially when accommodation is advertised at £200 per week!

Helllo 👋

DD is in her third round, because she auditioned, deferred, did a year out, dropped her deferred place, auditioned, went for a foundation and now has to audition for a BA.

Funding is tough and personally I can’t think of any way around not having to help to top up.

The fees for the course are paid by student loan, everyone gets that paid direct to Uni. Be aware though some colleges are not eligible for student loan, or only part of, so if you don’t get help with a scholarship or other funding, they may be a no.

Additionally, you get a maintenance grant towards living/accommodation. That is means tested, so it could be minimum which is around £4,000 or max £13,000??? Dint quote me on those. Student Finance England has all the info on their site. If you are on any benefits, you may get a top up.

My daughters halls at Uni of Surrey, currently cost £2,200 a term. She is in an en-suite so it could be cheaper.

She uses her maintenance for food and general living, we pay the accommodation.

it’s scary!

@Mrsg26 We went to the GSA Open Day at the beginning of October.

Hi!

I suspect it is doable if they choose uni carefully, are able to get a decent maintenance loan and are able to work a bit.

My daughter is also going to be auditioning for Sept 26 entry so we are in the same boat there. She did Emil Dale Associates last year and is now at Arts1 doing their Btec. It’s not as gruelling a schedule as uni admittedly, but far more than when her brother did regular A levels and she is living away from home so has to shop/cook/clean for herself. She’s got 2 part time jobs on 0 hours contracts so she signs up for shifts when she can.

Drama students are a determined bunch.

It might be helpful to know that some are on ucas so fees are £9750 a year (at the moment) and some are not and charge more eg mountview is £16000 I think. A big difference if that’s a factor for you.

Also the ones that charge more you can only get a student loan of approx £6.5k towards the fees so the shortfall is more than you might think. (per annum)

The hours do vary too for courses which can limit the ability to work.

DD starts most days between 9/10am and whist has sometimes an hour or two off in the day, her classes continue until 7pm. She then may do extra dance classes. By the weekend she’s exhausted.

Weekends are totally free (not sure of Conti still do Saturday am). But then depends where they are based and what’s available around.

In 6th form DD had a job in a coffee shop, so learnt how to barrista which has been useful and spent all summer working at a holiday resort to save money which gets her extras like drinks and meals out.

thanks for that info, do you mind saying if your daughter is at GSA? we have looked at halls at Uni of Surrey & they do seem quite reasonable

This is why my daughter isnt applying for Mountview, Arts Ed or Laine as we couldnt afford the top up fees in addition to accommodation costs

Same. That will make places like gsa, lipa and Bruford even more competitive…

My Daughter had her audition for Musical Theatre on Saturday and we got an email today to say she is on the Reserve list, which is amazing however we know not to get our hopes up as there are so few places available.

Do you know how long the auditions go on for?

Well done your DD. That’s fantastic, let’s hope she gets it.

I know there is at least one. When DD chose her date, there was only one option.

Yes. PM me if you want more info, but their website is pretty good at giving info on costs and types.

@Mrsg26 waving from the GSA reserve list!!! Actor musician here

Aw fab news! Congratulations. We know of one other girl on reserve list too, she got placed on it today. She goes to school with my daughter, And one boy from her school also got an offer on the day for Actor Muso just over 2 weeks ago and another for MT. I dont know how fast these lists move or how many are on them but i hope we hear soon 🤞🤞

Great news about offers/reserves. I saw a production with the actors muso’s a while back and it was fabulous.

DD is auditioning for Mountview MT today. She’s never actually visited the campus and the auditions in Manchester, so let’s see what happens.

@Paddlinglikehell we applied without visiting campus and then decided to swing by when we were in town for a show.... DC immediately decided it wasn't for them. I think it's very marmite... building is cool and obviously have amazing track record. But for us the area was a definite no. Such a shame and now we are down to only 3 options this year! Really wish we'd made it there before putting in the application.

I have to say, the area concerns me too, the fact there’s no accommodation etc. the campus she’s in now is so large and all self contained it’s a lovely and as a parent it fees safe.