Drama Scholarship - backstage?!

[McVities24]

Hello,

My DD is going into year 11, she attends a local independent school due to SEN. During her time at school she had developed a passion for backstage drama, costumes/lighting/directing. The teachers have approached her to ask her to be Stage Manager for previous productions and she attends a weekly backstage group.

She really wants to stay at her school for sixth form. I would love her too as well, as she struggles with change. I was thinking of applying for a scholarship to help with fees during sixth form. Has anyone got a scholarship for backstage drama work? Or are they purely for acting.

Any advice much appreciated.

Thank you.

You’d be better off asking her actual school if they do this. It is possible in some schools, but if you’d rather she stayed where she is then approach the school and see what they say.

Or ask for a bursary?

If you were asking if there are external bodies who might award sixth form scholarships for backstage work, then I think it is very very unlikely. I worked in theatre and have never heard of anything like that at secondary level. All drama and theatre courses at third level are competitive and there are never enough scholarships or bursaries to go around all the talented applicants, even at that level.

As mentioned, your best bet is a bursary from the school if you fulfil the requirements or possibly a scholarship. The school may look favourably on that if they value her contributions to productions in a backstage environment.

Thank you all for your replies.

I have sent an e-mail to the school but they are off for the summer.

I guess my perception is if applying for a drama scholarship it’s in acting - however the information on the school website doesn’t state that. Which is what made me wonder if it was possible. @usernamedifferent You mentioned that it’s possible in some schools, that gives me a bit of hope.

In our school you need to show an interest in the theatre and they specifically say that can be acting, directing or the technical side. One of my daughter’s friends always works the sound / lighting for example and this counts.