Old Vic Academy

What is Bristol Old Vic Academy?

The world leading training we’re famous for –  delivered in an accessible and affordable way.

Whether you are:

– A young-person looking to develop your skills for a future in the creative industries.

– A professional, already working in the creative arts and looking to perfect or pick up a new skill.

– A hobbyist creative enthusiast, looking to learn or add a new string to your bow.

Our Academy training is of the same standard, delivered primarily from the home of the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.

Bristol Old Vic Theatre School has been established for 80 years and has nurtured some of the biggest names on and off stage and screen!

Now we are on a mission to reach more people with our expert training. No matter your background, experience or ability. There is something for everyone.

Explore our four streams of training on offer below:

PERFORM

In the Academy’s Perform stream of training you can build your credentials as an actor, while also gaining valuable singing and movement training too.

From our ever popular actor’s development programme which has two levels of attainment, to our physical theatre or dance for musical theatre weekly sessions and our musical theatre choir, sing – solos and duets tuition and sing – harmonies group.

There is something for everyone looking to improve and develop professional skills and step up their audition potential.

Find out more about all our ‘Perform’ training options here:

CREATE

Our Create programme is the ideal training space for both developing professionals who want to work off-stage and off-screen in roles such as design, writing, directing and production. As well as hobbyists who are looking to developing skills to support their work with amateur societies and beyond.

Training includes short courses / weekly development programmes and more.

There is termly costume and set design at both introduction and advanced levels, writing for theatre and writing for screen, as well as production for theatre and for screen. Not forgetting our popular directing courses for both screen and stage.

MAKE

We are very proud of the school’s heritage in developing talented makers – whether that be props, puppets, costume or set construction.

These skills are niche and in desperate need across the professional and amateur sector of the stage and screen industry.

Our MAKE stream of training includes weekly classes, as well as short and intensive courses and ad-hoc opportunities.

With prop, puppet, costume and set making for beginners and advanced courses available.

YOUTH

Nurturing the next generation of talented creatives is something we take very seriously indeed.

Because where are we going to be without a pipeline of brilliant, imaginative and equipped young people with passion and skills to succeed in this challenging industry.

The Bristol Old Vic Academy Youth programme has an established track record of excellence.

Our training includes weekly training for screen acting, musical theatre, devising theatre, physical theatre – all in three age categories from 8 to 18 years.

Plus our musical theatre young company and our theatre young company.

We also offer a design and make theatre for 15 to 18 year olds looking at off-stage roles such as design, writing and directing.