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Frequently Asked Questions

8) Should I go to drama school, stage school, university or college?

Read Sylvia Young's excellent advice and our How To Guide on Getting Into Drama School, on this site.

The choice may depend on where you hope to go with your qualifications. If you are after professional serious acting as a career (RSC type work) then Stage School followed by Drama School may appear more credible to future employers, whereas a more practical college course may work better for you if you are hoping to work as a camera operator or only wish to act part-time or for enjoyment.

Looking at the course curriculum is advised, and ultimately it is probably best to pick something that appeals to you since you will be studying it for a number of years - if you feel a theory-based course may bore you then perhaps choosing a more practical course is right for you. Some courses at stage schools may not offer the same variety of 'non-arts based' education in traditional subjects you are interested in, and it may also be worth considering whether you want to be taken away from friends and family and where you want to live for 3 or more years. It's worth baring in mind that the cost of specialist schools can be expensive and funding can be difficult for students and living closer to home may work out more convenient for you.

Mostly it's about personal choice and requirements, try to decide what is best for the line of work you look to go into and try not to be swayed by what others think - as one person's experience could differ greatly to yours and what worked for them may not be what is best for you. In the end it may be what you do OUTSIDE of college, university or school that gets you the jobs - like amateur theatre and local drama groups to private singing tuition or work experience with a lighting company. These qualifications are not the be-all and end-all of a career in the arts, but they may help prove your commitment to future employers and give you a head start over other applicants in the future.

This topic has also been discussed many times by our StageTalkers so take a look at some of the older postings.

Other useful links: UK Performing Arts