Playbox opens first Ustinov Theatre School in UK

Published: 7 February 2015
Reporter: Steve Orme

The Dream Factory where Playbox will open a Ustinov Theatre School

The Frankfurt-based Sir Peter Ustinov Foundation and Playbox Theatre have announced the creation of the first Ustinov Theatre School in the UK.

In September 2015, Playbox Theatre will open the school at its home, the Dream Factory in Warwick. Aspiring young artists will be invited to attend a training programme supported by the Foundation.

The school will be led by director Toby Quash and will have up to 30 students in 2015-16. Throughout the spring and summer, recruitment and auditions will take place in partnership with schools, colleges and other organisations to discover the first young artists to train at the school.

Students will work towards staging in summer 2016 an original production created especially for them.

Mary King, founding and executive director of Playbox, said, “this is a superb new venture made possible by the Foundation, enabling young people who desire a future in theatre to have the guidance and opportunities to obtain this level of training without having to struggle for funds.

“The Foundation will fully support each student throughout their training and will prepare them for developing their dreams and aspirations.

“Our discussions with the Foundation over the past year have brought together a shared vision, a legacy of Sir Peter Ustinov who desired true equality for everyone. We hope that our new venture will both honour his memory and create a new generation of theatre and arts practitioners.”

*Some links, including Amazon, Stageplays.com, ATG Tickets, LOVEtheatre, BTG Tickets, Ticketmaster, The Ticket Factory, LW Theatres and QuayTickets, are affiliate links for which BTG may earn a small fee at no extra cost to the purchaser.

Are you sure?