Drama school to open in Suffolk

A new drama school offering students a diploma in musical theatre industry preparation is opening in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.

CAST will open its doors to 25 students each year, at the cost of £10,000 annually, with its first cohort scheduled to start in September 2023.

The three-year diploma will train students in singing, acting and dancing, alongside offering training in self-management, working as a freelancer and managing social media.

West End performer Ruthie Henshall is opening the school, supported by composer Claude-Michel Schönberg and choreographer Stephen Mear.

Henshall said a large part of the training at CAST will ensure graduates can stay relevant within a rapidly changing industry.

“I am lucky enough to have been able to call on an illustrious panel of rising stars and musical theatre legends to develop a course and ethos that best serves our students as they start their journeys in this new world,” she added.

CAST will be accepting applications from both UK-based and international students, with an online submissions portal now open.