The Stage Scholarships 2016: Read College

Returning to The Stage Scholarships scheme is Read College, which has been providing foundation training for students wishing to pursue a career in the performing arts since 2008.

In recent years, Read – based at the beautiful St Bart's Theatre in Reading – has gone from strength to strength with 97% of students going on to gain places at the UK's top dance and drama colleges.

One applicant will win a full scholarship to attend either the acting or musical theatre one-year foundation course, worth £7,425.

Jamie (director of theatre) and Helen Read (director of dance) set up the independent college to help students fulfil their potential and to train students "based on their talent and suitability to the industry, rather than on their ability to pay fees".

He explains: "We want to help young people who deserve a place at dance school or drama college but aren't quite ready or who can't afford to go."

He believes two factors have contributed to the success of the school. The first is its intimacy: "We take a maximum of 15 people on each course so Helen and I and members of the faculty get to know all of the students really well. A lot of them are living away from home and experiencing life as a student for the first time, so we help them with all the various issues they encounter along the way.

"It's very professional, but it's also a family. We get to work with them on a personal as well as professional level – it makes a big difference."

It is also significant, Jamie says, that Read is not affiliated to any particular three-year school: "We get pretty much every acting and musical theatre school you could name coming out to us to do audition classes, talks and workshops. We get to know all their representatives really well. We've had schools ringing up saying, 'Please can we come?' "

What qualities is Jamie looking for in a would-be Read student? "We are seeking applicants who are open to the intensity of the training. They also need to deal with the pressure of us saying: 'Yes, your monologue looks great for this school, but for another college, you've got to do something completely different.' If they're too technically locked down in what they do, that's quite hard to work with."

Jamie hopes Read's partnership with The Stage will help him spread the word across the industry about the school's dedication to working with young people who have the talent, but perhaps not the financial backing, to pursue their training.

"To be able to give someone the opportunity to be fully funded through the course is amazing. We want to let more people know this is what we do and that there is more than one way to access funding."

rdtc.org.uk

Course: One-year foundation course in acting or musical theatreEducational level: Post-schoolNumber of scholarships offered: One full scholarshipValue of scholarship: £7,425What costs are covered? FeesWhere is the school? ReadingAudition date: June 7. The scholarship audition is open to those who have already been awarded a place at Read College, so applicants will need to attend a regular audition day first. Successful applicants will be recalled to the scholarship audition.How to apply: Online – or request a paper application form by calling 0118 9666275. Closing date for applications is May 23.

Find out more about The Stage Scholarships

Source: The Stage Scholarships 2016: Read College