Successful World Performance launch at The Groucho Club
Teachers, members of the theatre world and distinguished alumni attended East 15 Acting School's successful launch of their new BA World Performance degree at a glamorous evening reception at The Groucho Club in London.
BA World Performance is a unique and radical step away from traditional university or drama school programmes and no other UK institutions offer a similar scheme, as it combines a study of performance traditions and approaches from across the world. This allows students to look at acting, dance and mask work in order to deepen the British understanding of world performances, acting and theatre.
Entertainment at World Performance launch was provided by East 15 students from Denmark, Malta, the Caribbean, Poland and Israel, who sang in their native tongue accompanied by East 15's Head of Music, and pianist on BBC Radio 4's I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue, Colin Sell. There was also Balinese dancing and speeches from Unicorn Theatre's artistic director, Tony Graham, and ON Theatre's artistic director Mick Gordon.
East 15 graduate and star of stage and TV, Ann Mitchell, who attended the World Performance launch, said: "I wish East 15 and all involved the very best of luck for the future internationally."
BA World Performance is aimed at students who have an interest and skills in performance but may not want to become a traditional, professional actor. It would also be suitable for students drawn towards performing arts and theatre arts programmes at universities and academies with a strong performance tradition. The scheme is an exciting step for East 15 and will be taught at the University of Essex's new state-of-the-art campus in Southend-on-Sea, meaning students have access to outstanding facilities (such as large rehearsal rooms with panoramic views across Southend) with further plans to convert an old church into a theatre!
East 15, one of the UK's most innovative acting schools, has been providing professional training for those wishing to work in theatre, film, TV, radio and other related fields for more than 40 years. It has a campus in Loughton, just 12 miles outside of London and, in September 2000, became part of the University of Essex. Since then a strategy has developed to expand East 15's provision to the University's new campus in Southend-on-Sea.
