Performing Arts in the UK
A Saturday stage school where a shy eight-year-old finds a voice, drama classes that turn into LAMDA grades and a UCAS point or two, a musical theatre group that puts on a proper show with a band, an amateur dramatics society that needs a stage manager, adult acting classes for the confidence, a youth theatre with a bursary, or a college course for the one who means it: find the performing arts schools and groups near you.
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Finding a good performing arts school in the UK
Performing arts locally runs from the first class to the professional stage: part-time stage schools and theatre schools teaching drama, dance and singing to children on Saturdays and after school, with shows, exams and agencies for young performers; drama classes and youth theatres, often attached to a theatre or arts centre, with bursaries and productions; musical theatre societies, amateur dramatic societies and operatic groups staging shows with orchestras and full sets; adult acting, improvisation and public speaking classes; full-time performing arts colleges and drama schools for the vocational route; and the theatres, arts centres, studios and rehearsal spaces they all use, alongside the choreographers, directors, musical directors and technicians who work across them.
For a child the question is what they want from it: fun, confidence and friends from a stage school or youth theatre, a structured route with LAMDA, Trinity or dance exams that count for UCAS points, or professional work through a school with an agency and a licence chaperone system; for an adult, a class for confidence and enjoyment, an amateur company for the whole experience of putting on a show, or training. Look for teachers with professional training or experience, DBS checks and safeguarding for children, class sizes small enough to act in, exam results and show quality you can see, fair audition and casting policies, and clear termly fees with the show and exam costs stated; visit a class or a show before committing.
The listings here show each school's and group's classes and ages, disciplines, exams and agencies, productions and venues, fees and bursaries, teachers and contact details, so you can see what is nearby, what suits the performer, and where people in your town go to get on stage.
What performing arts schools and groups offer
Children and teenagers: stage schools with drama, dance and singing on Saturdays and after school, youth theatres, musical theatre groups, shows and showcases, LAMDA, Trinity and dance exams, holiday workshops and agency representation for professional work.
Adults: acting, improvisation, musical theatre and singing classes, public speaking and presentation skills, amateur dramatic and operatic societies, community choirs and theatre, and audition preparation.
Training and progression: full-time performing arts colleges and drama schools, BTEC, A-level and degree courses, foundation courses, audition coaching for drama school and conservatoire entry, and masterclasses.
Productions: amateur and community shows in local theatres and halls, pantomimes, musicals, plays and festivals, with roles on stage and backstage in lighting, sound, set, costume and stage management.
Professionals and spaces: directors, choreographers, musical directors, vocal coaches and technicians for hire, and theatres, studios, halls and rehearsal rooms to rent.
Before you join a performing arts school or group
- Watch a class or a show first; the quality of the work and the atmosphere tell you everything.
- Ask about the teachers' training and experience, DBS checks, safeguarding and class sizes.
- Understand the fees: termly tuition, uniform, exam entries, show costumes and tickets, and any agency fees.
- Ask how casting works and whether every child gets on stage; a school that only features its stars is not for most children.
- For agencies, check the licensing and chaperone arrangements and be wary of upfront fees for representation.
- For adults, try a taster session; most classes and societies offer one free or cheap.
What performing arts classes cost in the UK
As a rough guide, a Saturday stage school with drama, dance and singing costs £150 to £350 a term for three hours a week, an after-school drama class £8 to £15 a session or £100 to £180 a term, a youth theatre £30 to £120 a term with bursaries and often free places, LAMDA and Trinity exam fees £40 to £90 a grade plus coaching, adult acting and improvisation classes £10 to £25 a session or £120 to £250 for a ten-week course, amateur society membership £20 to £60 a year plus show fees, private singing or acting lessons £30 to £60 an hour, audition coaching £40 to £80 an hour, and full-time performing arts college fees as for any further or higher education course; agencies take 15 to 25 per cent of a child performer's earnings and should charge nothing upfront beyond a modest photo and registration cost.
A £250 term of stage school that gives a quiet child the confidence to read aloud in class is cheaper than most of what parents spend trying to buy the same thing.
How do I find a performing arts school near me?+
Look at the performing arts schools, classes and groups listed for your town, which show their classes and ages, disciplines, exams and agencies, productions, fees and bursaries, teachers and reviews; watch a class or a show, ask about teachers, safeguarding and casting, and choose the one whose atmosphere suits the performer, whether that is fun, exams or a professional route.
What age can children start drama or stage school?+
Most stage schools take children from four or five in play-based classes, with structured drama, dance and singing from six or seven, youth theatres from about eight, and LAMDA exams from around seven; teenagers join youth theatres, musical theatre groups and exam classes, and colleges take students at sixteen and eighteen. There is no right age; the child who wants to go is ready.
How much do performing arts classes cost?+
About £150 to £350 a term for a Saturday stage school, £100 to £180 a term for a weekly drama class, £30 to £120 a term for a youth theatre with bursaries available, £120 to £250 for a ten-week adult course, and £30 to £60 an hour for private lessons, with exam fees, costumes and show tickets on top; amateur societies cost £20 to £60 a year to join. Ask for the full termly cost before signing up.
Are LAMDA exams worth doing?+
For a child who enjoys drama, yes: LAMDA and Trinity exams in acting, verse and prose, public speaking and musical theatre give structure, confidence in speaking and performing, and at grades 6 to 8 UCAS points that count for university entry, and the preparation is a good class in itself; they are optional at most schools and not needed for enjoyment or for a professional career, where training and talent matter more.
How do I get my child into professional work?+
Through a licensed agency, usually attached to a stage school, which puts children forward for television, film, theatre and advertising work and arranges the performance licences and chaperones the law requires; reputable agencies take commission of 15 to 25 per cent on work and charge little or nothing upfront, so be wary of anyone selling expensive photos or courses as the price of representation. Most child performers earn little; do it because the child loves it.
Can adults join amateur dramatics?+
Yes, and societies are always short of people: amateur dramatic, musical and operatic societies welcome new members of any experience for acting, singing, dancing and the backstage roles of stage management, lighting, sound, set building, costume and front of house, with auditions for parts and a show or two a year in a local theatre or hall, for £20 to £60 a year plus show fees. Adult acting and improvisation classes are the other route in.
How do I get my business listed?+
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