17 Jan Statement re Bristol Old Vic Theatre School

SDUK is extremely concerned about the winding down of undergraduate courses at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Like many drama schools in the U.K., the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School is an important employer for our members. We have made contact with those members we know are engaged in work with the school and ask any member working for the school to get in contact with the staff at SDUK should you need support.

By any metric theatre in the U.K. is a success story, but vocational training is expensive to deliver. If the U.K. wants theatre and the performing arts to continue to thrive there needs to be proper investment in robust vocational training for actors, dancers, musicians as well as production, craft and technical roles. It should be unthinkable that an institution as significant as Bristol Old Vic Theatre School should find itself in such a financially perilous situation.