BIRMINGHAM'S NEW STATE OF THE ART ACTING SCHOOL

The new home, in the City’s Millennium Point, offers students first-class drama facilities and resources.  There are 11 studios, three of which can be also be used as dance studios and a performance studio called the Patricia Yardley Studio, aptly named after the founder’s daughter and Principal of the School from 1980 - 2000.  All studios are fitted with sprung floors to enhance movement and dance and to protect students from joints and muscle injury; acoustic panelling to reduce echo and reverberation; air conditioning and air displacement systems that ensures the temperature of the studios remain the same from the floor to the ceiling.  The Patricia Yardley Studio also has the same facilities as well as being fitted with state-of-the-art air conditioning, lighting and sound technology for the studio to be used for rehearsals and performances.

Adam Smith, a final year BA (Hons) Acting student, commented: “As a student of the School for the last two years I think that the move and the new premises are fascinating.  It is great!  The old building - the Link Building - was good to train in and had lots of character, but it is nothing like this building.  It really is state-of-the-art and the studios are a brilliant space to work and train in.”

Birmingham School of Acting merged with Birmingham City University in May 2005, and the move to the new building has allowed BSA to introduce new courses for the acting profession.  The School will be introducing a post-graduate course in Musical Theatre for entry in September 2007 and plans to introduce a portfolio of Professional Development including a refresher course for actors and acting for screen and film course.

Stephen Simms, BSA Director said: “This is a fantastic move for the school and the new building is beautiful.  We are one of the top drama schools in the UK and we now have the facilities to match the quality of our training.  It is also good news for Birmingham as it reinforces the City’s position as a major centre for the arts and has strengthened the University’s reputation as the leading arts university in the Midlands and one of the best in Europe .”