MFA Theatre Directing

“Coming from what I believed to be the epicenter of the theatre world, I am still constantly asked why, out of all the drama schools I applied to (and was accepted for) in New York city, I chose East 15 Acting School.

What I found unique about East 15’s approach, was the focus on the importance of acknowledging different cultures and influences in the theatre directing course. Coming from a theatre design background, I had already discovered the value of utilizing the diverse cultural flavors of the world in my theatre work. The courses at East 15 catered to this philosophy.

So far I have worked with and learned from individuals from just about every continent and I have been able to study in Indonesia and Russia. This meant that, on top of all the big name British directors we connect with on a weekly basis, we are fortunate enough to be able to make professional contacts with working directors and performers from all over the globe.

I have also grown to love the student community, we often work with students on the other acting courses and we have all become part of a huge family of like-minded personalities. Walking around the beautiful Loughton Campus, it’s rare to come across a face that you don’t recognise.

At the risk of sounding clichéd, I have to say that my time here has been the best of my life, and from what I have been equipped with through this course, I feel ready to take on the world.”

"Throughout my year at the Loughton Campus, I gained an amazing array of techniques and skills, as well as an enriching human experience that involved cultural bridging, leadership, conflict resolution and a profound transformative self-development.

I found each of my classes to be a challenging place of cultural understanding, somewhere we could abandon our judgments about each other’s ethnicities and work together. Languages and traditions enabled a very colourful experience of dialogue and interaction between us. This diversity was a reinforcing tool in helping us all to become authentic actors. MA Acting (International) taught me to see the world differently; I have learnt that we are all connected and affected by each other. I am grateful to East 15 for giving me this freedom as an actress.

Since graduating, I have been invited back to UK to work at the National Theatre. I feel inspired by my international classroom, tutors and friends, and able to bring the international discourse I experienced in East 15 to a wider audience."