Guildford School of Acting (GSA) at the University of Surrey is one of the most highly regarded theatre schools in the UK with a vibrant community of performers, performance makers, applied theatre practitioners, creative practitioners and technicians graduating from our wide variety of programmes each year.
Building on a 90-year heritage and our reputation as arguably the leading musical theatre school in the world, we are passionate about helping our students develop the practical, interpersonal and intellectual skills needed in today’s highly competitive and ever-evolving creative industry.
GSA offers world-class training at Foundation (CertHE), Undergraduate, and Postgraduate levels, delivered in our state-of-the-art facilities or via online distance learning. We also offer short courses, summer schools, and professional development programmes.
GSA operates a pedagogic approach that utilises student-centred, practice-based learning. Every module has an ethos of nurturing and enabling employability and personal development opportunities for the students. Our learning environment grants our students the freedom to take risks and embrace spontaneity.
We keep our cohorts small to ensure you get personal attention and contact from our expert teachers, who have extensive first-hand experience in professional theatre all over the world.
We are ranked 1st in the UK for drama and music in the Daily Mail University Guide 2025, and 3rd in the UK for dance, drama and cinematics in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024. We were shortlisted for University of the Year in The Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023.
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90 Years of Guildford School of Acting: Celebrating the Past, Present, and Future
2025 marks an extraordinary milestone for us, as we celebrate 90 years of shaping the performing arts industry. From humble beginnings to becoming a global leader in performing arts training, GSA has consistently evolved to meet the demands of an ever-changing creative landscape. This anniversary
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Is an MA in Teaching and Practice of Voice and Singing right for me?
Are you interested in developing specialist skills in voice/singing teaching? Whether you’re a working performer, an educator, or a new graduate looking to specialise, the MA in Teaching and Practice of Voice and Singing at the Guildford School of Acting (GSA) could be your perfect next step. This
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Guildford School of Acting will be in Philadelphia, USA this January
We are thrilled to announce that we will be in Philadelphia, USA, from 9 to 13 January 2025. We have 3 events planned for you, read on to learn more: 1. A Taste of GSA Workshop Date: 9 January 2025 Times: 3pm to 6pm Location: Walnut Street Theatre (6th floor rehearsal room), 825 Walnut Street
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GSA graduates win big at the National Stage Management Awards 2024
sm="7" Two GSA graduates win at the 2024 National Stage Management Awards, and two others nominated in various categories. In June, the Stage Management Association held the National Stage Management Awards, presented at the ABTT Theatre Show. After a pause due to the pandemic, these
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Guildford School of Acting Presents Relaxed Performance of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Guildford School of Acting (GSA) is pleased to present a relaxed performance of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time this autumn, offering an inclusive experience for audiences who may benefit from a more flexible theatre setting. The production, adapted by Simon Stephens, based on Mark
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Business Voice Coaching
Guildford School of Acting (GSA) is one of the UK’s leading accredited conservatoires, providing dedicated training within a purpose-built environment within the University of Surrey. We provide voice coaching for organisations, entrepreneurs, leaders, and professionals who would like to speak with
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ABTT Launches New Guidance for ‘Respect and Dignity’ in the workplace
The Association of British Theatre Technicians (ABTT) is very pleased to launch the third document in its ‘W’ for ‘Welfare’ series of Guidance Notes. Following work with RB Health & Safety Solutions and the AAPTLE Well-being Working Group during the UK’s Mental Health Awareness Month in May 2024
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Checking in with the GSA Student Society
Our Student Society is a wonderful team of GSA students who organise student-led events and activities throughout the year. From events celebrating diversity, individuality and various cultures, to networking events and fun parties, they’re always busy working on enhancing the student experience
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GSA's Mig Burgess-Walsh wins Vice-Chancellor's Award for Wellbeing, Health and Safety
Congratulations to Mig Burgess-Walsh, Senior Lecturer at GSA on winning the University of Surrey's Vice-Chancellor's Award for Wellbeing, Health and Safety. The Award for Wellbeing, Health and Safety is awarded to an individual who has made an exceptional contribution to improving the health and
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It Won’t Be Long Now – A true reflection by Indy Chun Leung Lee
We were pleased to host an exciting solo performance of It Won't Be Long Now at our Founders Studio, directed, written and performed by Indy Lee in both English and Cantonese. This solo performance tells the stories of the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong (from 1941 to 1945), portraying the lives of
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Discussion & Q&A with Trans & Nonbinary Creatives
We were delighted to welcome an exciting selection of trans and nonbinary professionals to GSA for a trans-led, hour-long panel discussion and Q&A. The panel consisted of professionals from different areas of the creative industry including creative producers, performers, an intimacy coordinator, a
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Welcome, Freshers of 2023 - A Message From Your Student Society
Welcome to the Guildford School of Acting, Freshers of 2023! 🎉 Congratulations on securing your place at GSA! We're thrilled to have you join our community of performers, performance makers, creative practitioners and technicians. We're the GSA Student Society, and we're here to ensure your time at
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GSA alumnus Kobna Holdbrook-Smith MBE awarded Degree of Doctor of the University, honoris causa
Congratulations to GSA alumnus and GSA Advisory Group member Kobna Holdbrook-Smith MBE, on his award of an Honorary Doctorate Degree by the University of Surrey, in recognition of his extraordinary acting achievements and impactful advocacy for the arts. Presenting Kobna with the award at the July
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Meet your technician: Roger Ness
GSA Technician and Set Designer Roger Ness tell us about his long career at Surrey and why he looks forward to coming to work every day. How long have you been working at the Guildford School of Acting, University of Surrey? I came to GSA in early 2000 to paint three sets, which went to the Electric
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GSA Alumni win at the 2023 Oscars and BAFTA awards
Two Guildford School of Acting alumni are celebrating global success after triumphing at this year’s Oscar and BAFTA Awards. Tom Berkeley and Ross White, who graduated from the BA Acting course in 2017, won the 2023 Best Short Film (Live Action) Oscar award for writing and directing ‘ An Irish
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Mig Burgess Walsh on ABTT's Work Related Stress Risk Assessments Guidance
The Association of British Theatre Technicians (ABTT) launched Guidance Note W2: Mental health and well-being in the workplace - A practical guide to conducting Stress Risk Assessments and creating well-being policies in November 2022. GSA's Senior Lecturer and ABTT's Co-Chair, Mig Burgess Walsh
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Leading the Way on Inclusivity - GSA Pilots New Way of Delivering Audio Description for Its Audience
GSA’s autumn production of Once in a Lifetime will pilot a new way of delivering audio description for audiences at the Ivy Arts Centre. As one of the most highly-regarded theatre schools in the UK , GSA is leading the way on inclusivity in the industry using Sennheiser Mobile Connect, which allows
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Welcome from Head of School, Dr Catherine McNamara
On behalf of all of the staff at GSA, I am delighted to welcome the new academic year. You may know that I started in the role of Head of GSA in mid-May. I saw a wide range of student work in the weeks leading up the end of term which was energising and inspirational. I’m very much looking forward
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Final year Acting Students Among the Winners and Long Listed for the BBC Carleton Hobbs Bursary Award
Final year BA (Hons) Acting students, Tom Kiteley and Ruth Sparks took part in the BBC Carleton Hobbs Bursary Award (CHBA) 2022 earlier this year and achieved outstanding results. We are so excited to share that Tom won the Award and joined the Radio Company on 23 rd July to complete his 5-month
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Her Majesty The Queen
A statement from Professor Max Lu, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Surrey: "On behalf of the University of Surrey community, I want to offer my most profound and sincere condolences to the Royal Family. Our University, along with people the world over, is mourning the passing of
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Life-changing, global experiences with the Turing Scheme
We’re delighted to announce the University of Surrey’s £1.7m government grant for the Turing Scheme and want you to know how to get the most out of it at GSA. What is the Turing Scheme? The scheme offers students in the current 2021/22 academic year and 2021 graduates the chance to take part in a
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GSA offers fully-funded Foundation places to broaden inclusion
GSA is offering up to four fully-funded places on its highly regarded, year-long Foundation Acting and Foundation Musical Theatre courses, meaning some students will be able to study for free. The bursaries, which cover all fees and are worth up to £10,100 each, are being offered to students
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Shakespeare on demand for schools, colleges and youth groups
As people around the world commemorate the anniversary of William Shakespeare’s birth and death on 23 rd April, GSA is making screenings of its recent productions of two Shakespeare plays available to schools, colleges and youth groups. The contemporary setting of this abridged version of Hamlet
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Alumni needed for new mentoring scheme
A new online platform is connecting graduating students with alumni working in relevant fields, enabling former GSA students to support those just finishing their courses. SurreyConnects brings alumni and students together for networking and short-term mentoring. The idea is that mentors and
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Meet Guildford School of Acting's appointed EDI Directors
Meet GSA's appointed EDI Directors Nina Kristofferson is a multi award winning actor, singer, writer (including The Billy Holiday Story and Timeless), producer, director, recording artist, GSA alumna and GSA Teaching Fellow in Singing. @ninaspage @ninakristofferson Dr Cathy Sloan is a theatre-maker
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GSA's new audition fee widens access and improves representation
GSA's new audition fee widens access and improves representation. As applications open, Guildford School of Acting (GSA) are delighted to announce new audition and interview processes and fee structures for 2021 entry. Head of GSA, Professor Sean McNamara says “2020 has been a year of profound
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The Ella Balinska Scholarship 2021
The Ella Balinska Scholarship 2021 GSA is delighted to announce the establishment of the Ella Balinska Scholarship. Offered by GSA graduate and Hollywood actress, Ella Balinska, the scholarship will be a financial award to one first-year student on the Acting BA (Hons) course in 2021, who is part of
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GSA adds muscle to its production students’ qualification
GSA adds muscle to its production students’ qualification We are very pleased to formally announce that the BA Theatre Production Degree at The Guildford School of Acting has now successfully integrated the ABTT Bronze Award into its programme. Students will now have the opportunity to gain not only
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BA (Hons) Theatre (LEVEL 6 TOP-UP, ONLINE)
sm="7" This unique conversion programme, delivered via online learning, allows you to build on your previous study or work experience. This one-year top-up degree is taught entirely online, allowing you to pursue your passion for theatre around your own schedule. Who is this course
