Guildford School of Acting

Guildford School of Acting

Established	1935
Type	Independent
Director	Terrie Fender
Head of Acting	Dr Trevor Rawlins
Head of Musical Theatre	Michael Moor
Founders	Pauline Grant Bice Bellairs
Location	Guildford School of Acting Stag Hill Campus Guildford GU2 7XH United Kingdom
Gender	Coeducational
Ages	18+ (Full-time courses)+
Website	Official Website

Guildford School of Acting (GSA) is a drama school in Guildford, Surrey, England. It is an affiliate of the University of Surrey and is an accredited member of Drama UK. As of 2014, it is the top scoring Drama UK accredited school for student satisfaction.^[1]

Overview

Guildford School of Acting (GSA), originally known as the Grant-Bellairs School of Dance and Drama, was founded in London in 1935 by Pauline Grant and Bice Bellairs. The school moved to Guildford in 1945 as a result of World War II. In 1964, the school became a charitable organisation and was renamed Guildford School of Acting & Dance. In the early 1990s the '& Dance' was dropped. Today the school is a limited company. Its head office is on the University of Surrey's Stag Hill Campus, Guildford, Surrey.

The school offers professional training in drama, musical theatre and professional production skills such as stage management, lighting and sound design. All full-time courses lead towards further and higher education qualifications validated by either the University of Surrey or Trinity College London. Being recognised as a leading performing arts institution, the school is one of only 21 specialist schools selected to award the government Dance and Drama Awards for courses validated by Trinity College.

Until November 2009, the School occupied several sites in central Guildford, with facilities including drama, dance and music studios, technical workshops, IT facilities, a specialist library and resource centre, a wardrobe department, rehearsal rooms and two in-house theatres. As part of its merger with the University of Surrey, the school has moved to a completely new building which houses all faculties of the school on one site on the university campus. Peter Barlow, GSA Director (until December 2010), was handed the keys by project manager David Austin (VolkerFitzpatrick) on 13 November 2009,^[2] marking a new era for GSA, with the first classes at the new building started on 16 November. The relocation was completed in late 2011 with the opening of the Ivy Performing Arts Centre.

The school stages regular private and public performances at various venues, including the Ivy Arts Centre, the Electric Theatre, the Mill Theatre, and an annual graduate production at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre.

References

External links

• GSA website

University of Surrey People HRH The Duke of Kent (Chancellor) List of notable academics List of notable alumni History Federal University of Surrey University of Surrey Roehampton Associated institutions Dongbei University of Finance and Economics DUFE—Surrey International Institute Guildford School of Acting Lewis Elton Gallery St Mary's University College, Twickenham Commercial links Surrey Research Park Surrey Satellite Technology Student life Stag Radio The Stag Category Commons

Performing arts schools in the United Kingdom   Acting Academy of Live and Recorded Arts Arts Educational Schools, London Birmingham School of Acting Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Central School of Speech and Drama City Academy Drama Centre London Drama Studio London East 15 Acting School Guildford School of Acting Guildhall School of Music & Drama Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art The Manchester Metropolitan School of Theatre Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts Oxford School of Drama Pauline Quirke Academy Rose Bruford College Royal Academy of Dramatic Art Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama Stella Mann College of Performing Arts Tring Park School for the Performing Arts   Dance Bird College Central School of Ballet City Academy Elmhurst School for Dance English National Ballet School The Hammond School Laine Theatre Arts London Contemporary Dance School London Studio Centre Masters Performing Arts College Northern Ballet School Northern School of Contemporary Dance Pauline Quirke Academy Performers College Royal Ballet School Scottish School of Contemporary Dance Stella Mann College of Performing Arts Tring Park School for the Performing Arts Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance Urdang Academy   Music See: Music Schools in the United Kingdom   Musical theatre Arts Educational Schools, London Bird College Cambridge Performing Arts City Academy Guildford School of Acting The Hammond School Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts Laine Theatre Arts Leicester Performing Arts Liverpool Theatre School and College Masters Performing Arts College Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts Musical Theatre Academy Performers College SLP College Stella Mann College of Performing Arts Tring Park School for the Performing Arts Urdang Academy   Secondary Arts Educational Schools, London BRIT School Dance School of Scotland The Hammond School Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts Sylvia Young Theatre School Tring Park School for the Performing Arts   Former Bush Davies School of Theatre Arts

Borough of Guildford Towns, villages, most notable neighbourhoods and hamlets Albury Artington Ash Ash Vale Burntcommon Burpham Chilworth Compton East Clandon East Horsley Effingham Fairlands Farley Green Gomshall Guildford Holmbury St Mary Jacobs Well Merrow Normandy Ockham Peaslake Pirbright Puttenham Ripley St Martha Seale Send Shackleford Shalford Shere Stoughton Tongham Wanborough West Clandon West Horsley Wisley Wood Street Village Worplesdon Parks and public woodlands Albury Park Clandon Park Hatchlands Park On the Greensand Ridge The Hurtmoor Winterfold Forest Ockham Park Puttenham & Crooksbury Commons Seale Chalk Pit Silent Pool On the North Downs Newlands Corner St. Martha's Hill wooded slopes of the Hog's Back Stoke Park Sutton Place Wanborough Grange RHS Garden, Wisley Places of worship Old St Peter and St Paul's Church, Albury St Augustine's Abbey, Chilworth Guildford Cathedral Holy Trinity Church, Guildford St Nicolas' Church, Guildford Watts Mortuary Chapel Education Academy of Contemporary Music Ash Manor School Christ's College, Guildford George Abbot School Guildford College Guildford County School Guildford High School Guildford School of Acting Howard of Effingham School King's College, Guildford Knowl Hill School Lanesborough School Merrist Wood College Ripley Court Preparatory School Royal Grammar School Rydes Hill Preparatory School St. Peter's School Tormead School University for the Creative Arts The University of Law University of Surrey Transport Ash railway station Ash Vale railway station Chilworth railway station Clandon railway station Effingham Junction railway station Gomshall railway station Guildford railway station Horsley railway station London Road railway station Shalford railway station Tongham railway station Wanborough railway station Worplesdon railway station Buildings and structures Chilworth Manor Electric Theatre G Live Guildford Castle Guildford Guildhall Guildford House Guildford Museum Guildford Spectrum GuilFest Hogs Back Brewery Institute for Animal Health Normandy Youth Club–The N-Factor Royal Surrey County Hospital Sports Ground, Woodbridge Road, Guildford Watts Gallery Wisley Airfield Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Sport Charlotteville Cycling Club Guildford City F.C. Guildford Crows Aussie Rules FC Guildford Flames Guildford Giants Guildford Lightning Merrow F.C. Surrey United Tongham F.C.

Coordinates: 51°14′34″N 0°35′44″W / 51.242859°N 0.595593°W / 51.242859; -0.595593