Talented Liverpool Theatre School performers are heading to the West End

A group of students from one of the city’s top performing arts schools will have the chance to experience the magic of appearing on the West End stage this week as Liverpool Theatre School takes its graduate showcase to London’s Leicester Square Theatre.

The gifted final year dance and musical theatre students are set to make their West End debut on Thursday (21^st March) in front of an audience of talent scouts, agents and industry influencers with an impressive display of talent.

Tipped to become the next generation of professional performers, the high-flying students are aiming to follow in the footsteps of the many stage and screen stars who learned their craft at Liverpool Theatre School. Alumni include Natalie Pilkington, who is touring in SIX; Oliver Ormson, star of the West End adaptation of Frozen; and Tim Lucas, who plays Mickey in the Blood Brothers UK tour.

Speaking on Liverpool Theatre School’s graduate showcase at the Leicester Square Theatre in London, Principal Maxine Ellis, said:

“As our graduating students prepare to make their mark as professional performers, this will be an invaluable opportunity to showcase their skills and impress the industry influencers in the audience.

“Staging our graduate showcase in London’s West End means we’re right on the doorstep of the top agents and casting directors who are on the lookout for emerging talent. Many of our former students have gone on to join the cast of West End musicals and touring shows, so we’re really looking forward to following the professional careers of the stars of this year’s graduate showcase. It’s going to be fantastic to see our talented final year students enjoy the experience of performing in the West End for the first time as they show just what they can do.”

Eloise Mockl (20) from West Derby, who has been training at Liverpool Theatre School since she was three years old, is among the final year students who will be taking part in the West End showcase. She said:

“I’m so excited about having the chance to perform in the West End, it’s going to be an incredible experience. We’ve all worked really hard to get to this point in our training and we can’t wait to get out there and give it everything we’ve got. I know we’ll do ourselves and Liverpool Theatre School proud!”

Liverpool Theatre School, whose patrons include dance legend Wayne Sleep OBE, as well as stage and screen star Anita Dobson, provides professional training in Dance, Musical Theatre and Acting with a range of BTEC courses and elite programmes accredited by Trinity College London. Accepting only the most gifted students, places at Liverpool Theatre School are awarded through a strict audition process.

As part of a commitment to making professional training more accessible to all young performers, particularly those from working class backgrounds, Liverpool Theatre School allocates a number of fully funded scholarships and bursaries to talented students every year. The Ofsted ‘outstanding’ school is one of just 15 places in the country, and the only one in Merseyside, to offer the DaDAs (Dance and Drama Awards) to support students with the cost of professional training.

Liverpool Theatre School also runs a junior academy, offering evening and weekend classes to all young people (aged 4 -16) who have a passion for singing, dancing and acting.

Tucked away on Sefton Street, just a stone’s throw from Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle, the prestigious performing arts school is celebrating its 85^th anniversary this year.