Alumni
Find your light
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We're honoured to still receive messages and news from so many past Best students and love to hear about all the different, wonderful paths their grown up lives have taken. In celebration of our 25th anniversary, we asked some if we could share their stories here and were thrilled when they said yes...
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OLIVER
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When did you attend Best?
1999 - 2002
What are you doing now?
I work as an actor, director and a theatre practitioner. I work a lot with the RSC in all three capacities and enjoy a focus on Shakespeare. I went to uni after school to study English then went to drama school (BOVTS)
What was your favourite show you took part in Best?
Shake Ripple and Roll - those songs were so catchy... I can still remember some of them to this day!
Favourite Best memory?
Being a part of Dreamcatcher: 80 people in one show, and everyone having incredible moments to shine.
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ELLIE
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When did you attend Best?
1999 - 2008 (I think!)
What are you doing now?
I’m a vision mixer for TV, which means I cut and transition between the cameras and other visuals for live TV. I also vision mix theatre and opera livestreams, which I absolutely love! I studied Film and TV at York University then Vision Mixing at NFTS.
What was your favourite show you took part in Best?
Dreamcatcher (though Twelfth Night is a close second!)
Favourite Best memory?
Playing a bedbug in the first performance of Dreamcatcher, then performing it again years later as Sam’s Mum!
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CERYS
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When did you attend Best?
Attended Best as a student from 2007-2010, taught at First class from 2010-2018
What are you doing now?
Freelance circus arts performer and theatre practitioner, currently teaching musical theatre at Chickenshed Theatre Company. Studied Performing Arts at college then onto university where I completed my BA(Hons) in Inclusive Performance.
What was your favourite show you took part in Best?
I loved every show but have particularly fond memories of Best of Dreams, the 10th anniversary show.
Favourite Best memory?
My favourite memories are the opportunities I was given to develop as a performer that school never gave me. Being trusted with my first lines is a moment that has always stayed with me, it felt like someone believed in me!
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JOE
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When did you attend Best?
2007 - 2012 Best Theatre School and 2012 - 2016 LAMDA
What are you doing now?
I’m currently finishing my English degree at the University of Exeter. My trajectory in academia is in no small part shaped by my formative experiences at BEST which cultivated my love of drama and literature. I attained a LAMDA Grade 8 Acting award during my time at BEST and this definitely helped with my application to the university. In practical terms, LAMDA and BEST have also given me the confidence to thrive in my current phase of life in higher education.
What was your favourite show you took part in Best?
It will probably sound cliche if I say them all! But it is true. I have great memories of all of them. I particularly enjoyed my turn as Sir Toby Belch in BEST’s adaptation of Twelfth Night. Not only did I enjoy performing in a funny role but I also had a great time acting in a comedic duo alongside my friend (Gwilym Turner) who played Sir Andrew Aguecheek. Hilarity ensued.
Favourite Best memory?
I remember being cast in the title role of Robin Hood. I was not only elated to play a legendary hero but I was also excited to perform opposite my brother who was cast as the villainous Sheriff of Nottingham.
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STEPH
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When did you attend Best?
I was at Best between 1998 - 2008
What are you doing now?
I am an actor and theatre maker working with an outdoor theatre venue in Hertfordshire as well as starting out in TV and theatre. I trained as an actor at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.
What was your favourite show you took part in Best?
My favourite Best show was Dreamcatcher because I got to play the bad guy!
Favourite Best memory?
A memory that really sticks out is: in an acting class with Karen, she demonstrated how to do a scene, I was so amazed by how she suddenly changed and showed emotions that she hadn't been feeling before that moment, I thought acting is amazing. I want to do that!!
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SAMUEL
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When did you attend Best?
I attended Best Theatre Arts from roughly 2005-2012
What are you doing now?
Currently I work as a professional Actor and have been for the last 10 years. I started my professional career at 12 and have very fortunately been working since! Most recently in the 2023 Netflix Film 'Strays'.
What was your favourite show you took part in Best?
My favourite Best show was when I played Sir Toby in Twelfth Night.
Favourite Best memory?
My favourite memory from Best is performing a solo in the song Firework by Katy Perry at the end of my last Best show!
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CHARLOTTE
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When did you attend Best?
I was at Best from September 2001 (the first afternoon group) until Christmas 2005.
What are you doing now?
I did millions of different jobs such as working with vulnerable children and office jobs and then decided office life wasn’t for me, so I applied to be a police officer. I am a police officer now in Hackney and Tower Hamlets on a Robbery Squad.
What was your favourite show you took part in Best?
My favourite best show was The Musicians, or possibly the strange one with the apple and the umbrella - I think it was called Just.
Favourite Best memory?
My favourite best memory is an improvisation game we played at Byte which started off innocently and ended up with Cat Langthorne pretending to give birth in a bucket. We still talk by the way!
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MEGAN
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When did you attend Best?
2017 - present day.
What are you doing now?
I did a physics degree at Oxford university and am now a patent attorney.
What was your favourite show you took part in Best?
It’s a tough choice, but I think my favourite is Best of Dreams.
Favourite Best memory?
My favourite Best memory is definitively performing The Boy Preference at The National Theatre.
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ISAAC
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When did you attend Best?
I was at Best from 2012 (Year 7) to 2017 (Year 11).
What are you doing now?
I graduated from University of Nottingham last year with a degree in Politics and International Relations but I have now decided to take an entirely different route and return to acting next year.
What was your favourite show you took part in Best?
My favourite Best show was Animal Farm. I really enjoyed acting with a minimalist set and costume design such as the choice of only wearing masks as it allowed us to utilise our voice and physicality skills that we had learnt from the different classes.
Favourite Best memory?
While I'd love to say Best as a whole, my favourite memory has to be Sheamus' improvisation classes as they encouraged you to be as creative and imaginative as possible which really pushed the boundaries of my acting ability.
I thought I'd choose this photo as it is actually from a play I did when I was in the Unviersity Drama society (New Nottingham Theatre) which seemed rather fitting.
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EMILY
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When did you attend Best?
2009-2017 across Friday Best, BSA and BYTE (with first holiday course in the summer of 2008!)
What are you doing now?
I am now a management consultant in London, having done a BA and an MPhil at Cambridge in modern languages and international politics. While at university, I participated in over 60 shows and ran the Cambridge Footlights for a year.
What was your favourite show you took part in Best?
Histeria – it was my first term at Best and it felt so magical!
Favourite Best memory?
Celebrating with the cast and crew after performing The Boy Preference at the National Theatre in 2015.
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FRANKIE
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When did you attend Best?
Ages 6 -16 so 2004 - 2014
What are you doing now?
Actor and Facilitator! Went to drama school (RADA). Recently in the 2021 film Belfast (Kenneth Branagh) soon will be performing at the RSC in Hamnet (Erica Whyman)
What was your favourite show you took part in Best?
Illyria!
Favourite Best memory?
Improv classes at BSA were always hilarious.