Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts

School in Woking, Surrey, United Kingdom

Italia Conti

Address

Italia Conti, 47 Church Street West

Woking

Surrey

GU21 6DG

United Kingdom

Information
Type| Further Education, Higher Education, Conservatoire-style, Performing Arts, Actor Training,
Established| 1911
Founder| Italia Emily Stella Conti
Specialist| Acting, Musical Theatre, Dance
Principal/CEO| Hayley Newton-Jarvis
COO| Miranda Tatton-Brown
Vice Principals| Bradley Hawkins, Dan Fulham
Age| 16 (FE), 18 (HE)+
Affiliations|

* Federation of Drama Schools

Website| https://www.italiaconti.com

The Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, also known simply as Italia Conti,[1] is a drama school based in Woking, England. It was founded by the English actress Italia Conti in 1911.[2] Italia Conti offers courses in acting, musical theatre, and dance, catering mostly for 16+ and 18+ students through its higher education programmes, and for younger learners (3–18 years) through its Associate Schools and pre-vocational courses.[3]

Italia Conti is a member of the Federation of Drama Schools formerly Drama UK,[4] and accredited by the Council for Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre (CDMT).[5] Italia Conti was a member of National Council for Drama Training (NCDT) before the organisation dissolved in 2012.

Originally based in London, the institution has occupied various premises throughout its history. In August 2022, Italia Conti consolidated its operations into a new facility in Woking, Surrey, which includes specialised studios for dance, acting, and musical theatre, as well as recording and television production spaces.[6]

## History

[edit]

In 1981, the academy started running Junior and Musical Theatre courses in Islington.[2] The BA (Hons) Acting and CertHe Intro to Acting courses continued to be delivered from the Avondale site in Clapham. In August 2022, all courses moved to Woking.[7]

## Courses

[edit]

### Main Provision

[edit]

The following courses taught at the academy were validated by the University of East London,[8] and accredited by the Federation of Drama Schools.

* BA (Hons) Acting Course, introduced 1994, a three-year full-time professional actor's training for students over the age of 18.[8]
* CertHE Intro to Acting Programme, a year-long full-time course that serves as a preparation and foundation training for students aged 18 and above, formerly known as a Foundation Acting Course.[8]
* BA (Hons) Musical Theatre Course, introduced 2018, a three-year full-time professional musical theatre training for students above the age of 18.[8]
* CertHE Musical Theatre Performance, introduced 2021, a one-year full-time preparation and foundation training for students above the age of 18.[8]
* BA (Hons) Professional Arts Practice (Top-up), from 2022, allowing students to progress from a Level 5 or Level 6 non degree qualification, to a BA (Hons).[8]

### Theatre Arts School (for Juniors)

[edit]

The Theatre Arts School, also known as the ‘Juniors’, was a co-educational independent school for pupils aged from 10 to 16 years old. The Theatre Arts School was first located in the Avondale building in Clapham, London and then at Goswell House, Barbican, London. The school was accredited by the Independent Schools Council and monitored by the Independent Schools Inspectorate. Pupils would follow an academic curriculum to ensure they graduated with qualifications whilst also studying a range of performance skills. In May 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was announced that the Theatre Arts school would close in the summer of 2021 after 109 years.[9]

## Buildings and facilities

[edit]

### Woking, Surrey (New Building)

[edit]

In August 2022, Italia Conti moved to a new facility in Henry Plaza, Woking, Surrey.[7] This facility brings together the School of Acting, which was previously delivered from the Avondale Building in Clapham North, London, and the School of Musical Theatre & Dance that was split between Barbican, London, and Guildford, Surrey sites.[7]

### Previous locations

[edit]

* Great Portland Street, London, 1911–1930.[10]
* Church building in Lamb's Conduit Street, 1931–1941.[11]
* 12 Archer Street, London, 1945–1972.[10]
* Avondale, Clapham, 1960–2022.[10]
* Landor Road, Clapham, London, from 1972
* Italia Conti House, ("the academy"), in Goswell Road, Islington, London, 1981–2022.[2]
* The Italia Conti Arts Centre in Guildford, which housed Musical Theatre and Performing Arts with Dance Teacher Training Courses.[2]

## Italia Conti Associates

[edit]

In 1995, the Italia Conti Associate Schools were founded,[10] which deliver the same style of courses as in the main academy.[10]

Listed below are the locations of associate school branches which take place around the country and provide courses in part-time performing arts training:

* Italia Conti Associates Battersea, London
* Italia Conti Associates Bishop's Stortford
* Italia Conti Associates Brighton & Hove
* Italia Conti Associates Chislehurst at Coopers School, Chislehurst, London
* Italia Conti Associates Guildford, Surrey
* Italia Conti Associates Newbury at St Bartholomew's School, Newbury, Berkshire
* Italia Conti Associates Newcastle
* Italia Conti Associates Petersfield
* Italia Conti Associates Plymouth at Lipson Co-operative Academy, Plymouth, Devon
* Italia Conti Associates Reigate at Reigate School, Reigate, Surrey
* Italia Conti Associates Rugby
* Italia Conti Associates Ruislip
* Italia Conti Associates Tunbridge Wells at the Skinners School, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
* Italia Conti Associates Woking at Italia Conti's main premises in Woking, Surrey

## 'School for Stars'

[edit]

A CBBC series entitled School for Stars followed pupils at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, showcasing the school's activities and featuring events from the students' day-to-day lives.[2] Each series followed a set of students during the school term. The series mainly featured the Theatre Arts School (Juniors) and occasionally featured students from the various 16+ courses. School For Stars first aired in 2011, and a third series began on 2 September 2013. The show was narrated by Reggie Yates.[12]

## See also

[edit]

* Alumni of the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Italia Conti". University of East London. Retrieved 28 December 2024. "Based in London, Italia Conti is one of the leading performing arts institutions in the UK."
2. ^ a b c d e "History and Background". Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts. Archived from the original on 9 July 2010. Retrieved 1 June 2009.
3. ^ "About Italia Conti". Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
4. ^ Granger, Rachel. "Rapid Scoping Study on Leicester Drama School" (PDF). De Montfort University Leicester. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 October 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
5. ^ "CDMT Accredited Drama / Acting Schools and Colleges". cdmt.org.uk. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
6. ^ "Italia Conti Academy Moves to New State-of-the-Art Campus in Woking". The Stage. 8 August 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
7. ^ a b c "Italia Conti sets up new home in Woking". wokingnewsandmail.co.uk. 8 August 2022.
8. ^ a b c d e f "Italia Conti and UEL". uel.ac.uk. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
9. ^ Sam Ferguson (8 May 2020). "Virus crisis forces stars' stage school to bow out". camdennewjournal.co.uk.
10. ^ a b c d e "History of the Italia Conti". italiaconti.com. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
11. ^ "HISTORY". italiacontiagency. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
12. ^ "Series 3 ‹ School for Stars". Subsaga.com. Retrieved 30 April 2021.

* v
* t
* e

Federation of Drama Schools

1. Arts Educational School, London
2. Birmingham Conservatoire
3. Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
4. Drama Studio London
5. East 15 Acting School
6. Guildford School of Acting
7. Guildhall School of Music and Drama
8. Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts
9. London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
10. Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts
11. Manchester School of Theatre
12. Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts
13. The Oxford School of Drama
14. Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
15. Rose Bruford College
16. Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
17. Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
18. Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama

* v
* t
* e

Performing arts schools in the United Kingdom

Acting

* Arts Educational Schools, London
* Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
* Central School of Speech and Drama
* City Academy
* Drama Studio London
* East 15 Acting School
* Guildford School of Acting
* Guildhall School of Music & Drama
* Identity School of Acting
* Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts
* Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts
* London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
* London College of Music
* Manchester School of Theatre
* Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts
* Oxford School of Drama
* Pauline Quirke Academy
* Redroofs Theatre School
* 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 Ballet School
* English National Ballet School
* The Hammond School
* Laine Theatre Arts
* London Contemporary Dance School
* London Studio Centre
* Masters Performing Arts College
* 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
* City Academy
* Emil Dale Academy
* Guildford School of Acting
* The Hammond School
* Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts
* Laine Theatre Arts
* London College of Music
* London School of Musical Theatre
* Masters Performing Arts College
* Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts
* Musical Theatre Academy
* Performers College
* Redroofs Theatre School
* SLP College
* Stella Mann College of Performing Arts
* Tring Park School for the Performing Arts
* Urdang Academy

Secondary

* Arts Educational Schools, London
* Birmingham Ormiston Academy
* 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

* Academy of Live and Recorded Arts
* Birmingham School of Acting
* Bush Davies School of Theatre Arts
* Drama Centre London
* London Theatre Studio

51°19′08″N 0°33′39″W﻿ / ﻿51.318984°N 0.560868°W﻿ / 51.318984; -0.560868
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