The Poor School aims to deliver the highest quality acting training for the lowest possible cost. Established in 1986, the school now provides one of the UK’s most highly regarded acting courses. 25 years of graduates have enjoyed careers in theatre, film, radio, stage and comedy; ex-students have founded their own companies (RIDICULUSMUS and STURDY BEGGARS are the most notable) and have become producers, directors, Casting Directors and agents.

The two year training begins each autumn and is scheduled largely in the evenings and at weekends. Entrance is by audition or via a short course.

As a school that has never relied on subsidy our fees are not subject to the large increases that most other vocational or academic courses are now charging.

We run Four Day Courses through the year (Tuesday to Friday, daytime) and three week Summer Courses in July and August (Monday to Friday evening and Saturday). There is no audition; entrance is by enrolment. Dominic Cavendish, drama critic at The Daily Telegraph, attended a Four Day Course in June 2010. Here is his review.