Congratulations to 2011 Grad Amy Louise Collins who has just got a part as a Zingzilla for the new BBC tour!

Tour dates to follow!

About the Show

By Voltair, adapted by Scott Hunter

Directed by Roman Stefanski 

When the ever optimistic Candide is thrown from his privileged home, disgraced for kissing the salacious Cunegonde, his true love (and step-sister!), he begins a hectic romp around the world with his trusty servant searching for Enlightenment. But things go from bad to worse and back again as Candide is shaken by an earthquake, terrorised by torturers and cornered by cannibals.

This picaresque tale is packed to the brim with general silliness and brutal slapstick with impossible dilemmas and improbable escapes around every corner. Can Candide’s eternal optimism survive? Which deleted scene will the audience choose to view? Could this really be the best of all possible worlds?

Pic 01

Pic 02

Pic 03

Pic 04

Pic 05

Pic 06

Pic 07

Pic 08

Pic 09

Pic 10

Pic 11

Pic 12

Special thanks to Sam Dore for the photographs

ALRA is delighted to announce the launch of our brand new online shop.  The shop currently only has a few products available to purchase, but we plan to expand on that over the coming months.

If you can think of something you would like to see available in the shop, please do not hesitate in commenting below or getting in touch.

To access the shop click here, or use the menu at the top of the screen.

Heather Dutton takes the role of Minnie the Minx in the new version of Dennis the Menace coming to the Southbank Centre. Heather graduated in 2011. She started rehearsals on Monday and is loving every minute. For more details about the show, click here.

We’ve just confirmed some new audition dates for our Part-time Foundation Acting course. Foundation Acting readies you for further acting training. It’s aimed at people preparing for full-time courses at Drama School, or people considering a career change. The part-time hours can be fitted around work, childcare and other commitments.

Auditions take place at ALRA North and ALRA South on:

Saturday 14 April 2012

Saturday 9 June 2012

Saturday 1 September 2012

Click here for more information about the course.

Nick Wymer plays the Headmaster Mr Tubb in this new zany kids’ series for ITV. Nick graduated from ALRA’s Postgraduate course in 1989, and is just returning to acting after a break. He’s based in the Northwest, and is a regular visitor to ALRA North for our Showcases.

You can catch up on episodes of My Phone Genie on the ITV Player here.

Richard Holt and Francesca Bradley (both Graduates from our Postgrad Acting course) are about to set sail on a national tour of Tom Morris’ acclaimed production. After gathering a host of 4 and 5 star reviews at the Vaudeville Theatre in the West End, they’ll begin five months of touring with dates at Chichester, Edinburgh and Nottingham.

The Divine Comedy’s Neil Hannon wrote the score for the show – for a sneak peek backstage, and interviews with the creative team, watch this trailer:

The Department for Education has been working with colleagues in the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS), Young People’s Learning Agency (YPLA) and Skills Funding Agency (the Agency) to consider a long term solution to providing support for the most talented young people and adults to access specialist dance and drama provision in the UK.

In December 2011, the departments concerned reported that they need further time to consider the options, and that they have therefore decided to postpone the implementation of the new arrangements to commence in September 2013 rather than September 2012 as was anticipated.

The DaDA scheme will therefore be supported for a further, final transitional year in, 2012/13.  This means that students showing exceptional talent during the autumn 2011 audition period and who start courses in September 2012 will continue to be offered awards under the DaDA scheme, and will be funded to the end of their courses.

ALRA has a spring in its step this Spring, as we head out on the road. As well as our year-round Outreach visits to schools and colleges, we’re also heading to Bristol, Edinburgh and Manchester to audition. These cross-country auditions can save a small fortune in travel bills for our prospective students.

Bristol: Bristol Old Vic, Sunday 12 February 2012
Manchester: Royal Exchange Theatre, Saturday 18 February 2012
Edinburgh: Traverse Theatre, Saturday 3 March 2012

Fill in our online application, and select your preferred location as you apply.

We’re also taking two full productions on tour to schools and colleges. Candide will tour from the 7 – 10 February 2012, and Welcome to Thebes will tour from 7 – 9 March 2012. Both shows are brought free of charge. To find out more, email  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

ALRA Graduate Denise Gough takes the role of Annie in the Bush Theatre’s new production ‘Our New Girl’. The Bush has just won ‘London Theatre of the Year’ in the Stage 100 Awards. This year marks the Bush Theatre’s 40^th Anniversary, and its first season in a newly refurbished theatre.

Denise’s theatre work includes Ahasverus (RSC), Six Characters in Search of an Author (Chichester Festival Theatre and West End) and Jesus Hopped the A Train (Trafalgar Studios). For more information and tickets to ‘Our New Girl’, click here.

ALRA Graduate Michael Gould plays Polonius in the Young Vic’s production of Hamlet. 

Michael Sheen takes the title role in this hotly anticipated production.

‘Michael Gould’s excellent Polonius’ – The Independent (to read the full review, click here)

Michael has worked at the top level of British theatre for years, performing with the RSC, Shakespeare’s Globe and the Royal Court. Michael works regularly at the National Theatre, most recently in Greenland earlier this year. He has been directed by Britain’s most acclaimed directors: Adrian Noble, Rupert Goold, Katie Mitchell and Kathryn Hunter amongst them.

Michael has also worked regularly in film and TV, and plays Mr Monks in the eagerly awaited feature film adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s Private Peaceful.’

The 2011 Postgraduates graduated from ALRA on Friday, after 15 months studying with us on this intensive MA. They enjoyed a ceremony that included a speech from ALRA Co-Director Clive Duncan, and a screening of the short films they made as part of their course. There was a drinks reception in the Great Hall – lots of festive fun was had with friends and family, fizz, mince pies, Christmas trees and photos of their ALRA productions.

Many of the Postgrads have meetings and auditions booked for this week, after their Showcase at the Soho Theatre – we wish them all the best for the future! Click here to watch their short films. Click here to download the Showcase booklet, which contains all of their headshots and CVs.

Please spend a couple of minutes watching the first part in a series of video journal interviews with Lydea Perkins.  Lydea is a 2nd year student currently studying at ALRA South.

The ALRA North Choir led by tutor Jenn Greer took their Christmas carol concert to a couple of residential homes in Wigan today.  Starting off at 11am and 'braving' the high winds and sleet the Choir first visited St Georges Care Home before taking their voices to residents of Caxton House in Wigan town centre.

A member of St Georges stated "Everyone thought it was brilliant, an overwhelming response which had everyone singing along".

Caxton House 01

Caxton House 02

St Georges Care Home 01

St Georges Care Home 02

St Georges Care Home 03

St Georges Care Home 04

St Georges Care Home 05

St Georges Care Home 06

A wonderful morning that brought tears to the eyes and smiles to those in need.

New Audition Dates have been added to our Online Application System. You can now select audition dates right up to the end of April 2012.

Apply Now

Dates as late as May 2012 will be added in the New Year.