From the West End to Wearside: Curtain comes up on new college
A new performing arts college is set to open its doors in Sunderland, aiming to put the North East firmly on the map for professional theatre training.
Arts North Studios, based at The Fire Station in the city centre, launches this summer as a partnership between Culture Quarter and Sunderland College - and it comes with big ambitions.
At the helm is Annie Guy, a seasoned West End performer and choreographer with credits ranging from Hairspray to West Side Story.
Born and raised in the region, Annie, who trained at the prestigious Arts Educational Schools London, says she’s passionate about giving young people in the North East access to the kind of high-level training typically found in the capital.
“I have a huge passion for bringing top-quality West End training to young people in the North East,” she said. “We have a strong emphasis on mindset development, confidence-building, and nurturing individual creativity, and students are encouraged to grow not only as performers but as artists and change-makers.”
With professional dance and rehearsal studios, shared study spaces, and direct access to The Fire Station’s 550-seat auditorium, the facilities rival those of any London drama school. And the team backing the project is impressive too -featuring award-winning choreographers, actors, vocal coaches, and musical directors.
This isn’t a first-time experiment. The Arts North team builds on the track record of the award-winning MTS College, which boasts a 100% success rate of students progressing into top UK and US drama schools. Alumni have landed roles in West End productions including Matilda, Clueless, and Cabaret.
Rhys McKinnell, CEO of Culture Quarter, sees Arts North as a key part of a wider cultural vision for the city. “Arts North Studios embodies Culture Quarter’s mission - bringing together elite-level performing arts education with a deep commitment to local opportunity, growth, and cultural investment,” he said.
Courses begin this summer with a Musical Theatre Summer Camp, followed by the launch of a BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma and an intensive one-year programme. A BA (Hons) degree and further training in acting and technical theatre are in the pipeline.
Mike Chapman, principal at Sunderland College’s Bede Campus, called the partnership “a changemaking collaboration,” adding: “Arts North Studios will not only enhance training opportunities… but also contributes to an exciting new era for arts, performance, and music in Sunderland.”