Access and Widening Participation
What we do
Access and Widening Participation at LAMDA aims to address underrepresentation in higher education and the arts and build clear pathways for talented individuals facing barriers. Our Pathways Programme works with schools, youth organisations and theatres all over the country, offering workshops, talks and longer projects in Acting and Production & Technical Arts to support and showcase potential routes into the industry. Financial support through scholarships and bursaries to LAMDA's courses ensures that no student is hindered by economic constraints.
Our new programme, LAMDA Local, will support schools and youth organisations in Hammersmith and Fulham and create opportunities for young people in our local community to experience the Arts and share our expertise knowledge and resources. This will include free tickets to performances at LAMDA, events hosted at LAMDA and additional production / lesson support from LAMDA tutors and Graduates.
Supporting Pathways students beyond admission is also a priority, providing the necessary tools for them to thrive academically, creatively, and professionally whilst studying and as a graduate. Through collaborations with our Partner organisations, we are able to offer training opportunities and industry mentorship, and also employment opportunities through our Graduate Ambassador Scheme.
Pathways Programme
LAMDA’s Pathways Programme works with partner organisations and schools to remove barriers that prevent young people from accessing performing arts training.
LAMDA Local
A programme which aims to support access to the Arts for our local community of state schools in West London.
- Low household income
- From the Global Majority
- Identify as D/deaf or disabled
- Care experienced or care leaver
- Inhabitants of areas where participation in Higher Education is low (POLAR 4, Quintile 1 and 2)
- Eligible for Pupil Premium/Free school meals (Schools only)
LAMDA Local will support schools by offering:
- Free tickets to LAMDA Productions
- An annual Shakespeare in Schools Tour
- Workshop opportunities
- Careers events
- Bespoke lesson or production support
Shakespeare in Schools tour
Each year, our graduating MFA Professional Acting students tour local secondary schools and colleges with fast-paced adaptations of Shakespeare's popular works.
LAMDA Foundation Diploma Bursary
Each year, we award a minimum of two fully-funded bursary places on the (non-HE credited) Foundation Diploma in Acting. This helps us to encourage and support students from low income backgrounds to access either our BA (Hons) Professional Acting at LAMDA or a comparable course at another Higher Education Institution.
- One of the bursaries is awarded to an individual who has made their own way to and through the audition process.
- The second bursary is awarded to a young person who has come through LAMDA’s Pathways programme.
Pathways Partners will be invited to nominate young people for the bursary each year in May.
If you have any questions about the Bursary, contact the AWP team by email.
Funded tickets
Throughout the year, we offer free tickets to our productions through our LAMDA Local and Pathways Programmes. If your school or organisation falls outside of these programmes but you would like to be considered for free tickets, contact [email protected]
Financial help with audition fees
We offer a number of fee waivers for auditions and interviews through our Pathways Programme. Contact [email protected] for more information.
