What Do People Say About Us?

josh o connor ufton drama summer school
Josh O’Connor

Former Student & BAFTA Nominated Actor

Ufton Drama Summer School is, without doubt, one of the most important and significant influences on me as an actor and creative. The course is designed cleverly to inform and educate on theatre history and forms, but also to encourage confidence and expression. Make space in your calendar. Cancel, postpone, pull a sicky, just don’t miss this! APPLY NOW!!!!

Credits: (TV) Les Miserables (2019, The Crown (2019), The Durrells (2016), Peaky Blinders (2014), Ripper Street (2014), Doctor Who (2013)  (Film) God’s Own Country (2016), Cinderella (2015), Bridgend (2015), The Riot Club (2014)

Martin Jakeman

Associate Lecturer in Costumed Interpretation

Ufton Drama Summer School has four fantastic courses which helped me during my A-Levels and my time studying Drama at University.  

The resources I received whilst I was on the courses I still use today in my full time role in the performance and heritage sector. 

The in-depth and practical programmes combined with its stunning location makes it one drama experience you won’t want to miss out on! 

Matt Holt

Former Student & TV/Radio Producer & Director

​Ufton Drama Summer Schools was incredibly important to me creatively and personally. It helped shape the person I am and the career path I took. It was my first experience of that level of expert focussed drama teaching and of being surrounded by people who all shared a real passion for the subject. I still have incredibly detailed and warm memories of the entire experience and would recommend it to anyone with a love of drama. 

​Credits: Hollyoaks, Off Their Rockers, Topsy & Tim, YouTube sensations Jack & Dean and The Midnight Beast, Catherine Tate, John Boyega, Tim Minchin

Ben Kozel

Former Student & Film Production

I was always shy when I was in school and believe Ufton played a huge part in building my confidence and social skills. I work in the Film & TV Industry and being confident and approachable are highly essential qualities; especially when you start out as networking and making a good first impression is what gets you the jobs! I definitely credit my amazing experiences on the Ufton Drama Summer School as a pivotal part of my journey into the film industry. I have now been working in film for 4 years and have worked on productions such as: Spectre, The Muppets Most Wanted, Into The Woods and Skyfall.

My advice to any passionate drama enthusiast is to apply for Ufton Drama Summer School immediately,..you won’t regret it!

Jess Swale

Former Student & Olivier Award Winning Playwright

Ufton Drama Summer School was, quite simply, a game changer for me. It is the best drama course of its kind by a country mile, and I feel so lucky to have been several times.

Never have I learnt so much, so quickly, but in a manner which was always fun. Every member of the team is exceptional, the workshops are packed; at the end of the course you come home exhausted but brim full of ideas and inspiration. Perhaps more than anything, though, Ufton treated us as theatre-makers, not students. We worked hard because we wanted to, we made plays which we were proud of and friendships that last a life time. The people that I met there inspired me to continue in the theatre past school and now, on, into my career. I owe Ron and the team a great thank you for that. It was quite simply the highlight of my holidays. I only wish I was young enough to keep on going.

Jessica Swale is an Olivier award winning playwright and theatre director. Plays include Nell Gwynn (Best Comedy, 2016 Olivier Awards, starring Gemma Arterton) and Blue Stockings, now a set text at Drama GCSE

Cathy Richards

Parent

Bex attended her first Ufton course 3 years ago. She knew no one and had just come out of a third Covid lockdown. I will be forever grateful to the Ufton staff and course as, after attending the course, any emotional damage Covid restrictions had had on my daughter was gone. My bright, cheerful, quirky, quick-witted, sociable child had returned, with added ‘Ufton zing’ and life-long friends. Bex has attended two further courses and intends to complete the set with her forth next year. Whilst the Ufton experience is amazing for improving confidence and enabling students to share a love of drama, it also gives an academic edge. Bex was the only student at her school to get a 9 in her GCSE drama. The only difference between Bex and her fellow students was her attendance of an Ufton course. I firmly believe the practical immersion in drama and high quality teaching gave her this edge and confidence within the exam. Every time Bex has attended Ufton, she has returned a different child in an incredibly positive way. There is something very special and unique about Ufton Drama Summer School and I would strongly recommend it to any parent.

Casey Andrews

Former Student & Director, Playrwright and Actor, Winner of Edinburgh Festival Fringe First Award

I trained at the Guildford School of Acting and have since performed at Shakespeare’s Globe and worked with ITN, The Pleasance Theatre, London Contemporary Theatre, Knuckle & Joint Theatre and RBL Theatre among others. I have also set up the Theatre Companies: HookHitch Theatre and The Amazing Lion House Theatre Co, where I have written and produced my own work for The Edinburgh Festival Fringe, UK Touring and The Arts Theatre West End. I have now had two of my plays published. I owe so much of what I have achieved to the inspirational staff at the Ufton Drama Summer School.

Ufton helped me on the path to my career in so many ways, but the most valuable skill I took from Ufton was how to create and devise theatre with other people; a skill I didn’t realise was so unique and valuable until I formally trained as an actor. I’d been given a head start in skills that are absolutely integral to working in this industry; things they don’t teach you at school. Ufton set me up with a whole host of creative tools to tackle any task that was thrown at me, but more importantly, it taught me the importance of the group dynamic, how to listen and integrate ideas collaboratively, and how to make sure each ensemble member feels like a valued part of the team. Without these skills I couldn’t be doing what I do today: it’s amazing what a difference it creates when you keep the ethos of Ufton at the heart of your work, in short, it makes it better!

Nicola Allpress

Parent of Two Students

​My sons, now 24 and 18, have benefitted so enormously from the life changing experience that is offered by the wonderful Ufton summer school. Not only do they enjoy every minute of the fun packed drama workshops, they build confidence and self esteem alongside new lifelong friends. They’ve attended every annual theme in the 4 year cycle and come back every time, buzzing with stories and renewed joy. The staff, the structure and content is a well-oiled machine that not only educates but nurtures strong values as well as bringing out the best in everyone who attends. I was lucky enough to have drama summer schools when I was a teenager so I knew the benefits were huge, but so I wish I’d had Ufton

Andrew Abery

Former Student & Drama Teacher

​There aren’t enough adjectives to describe summer school so I’ll have to settle for one…inspirational. Really, truly inspirational…and also a lot of fun.

David Colbourn

Former Student & Actor

Ufton Drama Summer School is a brilliant foundation in theatre studies; of course, rich and intense but, as I look back now, what I remember most is a very special sense of togetherness that ran though every moment spent there – in workshops, evening gatherings on the lawn and final productions.

Nichola Leon Pastrana

Former Student & Circus Performer

Ufton Drama Summer School was such an exciting experience for me. Not only did it give me such a lot of my favourite memories but it taught me so much about confidence and performance. I can thoroughly recommend the courses to anyone who has an interest in drama and the performing arts.

Molly O’Brien

Former Student

My first year at Ufton was honestly one of the best experiences of my life. Being surrounded by people with the same passion and love for acting as you  helped me progress as an artist due to the creative imagination and possibilities that come with learning new skills on the course, whilst having an amazing support system as well.  The skills I took away with me from Ufton have helped me within assessments both practical and theoretical and have stuck with me to take a more dynamic and organic approach to creating pieces of Drama.  Finally, I have become a more comfortable and confident person in terms of my capabilities both socially and as a performer which I feel has been such a valuable lesson that I have learnt on this truly fantastic course. 

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