Guildford School of Acting - Overview

Overview

Guildford School of Acting was originally known as the Grant-Bellairs School of Dance and Drama, which was founded in London in 1935 by Pauline Grant and Bice Bellairs. The school was relocated to Guildford in 1945 as a result of World War II. In 1964, the school became a charitable organisation and was renamed Guildford School of Acting & Dance. In the early 1990s the '& Dance' was dropped. Today the school is a limited company. Its head office is on the University of Surrey's Stag Hill Campus, Guildford, Surrey.

The school offers professional training in drama, musical theatre and production skills such as stage management, lighting and sound design. All full time courses lead towards further and higher education qualifications validated by either Trinity College, London or the University of Surrey. Being recognised as a leading performing arts institution, the school is one of only twenty one specialist schools selected to award the government Dance and Drama Awards for courses validated by Trinity College.

Until November 2009, the School occupied several sites in central Guildford, with facilities including drama, dance and music studios, technical workshops, IT facilities, a specialist library and resource centre, a wardrobe department, rehearsal rooms and two in-house theatres. As part of its merger with the University of Surrey, the school has moved to a completely new building which houses all faculties of the school on one site on the university campus. Peter Barlow, GSA Director (until December 2010), was handed the keys by project manager David Austin (VolkerFitzpatrick) on 13 November 2009, marking a new era for GSA, with the first classes at the new building started on 16 November. The relocation was completed in late 2011 with the opening of the Ivy Performing Arts Centre.

The school stages regular private and public performances at various venues, including the Ivy Arts Centre, the Electric Theatre, the Mill Theatre, and an annual graduate production at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre.