Welcome to another update from DSL with news about our students, graduates and plans for the next academic year.
Below you’ll find details of our graduating students’ performances this term, a lookback at the spring term work and news from our incredibly creative and talented alumni.
We always love hearing from our graduates so please get in touch if you’ve got something to share or if you’ve spotted a fellow graduate on stage or screen.
Summer Season Announced – Save the Date(s)!
Announcing the 2025 Drama Studio London Graduate Season at The Playground Theatre, 8 Latimer Rd, London W10 6RQ (Booking links go to The Playground Theatre website where you can also find the cast lists and more information.)
The Rover by Aphra Behn adapted by Meredydd Barker, directed by Jonathan Kemp 12-14 June Book Here
Posh by Laura Wade directed by Emily Raymond 19-21 June Book Here
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson adapted by David Edgar, directed by Dugald Bruce-Lockhart 26-28 June Book Here
Lenin’s Embalmers by Vern Thiessen, directed by Emma Lucia Hands 3-5 July Book Here
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë, adapted by Deborah McAndrew, directed by Ishwar Maharaj 10th to 12th July Book Here
Love and Information by Caryl Churchill, directed by Anna Scott 17-19 July Book Here
Trelawny of the Wells by Arthur Wing Pinero adapted and directed by Michael Fry 24-26 July Book Here
Check out our social media and website for the booking details, production details and cast lists – coming soon!
BA Devised Shows at The Playground Theatre in March
Photo credit: Stephanie Claire Photography
Our 3rd year BA students took to the stage at The Playground Theatre back in February with their three new pieces of devised theatre, inspired by the work of Alfred Hitchcock. As you can see from these images, their work was dynamic and beautifully staged.
Alumni and Student News
What’s On
Alumni Finlay Hodges (MA 23), with Blue Fox Theatre, wrote, directed and starred in Struck. A play that tells the story of a man who is struck by lightning in both naturalistic and abstract ways while touching on the complicated nature of life itself; Ivan Stawschenko (also MA 2023) is assistant directing, and Jake Hudson and Brittany Schröder are co-starring at The Bread & Roses from Wednesday 14th – Saturday 17th May was well received as well! Check out their Instagram.
Also in May, Wedding of the Century starring Gabriella Shennan (MA 25), a comedic two-hander exploring messy friendships and love triangles, had a run at the White Bear Theatre. You can read more on their Instagram, and you can read the 4* review for the first run in Cambridge here.
Award Nomination for Charlotte Claypole
Last year we shared that Charlotte Claypole, PG Graduate from 2002, is the supporting lead in a feature film Teddy and the Mountain which is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video. And now, we are delighted to share that she’s been nominated in the Best Actress in a Supporting Role category at the Midlands Movie Awards 2025 which is on Saturday 14th June 2025 at the Y Theatre in Leicester. Congratulations Charlotte!
Carleton Hobbs 2025 – BBC Radio Drama
Katharine Miller and LilyRose Wallace represented DSL at the annual Carleton Hobbs Bursary competition at the BBC in February and secured a place in the 2nd round. Ultimately the prize is a 6-month contract with BBC Radio Drama. The audio work at DSL has gone from strength to strength in recent years. Eisley Simms and Joseph Pollock also represented DSL in round one and did an impressive job. The students audition in-house before going into the first round as our nominated representatives and the competition is fierce.
Here’s what Adam Fitzgerald, DSL’s Subject Lead for Audio, and former Carleton Hobbs Prize Winner, had to say about the achievement: I had the joy and privilege of working with four fantastic performers for this year’s comp. In what was an extremely competitive event – certainly more so than my own personal experience back in 2017 – the team delivered some terrific work. The BBC judging panel spoke very highly of our students’ professionalism, openness and commitment in particular, and while we didn’t walk away with a win, each of them did DSL proud. Big thanks to Katharine, LilyRose, Eisley and Joseph, and also to Maggie Ollerenshaw and Mike Geary for their assistance with the in-house auditions and recalls.
I’ve had such a great time working with Adam and Katharine over the past few months! I feel so lucky to have had this experience and am coming away with much more confidence in Audio.– LilyRose Wallace BA 2025
Representing DSL for the Carleton Hobbs and working with Adam and LilyRose was a huge learning curve and immensely fun experience. I’d love audio to be a big part of my career in the future. – Katharine Miller MA/PG 2025
Congratulations to all four for their audio skills and we look forward to following their talent in future work after they all graduate this summer.
Cine International Film Festival (CIFF)
Congratulations to our Alumni, Bradley Peake (MA 23) who had a premiere for his short film ‘PURE’ at Curzon Soho also showcased it at the inaugural ceremony of CIFF, a new film festival in the heart of Soho last week which was a success!
Trips and Visits
(DSL students at County Hall with Dugald Bruce Lockhart and at The Globe)
Earlier in the Spring term, our 3rd Year BA (Hons) students went to meet actor Dugald Bruce Lockhart in the production of Witness for the Prosecution at County Hall and had a Q&A with the director; Lucy Bailey. Dugald also works at DSL each year as a director and directed Daughters of Oedipus in the 2024 season.
Our MFA students took to the stage at The Globe Theatre in February to experience the great ‘Wooden O’. It was enlightening, inspiring – and very cold…
Showcases at the Underbelly Boulevard
Over three days back in March our 2025 cohorts performed their showcase at the beautiful Underbelly Boulevard in Soho to packed houses of supporters from across the industry. They showed incredible professionalism and teamwork in the preparation and staging of their work. Congratulations to everyone who contributed to the success of our 2025 showcases.
Stage Combat Exam Results 2025
At DSL we are incredibly lucky to work with Equity Fight Director; Philip d’Orléans in preparation for the annual Stage Combat Exams. All of the graduating students have the opportunity to take these under his guidance and this year, we were delighted that our graduating students stage combat results are in with 25 gaining an Unarmed Stage Combat certificate (10 were distinctions!). A further 3 passed the rapier and dagger certificate too. With grateful thanks to Philip and congratulations to the students!
And just last week, we had a further round of exams with the following results: 43 L5 students Passed and we also had 13 Passes with Distinction. Congratulations everyone!
Tell us your news!
If you have some news to share, please get in touch via marketing@dramastudiolondon.co.uk