"I'd always been told that if I was serious about pursuing a career in acting, the best thing I could do was to train at a UK Drama School. The training is more thorough and elaborate, and due to the UK's performance industry being as global and international as it is, there's a lot more opportunities once you graduate."
Meet Anja (she/her), an acting student in her third year at Leeds Conservatoire.
Anja, an enthusiastic student, loves performing. Her time at Leeds Conservatoire has boosted her confidence as both a performer and a person.
We had a chat with Anja about her time at Leeds Conservatoire, and she shared with us the many exciting opportunities available for aspiring actors in the UK post-graduation.
Hi, Anja - We’d love to know where your performing arts journey began?
I discovered my love for performing when I was nine years old. A friend of mine had started going to these weekly acting classes, and naturally - as you do when you're nine years old and your friend is doing something really cool - I asked my parents to sign me up as well. It was pretty much all I ever wanted to do from then on onwards.
How has our course helped you? What are some of the main things you've learned so far?
It's literally turned me into a different person - in a good way! You spend so much time reflecting, collaborating with so many different people, and practising your craft, you can't help but grow into this completely new version of yourself. I'm so much more confident, not only as a performer, but as a person as well.
What's your take on Leeds? Is it easy to get accustomed to?
I grew up in a tiny town in the Swiss mountains, so moving to a city as bustling and vibrant as Leeds was a slight shock to the system at first. However, I'd always loved being in the city, so I got used to it pretty quickly. It's a creative hub, there's always something going on, so it was pretty easy for me to feel at home straight away.
What drew you to study in the UK? Were there any specific reasons?
I'd always been told that if I was serious about pursuing a career in acting, the best thing I could do was to train at a UK Drama School. The training is more thorough and elaborate, and due to the UK's performance industry being as global and international as it is, there's a lot more opportunities once you graduate.
Are there lots of performance opportunities for Leeds Conservatoire students?
I'd definitely say so! Of course there's performances and projects within the course curriculum, as well as your third year shows. I was lucky enough to be able to perform on the Leeds Playhouse Quarry stage for my first graduate show. As well as that, the Northern film School is right around the corner and they're always in need of actors for their short films.
The course also introduces you to lots of people working within the performing arts industry in various ways, and that instantly gives you the opportunity to connect and gain performance opportunities. For example, me and some of my course mates were hired last October to be a part of a production by one of the directors who had come in for a project the previous year.
What do you think are some of the perks of studying your course in the UK?
I think the main perk of studying in the UK as an international student is your use of the language. English is my third language, so being able to use it on a daily basis automatically improved it.
Finally, could you kindly share with us your experience at Leeds Conservatoire so far using just three words?
Transformative, Spirited, and Insightful.
