Backstage Buzz: September 2026
Backstage Buzz is back! Our monthly news roundup shares the latest from across Performers College and Northern Ballet School, and September has been a busy one. Freshers week welcomed our newest students, returning students went straight into auditions, workshops, and headshots, and our graduates have been landing roles on stages and ships around the world.
Essex students star in the Strictly launch video
Did you spot them? A group of our Essex students took part in filming the new Strictly Come Dancing launch video – and made the final cut. Student Melissa Soteriou took us along for the day, sharing the coach trip with friends and a peek behind the scenes at Shepperton Studios.
Graduates take centre stage
It’s been a brilliant month for graduate success. Mireia Mambo is on Broadway in Evita, Fin Scott joins the 10th anniversary production of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, and Mark Austin joins Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures for Cinderella. Catrin Thomas and Megan Jade Johnson are touring the UK with Singin’ in the Rain, Latesha Karisa stars in Aladdin at South Hill Park, and Eden Cusack is getting spooky at Alton Towers Scarefest – see them all on our Instagram.
That’s not all. Dale White has been cast in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Beth Shaw in Mamma Mia!, and Jack Bromage joins the Billy Elliot UK tour. Eleanor Davis is in Dick Whittington at the Macmillan Theatre, Bridgwater, Lyndan Barclay joins Monsters: A Killer New Musical Comedy, and Harvey Michael-Smith has been cast in Eliza: A Bloomin’ New Ballet. Meet the full line-up here.
Graduates set sail
Cruise contracts have been a big theme this month, and we love seeing our graduates performing all around the world. Callum Bowman (Norwegian Cruise Line) and Georgia Mallaburn (Celebrity Cruises) join as Dancer/Performers, while Nicole Mitchell (Royal Caribbean International), Leixie Walker (P&O Cruises), and Freya Clark, Millie Slowe, and Scarlett Taylor (all MSC Cruises) join as Production Performers. Evie Grace Barker is in Cunard’s Pride and Prejudice (*Sort of), and Ishbel Robinson is heading off with Disney Cruise Line.
Manchester Acting students take Homer on the road
During Freshers week, our second-year Acting students in Manchester took Homer’s Odyssey on the road, performing a devised piece for almost 100 drama, acting, and classical studies students at Loreto Sixth Form College. The other half of the cohort returned later that week to tell the story of the Iliad and the fall of Troy.
Industry workshops kick off the year
Our Creative Futures Team hit the ground running, launching careers support through our new CONNECT platform and welcoming industry guests to campus. In Birmingham, Paul Wooler from Cameron Mackintosh’s office explored casting opportunities with our Musical Theatre students. Essex students took on a partner dancing workshop with Duo Fusion – a skill in high demand for cruise and commercial work – and Acting students received professional feedback from casting director Bailey Francis. In Brighton, students will see the immersive production The Signalman beneath Brighton Station ahead of a workshop later this semester.
It’s headshot season
Our Birmingham third years were in front of the camera this month, alongside final-year students in Brighton, Essex, and Manchester. Level 6 students across the group have also attended Spotlight and Equity talks to prepare them for life in the profession.
Students booking professional work
Just one month into the academic year, our students are already booking paid work. Five Birmingham students have secured pantomime contracts with Paul Holman Associates, and six have taken on corporate performance work with Skin London. In Essex, three students worked on a music video directed by Wayne Lennox, two Acting students are spending Halloween as scare actors at The Village of the Cursed, and 12 Level 6 students have already signed Christmas contracts.
Northern Ballet School graduates shine
2024 Classical Focus graduate Eleanor Copping joins the brand-new production of The Snowman alongside 2011 graduate Suzy Osadchyi. It plays The Birmingham Rep from 20 October–1 November, then the Peacock Theatre from 21 November 2026–3 January 2027, where Eleanor makes her West End debut. Jazz Focus graduate Maisie Mwebe has been cast in the 30th anniversary UK tour of Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella – her second contract with New Adventures.
Our 2026 Jazz Focus graduates are off to a flying start too. Jenson Bottomley has landed two contracts, first as a Production Dancer in the Cromer Pier Christmas Show, then with Ambassador Cruises on board the Ambassador Ambition. Darcey Willsher is a Stage Production Dancer at Hallowscream at York Maze, and Jazz Focus graduate Alyssia Turpin heads to Mallorca to rehearse for AIDA Cruises’ AIDAmar.
Classical Focus students perform at Chester Town Hall
Our Classical Focus students started the year in style, performing in concerts with Philip Childell and his orchestra at the historic Chester Town Hall. They danced to music by Strauss and Lehár, choreographed by Sarah Dickinson and Chris Hoyte.
To discover more about Performers College, including auditions and how to apply, contact us at [email protected] or you can Apply Now, or book an Open Day on our Events page.
