Brighton will soon be introduced to its newest theatre college, BRICTT, under direction of Mia Bird. BRICTT, Brighton Institute of Contemporary Theatre Training, will start its first courses on September 11th and will be hosted in Bird Studios near Brighton Station.
At BRICTT, students will be taught on all aspects of the theatre industry as a whole, not just stage techniques but also the business side and the development of mental and networking skills. This can be done on either a 2-year diploma or a 3-year degree course, with the diploma course focusing on skills required to launch students into further musical theatre training. The degree course’s foundation is acting and this will be incorporated into all their teaching, students will also be taught on the business and technical element of the industry with the aim that all graduates can enter the industry in any role with confidence and a surety that they have all the skills to create their own work.
The concept of BRICTT started when Mia Bird found that current stage schools didn’t teach students on business and life skills, “I have trained many of my most talented students for entry into these schools and found that although the training was top notch, the individuals came out of training less confident and more insecure about themselves than when they went in!”
Mia Bird is a former West End performer herself, stepping onto a West End stage for the first time when she was only 19 years old. Over the years, Mia has worked her way through many elements of the performing arts industry, with roles in professional musicals and plays as well as TV shows, having a recording contract and being employed as an in house songwriter with Universal Music, creating a successful chain of stage schools, founding Bird Studios in Brighton and now adding BRICTT to that list. “It’s not so much the skills onstage that I want to transfer to the students, rather the skills off stage. I want these students to become well-rounded people and performers, the vast majority of your work is being your own brand ant that is not done on a stage.”
Through working in the industry herself, Mia is part of a very tight network of industry professionals. “I’m very lucky to have an enviable black book of industry friends, so I have brought together a group of professionals including West End producers, film directors, casting directors and agents that are all passionate about giving opportunity to new talent.” Some of these professionals include Lindon Barr; nominated for BroadwayWorld UK’s Best Choreographer, Nina Gold; a film casting agent who worked on Star Wars, Game of Thrones and Bridget Jones’ Baby and Julian Stoneman; a West End and Broadway producer whose work includes Mama Mia, Billy Elliot and Rock of Ages.
BRICTT will also be running monthly workshops and masterclasses, with workshops acting as taster sessions for prospective students starting this October. Masterclasses will be on a variety of topics, from audition technique to nutrition and health awareness. A rollcall of experts and industry professionals is already lined up to impart their knowledge, including actor Jonjo O’Neil who is primed to talk about his rise in theatre land and the switch to the big screen and Dominic Keavy, ‘The King of Soaps’, who has directed everything from EastEnders to Hollyoaks.
As BRICTT will be BIMM’s new sister college there will be some cross-pollination between BIMM and BRICTT students with great opportunities to collaborate.
If you’d like to get in touch with BRICTT for further information, they can be contacted in a number of ways; you can call on 01273 603333, email bricttinfo@brictt.co.uk or pop into BRICTT itself, they’re located a few minutes’ walk away from Brighton Station, BRICTT, Vantage Point, New England Street, Brighton, BN1 4GW.
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