About CT
BA (Hons) Acting and Contemporary Theatre (CT) at East15 School, University of Essex, UK
Accredited by Drama UK. | UCAS code: W441 BA/ACTh | East15 School of Acting, Essex University, Loughton Campus
A course dedicated to the development of an emerging actor-training methodology that focuses on the training of multi-talented performers. While cultivating their skills as actors, students experiment with European physical theatre, creative writing, devising, parody, composition, and film.
While some of its alumni such as Avital Lvova, Janet Etuk and Antonia Desplat, are leading film and Theatre actors, original work by graduates have received numerous awards including BAFTA, The Edinburgh Comedy Award, Soho Theatre young writer of the year, Scotsman Fringe First, Best New Musical, The Stage Best Ensemble, and BFI Best Short Film.
The diversity of its success is a direct result of The CT practiced philosophy, that views the actor as an independent, inventive, and entrepreneurial ‘artist’. It prides itself on the original projects designed to open opportunities for students’ innovation.
These include ‘Expressionism’, ‘The Launch’, ‘Site Specific Classics’ and the most renowned ‘Debut Festival’. All these modules produced original work that transferred to professional staging, and all are now emulated and copied in various acting schools in the UK and in Europe. Direct collaborations between the course and established companies are developed, it included work with the National Theatre Studio, Gecko, Soho Theatre, The Yard, and The Southbank Centre.
The creation of a course that focuses on the actor as a creative force at East 15, is both ahead of its time and rooted in the most important theatrical developments from the UK and abroad of the last 20-30 years. Uri Roodner’s work in the field of actor training and theatre methodology is quite simply revolutionary.
— Alexander Zeldin, Royal National Theatre 2018
Theatre companies formed by former CT students include: Police Cops, Snuff Box Theatre, The Alchemist, Antler, Bear Trap Theatre, Brigitte Aphrodite, Caligula's Alibi Theatre Company, Christopher Brett Bailey, Fat Rascal Theatre, Full Pelt Theatre, HighRise Theatre, Late Night Gimp Fight, Lost Watch, Sabotage Theatre, Superglue Assembly Line, Little Soldiers Productions
Mentoring.
The CT course was designed by Uri Roodner, a practitioner who enjoyed an extensive career as a performer, director, and teacher. He toured internationally performing with his award-winning theatre company Tottering Bipeds, and more recently with Gecko and with The Clod Ensemble. He has appeared in major British theatres and in films by major directors such as Sam Mendes, Michael Winterbottom, José Padilha and the Brothers Quay. He has worked as a documentary film maker for The BBC, Channel 4 and The Discovery Channel USA. He directed and taught actors in major institutions in London, as well as in New York, Shanghai, Amsterdam, Madrid, Nicosia, and Tel-Aviv. He devotes himself to the preservation of conservatoire training, and to the innovation of methodology to train actors as creative, independent entrepreneurs.
The CT is led by Uri with a small permanent team that includes Marcin Rudy, Colin Sadler, Christopher Brett-Bailey, Didi Hopkins, Jessica Boyd, Trilby James, Michael Crean, Merce Ribot, Jesse Briton, and Zois Pigadas.
Visiting practitioners leading projects with students included: April De Angelis, Ken Campbell, Kirsty Housley, Alexander Zeldin, Amit Lahav, Roxana Silbert, Bryony Shanahan, Charlie Josephine, Steve Marmion, Raquel Cassidy, Ed Woodall, Shelley King, Peder Kirk, Mark Downs, Carl Heap, Paul Warwick, Jonathan Holloway, Nic Phillipou, John Gillett, Ed Collier, Michael Garner, Dan Milne, Ewan Marshall, Andrew Dawson, Joyce Henderson, Mel Churcher, Julia Wilson-Dikson, Somalia Seaton, Helen Foan, Greta Clough, Sean McCann, Carlos Estevez, Sean Garrett, Luke Clarke, Jaz Woodcock-Stewart, Janet Etuk, Adam El-Hagar and Richard Perryman.
“This course taught me that being an actor doesn’t always mean working for immediate gain and instant recognition, but mainly constructing a unique path that will become consistent over time. No other course can offer the level of experience, enthusiasm, and tenacity this team will put into the development of your original work. Most importantly, no other place can offer you the meeting with such a collection of multi-talented fellow students. You will develop individuality as a performer and an independent artist while making artistic partnerships for life. The course’ unique work method will provide a clear map of your artistic identity.” - Beatrice Grannò (2022)
